Both diamond painting and paint by numbers let you create beautiful wall art with zero drawing skills — you just follow a numbered or gridded guide. But the two crafts feel completely different to make, and they leave you with a very different finished piece. Here’s how they compare, and how to pick the right one for you.
What Is Diamond Painting?
Diamond painting uses a printed, adhesive canvas and hundreds (sometimes thousands) of tiny resin “diamonds” — faceted rhinestones — that you place by hand onto numbered sections using a wax-tipped applicator pen. There’s no brush and no paint involved. The result is a sparkling, textured piece that catches the light, especially with AB drill (aurora borealis) diamonds like the ones used in our HUACAN diamond painting kits.
You can choose full round drills for a softer, classic look, or full square drills for a sharper, more reflective finish with no canvas showing through.
What Is Paint by Numbers?
Paint by numbers is the classic craft: a canvas is printed with a light outline divided into numbered sections, each corresponding to a specific paint color. You use a real brush and acrylic paint to fill in each section. It’s closer to traditional painting — you’ll build actual brush control, and the finished piece has a matte, hand-painted texture rather than a sparkly one.
Paint by numbers is also the format behind photo-custom paintings — turning a personal photo (a portrait, a pet, a wedding photo) into your own numbered canvas. Check out our Custom Photo Paintings collection to turn your own picture into a kit.
Diamond Painting vs Paint by Numbers: Side by Side
| Diamond Painting | Paint by Numbers | |
|---|---|---|
| Tools needed | Applicator pen, wax, tray (included in kit) | Brushes, paint (included in kit) |
| Mess level | Very low — no wet paint | Low to moderate — wet paint, needs drying time |
| Finish | Sparkly, textured, dimensional | Matte, smooth, traditional painted look |
| Skill built | Patience, pattern-matching, fine motor placement | Brush control, color blending basics |
| Typical time to finish | Longer — placing individual diamonds | Faster — brushing covers area quickly |
| Best for | Relaxation, repetitive/meditative craft, statement wall art | Those who enjoy painting, want a more traditional hobby, custom photo portraits |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose diamond painting if: you want a low-mess, highly relaxing craft with a bold, sparkling result — great for landscapes, night skies, and large statement pieces for your wall. Start with our Forest Landscape Cabin kit or the dramatic Starry Night House by the Lake.
Choose paint by numbers if: you want the feel of real painting, enjoy working with a brush, or want to turn a personal photo into a one-of-a-kind piece. Our Custom Photo Paintings collection is the best starting point.
Can’t decide? Many hobbyists end up trying both — they scratch different itches. Browse the full HUACAN catalog to see every kit available right now, including our Sunset Mountain Forest diamond painting kit.