How to Make Plastic Miniatures Look Like Wood?

Have a shiny plastic piece that just doesn’t fit your dollhouse style? Whether it’s a Calico Critters chair, a dollar store toy, or a bit of plastic trim, there are ways to make it look like convincing wood, without needing sculpting skills or a 3D printer.

After going through lots of forum threads, model ship-building tips, and Facebook advice from miniaturists, here’s a round-up of what actually works.

🧰 What You’ll Need (or Might Want to Try)

• A good primer (spray primers for plastic work best—Rustoleum 2x is a popular one)

• Acrylic paint: various shades of brown (you’ll want at least one light and one dark tone)

• Optional base coats: yellow, orange, or tan

• Sandpaper (fine grit) or a craft knife for surface prep

• Old stiff paintbrush or toothbrush for grain effects

• Optional: glazing medium, ink wash, or even tissue paper

• Sealer: matte Mod Podge or acrylic varnish

Step-by-Step: Two Approaches That Work Well

✳️ 1. Smooth Wooden Planks Look (like flooring or furniture)

This is great if you want something that looks like polished wood.

1. Lightly sand the plastic to help paint stick. Wipe off any dust.

2. Prime it using a plastic-safe primer. Let it dry fully.

3. Base coat: Choose a light brown, yellow, or tan. Let it dry.

4. Add grain: Use a stiff brush and dry-brush on a darker brown. Leave streaks visible. You can also scratch light lines in the base coat before adding the dark color—this helps simulate grain.

5. Optional: Make a wash with dark brown paint and water (or use ink). Brush it on and let it settle into the grooves. Wipe off the excess.

6. Highlight: Lightly dry-brush a lighter shade of brown across the top for depth.

7. Seal with Mod Podge matte or any other non-glossy finish.

One miniaturist used orange as a base, then dragged dark brown over it for a “wood stain” effect. Others swirled in wet darker tones right before the base coat dried—then brushed it out in one direction to mimic grain.

✳️ 2. Rough Wood or Bark Texture (for logs, beams, etc.)

If you want that rustic look, here’s a fun technique:

1. Apply glue-soaked tissue paper over the plastic surface. Twist it or crumple slightly if you want bark texture.

2. Let it dry fully—it’ll feel firm.

3. Paint it all a dark brown.

4. Dry-brush lighter browns or even greyish tones on top to bring out the texture.

5. Optional:

   Finish with a light sealer.

This works well for anything outdoorsy—logs, beams, treehouses, even fake stone if you go greyscale.

More Tips from the Miniatures Community

• Scratching grain lines before painting gives depth, especially with a wash.

• Chalk paint or matte finishes help hide the plastic feel.

• Use a toothbrush or a cut-down stiff brush to add random grain effects.

• Someone even used a tiny piece of straw broom to drag the grain through paint—surprisingly effective!

• For perfectly flat surfaces, consider using a thin sheet of real wood veneer (like basswood). It glues on easily and looks completely natural.

Give It a Go

It might take a little experimenting to find the method you like best. If in doubt, test first on a scrap piece of plastic or the underside of your miniature.

Feel free to share your results—or your own favorite technique below. What worked for you? Any tools or paint brands you swear by?