How Do You Paint Upholstery Foam?

While it's great for arts and crafts, foam is notoriously difficult to paint. Since its surface is covered in porous holes, you'll need to prime your foam with a mixture of wood glue and water before you paint it. You'll also need to decide between using a paint brush, sponge, paint roller, or spray paint.

What kind of paint can you use on foam?

Water based paints or acrylic craft paints are the best to use on Styrofoam. Water based paints, specifically poster paints, work well with younger kids as they can get a really good and thick coverage of paint on the polystyrene shape. They will need a little longer to dry though.

How do you paint on soft foam?

The best paint to use on styrofoam is acrylic paint as it adheres to the styrofoam well. Since styrofoam is so porous, you'll likely need to use several coats of paint to cover it. Use a foam brush to apply the paint and wait for the coat to dry before adding additional ones.