A fantastic way to enhance your backyard is to paint rocks for the garden.
There are endless possibilities for using this simple creative activity in your garden; we could panel some colorful borders, use stones to identify our veg plants, or decorate our walls.
In order to achieve fabulous results with your garden rocks, you need to be using the right paint.
Without good paint, your rocks will not look very vibrant, and worse still, may run in wet conditions.
What to Expect? This handy guide will help you find the best paint for garden rocks, including some excellent paints that would suit your rocks beautifully!
So, which paint is best for garden rocks?
In order to achieve a bold, bright, and weatherproof finish on your garden rocks the paint you decide to use needs the following characteristics:
- Thick but easy to apply
- Opaque coverage
- Bright color
- Weatherproof and fade resistant
- Long-lasting finish
When it comes to painting rocks, one type of paint rises above the others – an outdoor acrylic paint.
What is outdoor acrylic paint?
Acrylic paint provides a vibrant, quick-drying finish that is water-resistant when dry, yet can be cleaned up with water while wet.
Acrylic paint is somewhat of a cross between watercolors and oils and is made from an acrylic polymer emulsion.
Did you know? Outdoor acrylic paints are specifically formulated to last long when working outdoors, so the color will not wash away, even in changing weather.
Used on garden rocks, acrylic paint produces some amazing outcomes!
Get the best results from outdoor acrylics by using a base coat and varnish
In order to maintain the appearance of your stones you will want to prep them and finish them properly.
A coat of base coat provides a plain surface for the paint, and an outdoor acrylic varnish will help protect painted garden rocks for years to come.
Here is a selection of the best paints for garden rocks
These quality primers, paints, and varnishes will take care of everything involved in making your rocks look their best.
Most are non-toxic, but adult supervision is always good for young children using acrylics and varnishes.
Here are our favorites.
Sargent Art 16-Ounce Gesso Surface Primer, White
Specification
- Format: Liquid paint
- Volume: 16 oz (463 grams)
- Number of colors: 1
Description
Paint your rocks white with this base coat to use as a base for painting color on later!
as with the other paint, it is appropriate for kids, it is non-toxic!
Pros:
- It has a thick consistency which covers well, you only need a few coats to paint the rock!
Cons:
- Some people found it thinner than the description.
It has a thick consistency so you don’t have to do a lot of coats!
Liquitex BAICS Gesso Surface Prep White
Specification
- Format: Liquid paint
- Volume: 16 oz (463 grams)
- Number of colors: 1
Description
This is another great primer from a company that has a long-standing reputation for acrylics.
You can typically expect to prime your pebble or stone in one coat.
You can also mix this base with other acrylic paints.
Pros
- This basic white acrylic gesso can also be used to prime canvases!
Cons
- Some reviewers who appear to be more technical remarked that the paint is not a gesso, but it does the job for a novice.
It is non-toxic and safe for your kids, pets, and plants!
Magicfly Outdoor Acrylic Paint
Specification
- Format: Liquid paint
- Volume: 2 oz (56.7 grams) – per bottle
- Number of colors: 30
Description
This set of 30 vivid and colorful outdoor acrylic paint will paint rocks in your yard a rainbow of color.
Each bottle is 2 ounces, and it comes with three brushes to help you get started.
These are a nice option for painting decorative garden stones because they offer UV protection which means the color will not fade when exposed to sunlight for extended periods of time.
Pros
- This is a great versatile outdoors acrylic that works well on leather, ceramics, and even canvas for other exciting projects in your yard!
Cons
- Most people liked the thickness of the paint; however, some found the colors to be a bit dull,
These thick and creamy non-toxic and eco-friendly paints have a consistency that makes it easy to use without needing more than one application.
U.S. Art Supply Professional
Specification
- Format: Liquid paint
- Volume: 2 oz (56.7 grams) – per bottle
- Number of colors: 24
Description
What you get because you deserve it!
This is 24-pack outdoor use and, non-toxic bright acrylics.
Pros
- This outdoor paint set includes a color mixing wheel, as a bonus, to create even more brilliant shades!
Cons
- Some buyers commented they thought this was too thick!
The paint is thick and provides great coverage with a fade-resistant.
Glow in the Dark Paint Reflective Acrylic Paints for Outdoor
Specification
- Format: Liquid paint
- Volume: 0.7 oz (20 grams) – per bottle
- Number of colors: 8
Description
These eye-catching acrylic paints come in 8 bold colors that absorb sunlight during the day for a bright glowing campfire-like finish at night.
You may prefer a glow-in-the-dark pebble alternative to using just paint.
Pros:
- As a different aspect for some great fun rocks this is a great to add to your rock painting garden rocks.
- These paints are best used for detailing.
Cons:
- These paints are sold in 5.5 oz. containers so if you want a lot of “glow-in-the-dark” rocks you will need to double up or tripple up.
- These paints are too thin for me.
Otherwise you can use it for detailing or you can use the entire paint with the whole color for this glow-in-the-dark rocks in Red, Orange, Green, Blue, Pink, Purple, and White.
Liquitex Professional High Gloss Varnish
Specification
- Format: Liquid varnish
- Volume: 4 oz (113 grams) – per bottle
- Number of colors: clear
Description
This is the archival permanent varnish, the toughest product available to protect your painted rocks.
It is low-odour, and needs adult supervision. This product is made to create a long-lasting permanent clear finish.
Pros
- This varnish has a finish that is resistant to moisture, heat and fading.
- This varnish is also non-fogging.
Cons
- Can be gooey, dries quickly.
How to paint rocks for your garden with your new paints
After you have collected some garden rocks and a good selection of outdoor acrylic paints, you are set to have some fun as an artist and get painting.
Be sure to do your painting in a clean, well-ventilated area and protect your surfaces from the paint.
Here are the steps to follow to get good results when painting garden rocks.
Clean down your rocks
It may be a tedious task but it is going to make all the difference to the finish you get.
This is your basic cleaning equipment, warm soapy water and a scrubbing brush.
Make sure that you have left them fully dry before you start to work with them.
Apply your base coat
Using a white primer coat on the rocks gives a soft matte finish for creativity!
It helps to preserve your painted rocks for longevity.
You can use either paint or spray primer and then allow them to dry thoroughly.
Line up your paints and brushes and paint!
Choose the colors you’d like to use for your rocks and then lightly draw in pencil the design you’d like to paint on the rock.
A good, basic set of acrylic paintbrushes should be fine to use to paint your design.
Have a cup of water handy to clean the brushes, and a palette to mix the paint colors on. Once you have painted your design allow it to air dry.
Seal your design with varnish
Once your painted rocks have dried, you’re now ready to protect your artwork with a good-quality acrylic varnish.
Final step – Weatherproof your painted rocks with a sealer spray, varnish, or gloss. Let that transparent layer dry and stick it outside wherever you desire in your yard!
Rounding up
We believe that painting garden rocks is a wonderful activity that can provide some lovely pops of color to your garden.
As you can see with the right paint, you can turn a boring rock into a piece of art!