picture of young women enjoying a paint night in the garden, smiling

How to Host a Budget-Friendly Paint Night at Home: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Looking for a fun, affordable, and easy way to entertain friends and family? A paint night at home might be just what you need! 
Whether you’ve never picked up a brush or you’re already a creative pro, this guide will show you how to throw a laid-back, affordable paint night that everyone will enjoy, not to mention they will leave with their own masterpiece and some great memories of a unique experience. So let the planning begin!

Planning Your Paint Night on a Budget

Set Your Budget

Of course, hiring an artist to lead the painting session would be perfect, but also more expensive. No need to panic, I'll explain how to provide guidance for your guest without breaking the bank. 
With a smart budget of around $200 for 10 people, you can easily plan a creative and fun event. Here’s how to allocate your budget:

Art materials ($50-$70):   

  • Opt for pre-drawn canvases. Using pre-drawn canvases makes painting stress-free. And if you pick guided ones like our Vistas set with follow-along videos, anyone can achieve great results. 
  • Stock up on essential acrylic paints (white, black, red, blue, yellow, green), brushes, and foam plates to use as palettes.

Snacks and drinks ($70-$100):

  • Keep your artists fueled with easy snacks like cheese and crackers, a veggie tray, and some refreshing beverages like coffee, tea, and soft drinks. Simple, affordable, and delicious!

Decorations ($10-$30):

  • Repurpose items you already own or shop for inexpensive decor like fairy lights and tablecloths to create a cozy, artistic atmosphere.

TIP: Get my FREE Paint Night Ready Kit. It includes printable inspirational phrases for decoration, paint night invitations, and an acrylic painting guide for beginners. 

Preparing Your Space for Paint Night

Creating the Perfect Atmosphere

This one can be easily overlooked, but these tiny details will have a huge impact on the ambience you create. So let’s make sure your guests are relaxed and inspired by adding these touches: 
  • Lighting: Soft lighting, such as fairy lights or candles, adds a whimsical touch.
  • Music: Put together a calming playlist with acoustic tunes or use ready-made creative session playlists from Spotify or Apple Music.
  • Aromatherapy: Add a touch of calm with scented candles or essential oils like lavender or citrus.

Setting Up the Painting Space

Arrange your space with long tables for painting and a separate area for snacks. Make sure each painter has their own station with supplies like brushes, canvases, and palettes. A U-shaped or semi-circle table arrangement works well for interaction.

Enhancing the Painting Experience

Providing Guidance Materials

If you want your guests to be proud of what they create, you’ll need more than just the pre-drawn canvases. It could work for kids, but adults will need much more than just painting within the lines to create something they can be proud of. 
Don't worry, you do not need to be an artist to guide them. I got you! I have some options for you:
  • Download my How-to Guide: Painting Pre-Drawn Canvases with acrylics. It’s part of my Paint Night Ready kit, and it’s 100% FREE! Print a copy for each of your guests, or share a digital copy with them. This will help them understand the foundation of painting, how‌ to mix basic colors. 
  • Use the follow-along videos included with our Guided Ore-drawn canvas set. This will give your guests the experience of following along a professional artist, while keeping the experience under budget for you.  

In conclusion

A paint night isn’t just about the art—it’s about the laughs, the fun, and spending time together. Hosting one at home is a great way to bring everyone closer and have an awesome time making something creative, and even better if you can make it on a budget! 

Ready to get started? 

Grab my extended eBook on hosting the perfect paint night on a budget, and score 15% off our Guided Pre-Drawn Canvas Sets. 
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