Art

How to Paint Easter Eggs: The Ultimate Guide for 2025

Published on Feb 13th 2025
how to paint easter eggs

Use this guide to learn how to paint Easter eggs this Easter and beyond. According to the Library of Congress, the art of decorating eggs dates back to the 4th century. Though many customs have changed, painting Easter eggs is still a time-honored tradition. 

Create a batch of Easter eggs that you’re proud of. Read on to learn what materials you’ll need, how to prep your eggs and the best decoration ideas for kids and adults. 

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What Is Used to Decorate Easter Eggs?

What to use for how to paint easter eggs
Painting your own Easter eggs is simple (via Canva)

It's pretty simple to decorate your own Easter eggs. The main decoration option people choose is usually to dye their Easter eggs and then either leave them plainly dyed, paint on top of the dye or decorate them with fun stickers.

You’ll need the following basic materials:

  • Boiled eggs

  • 1 teaspoon vinegar 

  • ¼ teaspoon food coloring

  • ¾ cup water

  • Acrylic paints

  • Paintbrush

  • Stickers

  • Toilet paper roll (to hold the egg steady)

  • Slotted spoon

How Do You Prepare Eggs for Easter Decorating?

The first thing you want to do is make sure your eggs are fresh. Rotten eggs are gross to eat, and they're also gross to paint. They may break more easily, and they almost always smell. Once you have your fresh eggs, the first thing to do is set a pot of water to boil.

The key here is to work in batches. If you overcrowd the pot, then your eggs may not boil correctly. The boil time sweet spot is around 15 minutes. Afterward, remove your eggs and place them in an ice bath. Once the eggs are fully cool, you're free to dye and paint them however you choose. 

Alternatively, if you're planning on keeping your decorated eggs for a long period of time, then simply boiling them isn't enough. Instead, you'll need to poke a small hole in the top and bottom of an uncooked egg.

Use a skewer to break the yolk inside of the eggshell and then blow the contents out into a bowl. Finally, you can rinse the egg and then leave it out to dry for an hour or so.

Just know that this method results in a more delicate egg that is easier to break while you're painting and dyeing it. 

How to Decorate Easter Eggs Easily

Decorating Easter eggs
Mix and match different materials (via Canva)

Decorating Easter eggs can be simple and fun, even if you don’t have a lot of time or materials. Using acrylic dye, adding painted designs on top or decorating with stickers are three easy ways to create colorful and festive eggs. Before we get started, here are some tips to help the process along:

  1. Let dyed eggs dry completely before painting or adding stickers.

  2. Use different-sized brushes to create detailed designs when painting.

  3. Mix and match all three methods for truly unique Easter eggs.

Whether you prefer bright acrylic-dyed eggs, hand-painted details or quick sticker decorations, these ideas will make your Easter celebration even more festive. 

Dyeing Eggs with Acrylic Dye

Dyed Easter Eggs
Dyed Easter eggs (via Canva)

Acrylic dye is a great way to give your Easter eggs bright, bold colors. To do this, mix a few drops of acrylic paint with water in a cup, then dip hard-boiled eggs into the mixture. Let them sit for a few minutes until they reach your desired shade. 

Once done, place them on a drying rack or paper towel. You can experiment with different colors or even dip eggs in multiple shades to create fun effects. Come up with fun Easter party ideas and try to dye your eggs to match the theme. 

Painting Designs on Top of the Dye

Once your dyed eggs are dry, you can take them to the next level by painting additional designs on top. Use a thin brush and acrylic paint to add patterns like polka dots, stripes, flowers or even abstract designs. 

You can also use metallic or pastel colors for a more unique look. This method allows you to personalize each egg while keeping the process easy and creative. These eggs make for lovely Easter gifts. 

Decorating with Fun Stickers

If you’re looking for how to paint Easter eggs in a mess-free and quick way, stickers are the perfect solution! Simply choose fun designs like Easter bunnies, flowers or colorful patterns and stick them directly onto the eggs. You can place them randomly for a playful look or arrange them in patterns for a more polished design. 

This option is one of the best Easter craft ideas and is especially great for kids or anyone who wants beautifully decorated eggs without the hassle of dyeing or painting.

Egg Decorating Ideas for School

Decorating eggs is a fun and creative activity for kids at school, especially around Easter. Use these Easter egg painting ideas for inspiration for your own creations.

1. Crayon-Resist Eggs

Use white crayons to draw patterns on the eggs. Dip them in dye, and the crayon marks will resist the color, creating cool designs!

2. Glitter Eggs

How to paint easter eggs with Glitter
Making glitter Easter eggs (via Canva)

Brush eggs with glue and sprinkle glitter on top for a sparkly finish.

3. Sticker & Tape Designs

Apply stickers or tape in fun shapes. Dye the eggs, let them dry and remove the stickers to reveal a cool contrast!

4. Tissue Paper Collage

Cut colorful tissue paper into small pieces. Use glue to attach them to the eggs for a mosaic effect.

5. Nature-Print Eggs

Press small leaves or flowers against the eggs. Wrap them in pantyhose, dip them in dye, then remove the leaves for beautiful natural prints!

6. Pom-Pom or Googly-Eye Eggs

Attach small pom-poms, googly eyes or felt pieces to turn eggs into fun characters.

Easter Egg Decorating Ideas for Adults

Wondering how to paint Easter eggs in a more sophisticated or elegant way? Here’s how to decorate easter eggs for adults.

1. Marbled Eggs

Marbled Easter Eggs
Marbled Easter eggs (via Canva)

Mix nail polish with water, swirl the colors and dip the eggs for a stunning marbled effect.

2. Gold Leaf Eggs

Apply adhesive and press gold leaf sheets onto the eggs for a chic, metallic look.

3. Watercolor Eggs

Use watercolor paints to create soft, artistic patterns on the eggs.

4. Botanical Stamped Eggs

Press leaves or flowers into ink and stamp them onto the eggs for a natural look.

5. Decoupage Eggs

How to paint easter eggs in decoupage style
Decoupage Easter eggs (via Canva)

Cut floral or patterned paper napkins and glue them onto the eggs for a vintage decorated eggs Faberge style. 

6. Black & White Doodle Eggs

Use a fine-tip permanent marker to draw intricate designs, doodles or even calligraphy.

7. Concrete or Stone-Look Eggs

Paint eggs with a mix of gray tones to mimic a concrete or stone effect.

8. Speckled Eggs

Use a toothbrush to splatter paint on eggs for a trendy speckled appearance.

How to Paint Easter Eggs FAQs

How Do You Color Easter Eggs Easily?

Your Easter egg designs on paper may seem simple, but in reality, dying eggs can be complicated, especially if you aren’t a regular crafter. You may have some funky, funny egg decorating ideas, but you want your Easter eggs to look put together at the end of the day. 

By far, the easiest way to color easter eggs is by dyeing them in acrylic dye. It’s straightforward, hard to mess up and requires no painting skills.

 

Painting Easter eggs is a timeless tradition, and whether you’re using classic acrylics, watercolor effects or modern metallic finishes, there are endless ways to personalize your egg. No matter your skill level, the key to beautifully painted Easter eggs is to have fun and experiment. Remember, the joy of painting eggs comes from the creativity and personal touch you bring to each design. 

For even more fun things to do this Easter, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!