Paint-and-sip studios are a blast, but they add up fast once you're booking for a group. Hosting at home is cheaper, more relaxed, and you control the playlist. The secret to making it work for people who "can't draw" is a pre-drawn canvas: the outline is already printed, so everyone just fills in the colors.

What you'll need

• One pre-drawn canvas per guest (each comes with a color reference card)
• Acrylic paints in basic colors plus white and black
• A few brushes per person: one wide, one medium, one fine detail brush
• Paper plates for palettes and cups of water for rinsing
• Paper towels and a plastic tablecloth
• Drinks and snacks, of course

Step 1: Pick a theme

Let everyone choose their own design, or pick one for the whole group so you can compare at the end. Some crowd favorites:

• Cozy night in: the Campfire Marshmallow canvas is easy and cute.
• Girls' night or bachelorette: cheekier designs like the Sunset Pin-Up Silhouette always get laughs.
• Family night: stick with animals or landscapes so kids can join in.

Step 2: Set up stations

Cover the table, give each guest a canvas, plate, water cup and brushes, and put shared paint bottles in the middle. Lay the color reference cards next to each canvas so people can follow along.

Step 3: Paint big areas first

Tell everyone to start with the background and largest shapes using the wide brush, then let it dry for a few minutes while they top off drinks. Details and outlines come last with the fine brush.

Step 4: Show and tell

Line the finished paintings up for photos. Bonus points for a silly award for "most creative interpretation." Everyone goes home with real art for their wall.

Hosting tips

• Plan about two hours, including drying time.
• Order canvases a week or two ahead so they arrive in time.
• For big groups or a bachelorette, mix and match designs so there's something for everyone.

Browse all of our sip and paint party kits to plan your night.