What Paint to Use on Jute Bags

Jute bags are becoming quite popular. They are the perfect economy bag that you can use regularly. Jute bags are not only perfect for shopping, but you can also use them to accessorise your summer look.

All you need to do is find a jute bag with the right design. If you’re someone with a unique taste and can’t find something readymade, you can easily make your own by painting the bag with decorative accents.

Jute bags are extremely versatile which makes them perfect for crafting. All you need to know is what paints you can use on the material.

With a little paint and plenty of creativity, you can turn your jute from its natural raw and rough look and make it the star attraction of everywhere you go.

If you think painting your jute is the way to go, here are some of the paints that work well with jute and could bring out your ideas.

Acrylic Craft Paints

Acrylic craft paints are a blend of two worlds. Like other acrylic paints, acrylic is the basic binder in the paint.

The only addition that acrylic craft paints offer is that they are already mixed into more complex colours. It saves you from having to buy numerous paints to pull off your ideas. What’s more, with most of the paints already mixed, you don’t have to worry about getting the shades right especially if this is the first time you’re customising your own jute bag.

Acrylic craft paints dry fast, allowing you to add multiple layers and crisp lines to your design.

Acrylic paints are water-resistant but not waterproof. They can take a bit of soaking but, they take in water little by little.

Your jute is going to outlast the paint, so once it fades out, you can come up with a new design. It’s a great way to change the look and keep your bag looking new and fresh.

Oil Paints

Unlike acrylic paints, oil paints take longer to dry. They are easier to blend, mix and transition the colours. With oil paints, you need plenty of drying time and you have to prepare the material to keep the paint from sipping to the inside part of the bag.

While oil paints keep their original colour when they dry, they degrade the jute overtime. They are waterproof so you should go for designs that are timeless because once the paint goes on, there’s no going back.

Water Colours

Watercolors are not popular mainly because they don’t hang around a long time. But, if you’re looking to repurpose your jute bag for a quick event, watercolours might serve the purpose.

Water colours are versatile and allow you to take dreamy and breath-taking atmospheres and abstract paintings. They are not ideal if you’re looking to have crisp, sharp lines.

With watercolours, your design will be short-lived. The colour fades in time and if you wash the bag, the colour disappears.

Spray Paints

You can also use spray paint to decorate jute bags. Spray paints pose their fair share of challenges, but they make great designs, especially when you’re hoping to have your personalised bag keep its look longer.

When using spray paints, make sure there’s a distance of between 12 -18 inches between the jute and spray can.

Spray lightly with overlapping strokes and work with thin layers. For those sharp lines, you can use a shaped flat object like felt leaf or cardboard star placed on the jute then spray around the object. Once you remove the object, it reveals a nice design with sharp lines.

Latex Paints

Latex paints have high colour retention that oil paints. The beauty with latex paints is that the jute bag will not lose its flexibility. With oil-based paints, the part with the design will dry and the design will harden and start cracking. With latex, the bag remains the same and painting is not damaged by bending or folding the bag.

With latex paints, there are various finishes to choose from.

For the best results, it’s best to match the application of the paint to the thickness of your jute bag. For thinner jute bags, you can use foam rollers. For thick bags, you can use chunky brushes. It’s best to select a durable semi-gloss or gloss finish that will also protect the bag and they have a brighter sheen that captures more attention.

Chalk Paints

Chalk paint is a unique type of paint commonly used on furniture and other surfaces. It creates a chalky and aged appearance. The paint can be distressed easily so you should carefully weigh your options before you decide to go with this paint.

Chalk paint is not without benefits. For starters, it doesn’t require a lot of preparation like with other paints. It saves you time and doesn’t compromise the quality of the results. All you need to do is make sure the jute surface you’re working on is clean.

Like watercolours, the paint will fade, the paint will also harden and the lines are not the sharpest. Nonetheless, it makes for the perfect paint when you’re looking to spruce up your jute bag for a single event and don’t want to go all out.

With a little creativity and the right paint, having a bespoke jute bag that is unique to you has never been easier. Depending on the finishing you’re looking for and durability, you can choose the ideal type of paint for you.

If you’re working on your jute bag for the first time, it’s best to start with the more forgiving paints like the watercolours and acrylic paints. If you mess up, the paint will come off in due time. Once you’ve perfected the art you can go for oil-based and latex paints.