DIY Home Decor Idea: Acrylic Pouring

ACRYLIC POURING ON WOOD 

WATCH THIS FIRST! FUN!

Simple Acrylic Pours

Acrylic pouring is one of those art forms that feels as fun as it looks. At its core, it’s the practice of pouring fluid acrylic paints directly onto a surface—in this case, wood—and letting gravity, paint density, and a little bit of chaos create mesmerizing, marbled effects.The result is an abstract piece full of swirling color and organic flow, like a frozen moment of liquid motion.

What makes acrylic pouring so appealing is that you don’t need to be an experienced painter to get beautiful results. Instead of painstakingly brushing on layers of paint, you let the pour do most of the work for you. The paint moves, merges, and interacts in surprising ways, creating effects you couldn’t plan if you tried. This spontaneity is part of the magic—and also part of the challenge.

Choosing Your Canvas: Circles & Organic Shapes

While you can pour on any flat surface, wood brings a special warmth and texture to the piece. If you’re after a truly fluid look, circular panels or irregular, organic shapes work best. These shapes complement the natural flow of the paint, allowing it to spread in ways that feel balanced and harmonious. A circle in particular has no hard corners to disrupt the movement, so your marbling will read as smooth and uninterrupted. Here's some wood heart shapes!

When you pour over these softer shapes, you also get more interesting runoff patterns on the edges. Instead of paint pooling awkwardly in corners, it cascades evenly, making the whole piece—front and sides—part of the artwork.

A Beginner’s Essential: Sealing the Wood

One of the most common beginner frustrations is watching paint soak unevenly into bare wood. Not only does this dull your colors, but it also makes the paint flow less predictably. The solution? Seal your wood before you pour.

A clear acrylic sealer or gesso creates a smooth, non-porous surface, allowing the paint to glide and interact exactly as you want it to. Think of it as setting the stage: the better your base, the more control you have over the final effect. Sealing also helps prevent warping, which means your beautiful pour will stay just as you intended.

Letting Go & Enjoying the Process

Part of the joy of acrylic pouring is embracing its unpredictability. Even with the perfect seal and a carefully chosen shape, you can’t fully control where every swirl will land—and that’s the beauty of it. The key is to experiment, enjoy the process, and let the paint surprise you. Over time, you’ll develop a sense for how different pouring techniques, color combinations, and tilting motions create certain effects.

In the end, a simple acrylic pour on wood isn’t just about making art—it’s about collaborating with the paint itself. Whether your piece looks like a slice of agate, a stormy sky, or something entirely abstract, it will be uniquely yours.

Step-by-Step: Simple Acrylic Pour on Wood

Materials You’ll Need

• Wooden panel (Multi-Art Boards)
• Acrylic paint (fluid or mixed with pouring medium)
• Pouring medium (if using regular acrylics)
• Clear acrylic sealer or gesso (for sealing)
• Plastic cups for mixing
• Stir sticks
• Gloves & protective apron
• Plastic sheet or drop cloth (to catch drips)
• Torch or heat gun (optional, for removing bubbles)

Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace

Cover your table or floor with a plastic sheet to protect it from spills. Acrylic pours can get messy, so make sure you’re working in a space where drips and splashes aren’t a big deal.

Step 2: Seal the Wood

Apply a coat of clear acrylic sealer or gesso to your wooden panel. Let it dry completely before starting your pour. This ensures your paint flows smoothly and doesn’t soak into the wood.

Step 3: Mix Your Paints

In separate cups, mix each color of acrylic paint with a pouring medium (follow the ratio recommended on the bottle—usually about 1 part paint to 2 parts medium). Stir until the consistency is like warm honey. If needed, add a few drops of water for extra fluidity.

Step 4: Layer Your Colors

In a clean cup, layer your prepared paints by pouring one color over another without mixing. This “dirty pour” method creates stunning marbled effects.

Step 5: Pour Onto the Wood

Flip the layered cup onto your sealed wood surface (the “flip cup” method) or simply pour in a swirling motion. Tilt the wood gently to let the paint flow and cover the surface evenly.

Step 6: Create Special Effects (Optional)

Use a torch or heat gun to lightly go over the surface—this can pop air bubbles and bring out interesting “cells” in the paint pattern.

Step 7: Let It Dry

Place your piece somewhere level and dust-free. Let it dry for at least 24 hours - some take 7 days to dry. Avoid touching the surface while it’s wet to prevent smudges or fingerprints.

Step 8: Finish & Protect

Once completely dry, you can seal your artwork with a clear gloss varnish for a shiny, durable finish or a resin finish is nice.

Check out more acrylic pouring at Naptime Creations