30+ Best Watercolor Background Textures and Patterns

Watercolor background textures are a way to instantly add an artistic, handcrafted feel to any kind of art and design project.

Watercolor textures can be used to quickly create professional looking social media graphics, web designs, wallpapers, product packaging, posters, flyers, stationery, greeting cards, book covers, illustrations, and hundreds of other print and digital designs.

They look particularly good behind stylized typography, making a perfect background for quotes, logos, and social media banners.

Ranging from barely-there hints of color to bold and vibrant brush strokes and patterns, watercolor is highly versatile and has a universal appeal.

We’ve handpicked some of our favorite watercolor background textures, patterns, and designs that you can download to use in your own projects.

Most of these graphics are available via Envato Elements – a directory of thousands of design elements. You can download unlimited graphics, templates, stock photos, and videos as well as access courses and tutorials for a small monthly fee. You can find out more about how it works in our Envato Elements review.

Our Top Pick: Watercolor Design Bundle

This mega bundle not only contains 64 watercolor backgrounds in a variety of styles, paper textures, and paint effects, but also hundreds of watercolor vectors and brushes to make your own unique creations.

You get 340 design elements in total including .ai and .eps vectors and high-resolution .jpgs

Why this is our top pick: All the watercolor elements included in this elements are hand-painted on watercolor paper and digitally converted.

This gives them that authentic handcrafted look that can really transform your projects into something special. With so many colors and styles in this bundle, you’re sure to find the watercolor backgrounds and graphic elements that will work for you.

1. Only Watercolor Background Bundle

This huge bundle of over 500 watercolor backgrounds is sure to have something suitable for your projects, whatever colors, textures, and atmosphere you’re looking for. Whether you’re in search of something with vivid rainbow hues, subtle pastels, or neutral tones, they’re all included in this mega bundle

The pack includes over 500 individual graphics files in formats .jpg and, .psd with resolution ranging from 3000 x 2000 to 6000 x 4000. There’s also a bonus sketch art Photoshop action included.

2. Space Watercolor Backgrounds

These inky black and blue watercolor backgrounds create an artistic and moody look that’s perfect for wallpapers, social media graphics, print designs, and any other number of creative purposes.

In this bundle you get 10 backgrounds in .jpeg format in 3000 x 2000 resolution.

3. Amethyst & Blush Watercolor Backgrounds

This collection of beautiful hand-painted watercolor backgrounds with natural tones is ideal for creating invitations, scrapbooking, website design, and many other digital and print projects.

The pack includes 6 .jpg watercolor backgrounds at 300dpi and a bonus 6 watercolor splotches with a transparent background, in .png format.

4. Dirty Watercolor Backgrounds

These vibrant backgrounds were created by hand-painting watercolors and editing with blur effects and grungy overlays. The final effect is a highly textured and bold background that can be used for all types of web and graphic design.

The pack includes 10 color schemes with .jpg and .png files in 3000 x 2000 resolution.

5. Matte Watercolor Textures

These watercolor backgrounds in muted tones look great behind light or dark text and are perfect for creating graphics with a vintage, handmade feel.

The background graphics set includes 10 unique images in .jpg format with 3000 x 2000 resolution.

6. 30 Colorful Watercolor Backgrounds

This collection of colorful watercolor backgrounds are reminiscent of rainbows and vibrant sunsets. These graphics can speed up the creation of any kind of creative graphic design, giving a playful and optimistic feel.

The set includes 30 .jpg files at 6000 x 4000 resolution.

7. Coffee Watercolor Backgrounds

These brown-toned watercolor backgrounds would make ideal graphic elements for a coffee blog, coffee packaging, or general print and graphic design.

The pack includes 16 files in total. 8 are full background images in .jpg format with 6000 x 4485 resolution. There are also 8 transparent .png shapes to create coffee spills and splashes.

8. Black Watercolor Backgrounds

If you’re looking for something to lift a plain black background, this collection of black watercolor backgrounds could be just the thing. Ideal for print and graphic design or as a photo overlay, these backgrounds look great with white, silver, or gold text and other graphic elements.

This collection includes 30.jpg files at 6000 x 4000 resolution.

9. Minimalist Watercolor Backgrounds

These subtle watercolor backgrounds in pastel tones are ideal for adding texture and depth to digital graphics for websites, social media, and wallpapers. At a high resolution, they’re also suitable for print media such as invitations, flyers, and posters.

The pack includes 24 .jpg files at 6000 x 4000 resolution.

10. Watercolor Sky Backgrounds

These handmade watercolor paint backgrounds evoke the colors and subtle textures of the sky. Ideal as a background for digital artwork, to create graphics for web or print, or to use for mobile or desktop backgrounds, these background graphics are highly versatile.

The bundle includes 30 .jpg files at 6000 x 4000 resolution.

11. Textured Watercolor Gradient Backgrounds

If you’re looking for a smooth gradient background that has a little texture but no obvious splashes and brushstrokes, consider downloading this set of watercolor backgrounds. Inspired by the colors and light of sunrise and sunset, these graphics would make a beautiful background for any project.

With this download, you get 30 gradients with a variety of watercolor textures in .tiff, .jpeg, and .png format.

12. Ombre Watercolor Backgrounds Bundle

This huge collection of ombre watercolor backgrounds in multiple colors, tones, and textures can be used for a wide range of graphic and artistic applications.

The bundle includes 14 packs of backgrounds, each of which contains multiple variations in a single color family. In total there are 93 background files in .jpg format.

13. Abstract Watercolor Backgrounds

Sometimes you don’t want your background to fill the whole screen with color, and that’s when sets like this bundle of watercolor abstract backgrounds comes in hand. Choose from an eclectic mix of hand-painted circles and patterns in various color combinations, paint splatters, and other graphic elements.

This set includes 10 .png files with a transparent background at 3000 x 4500 resolution.

14. Spring Watercolor Backgrounds

Looking for a set of watercolor backgrounds in a fresh, optimistic color palette? Check out this set of spring-themed watercolor backgrounds. Suitable for a range of different projects, these graphic elements give a handmade feel to digital creations.

This set includes 6 .jpg files at 4500 x 3000 resolution.

15. 12 Watercolor Backgrounds

I really like the unique paint effects and color combinations in this set of handmade watercolor backgrounds. Ideal for using in illustration, graphic and web design, scrapbooking, and product creation, these backgrounds will add depth and texture to your designs.

The pack includes 12 .jpg files at 3000 x 2500 resolution.

16. Watercolor Colorful Textures

These candy-colored watercolor backgrounds make a great starting point for any design or craft project. At high resolution for printing on A4 paper, the vibrant colors will brighten up your designs.

This pack includes 6 individual background files in .jpg format at 300 dpi.

17. Watercolor Seamless Patterns – Flowers and Stripes

Not all watercolor backgrounds are abstract swathes of color. These cute and contemporary watercolor patterns make a cute background for packaging, stationery, web design, and more. Designed to tile together seamlessly, you can create an image file of any size you wish.

This background collection includes 12 seamless patterns in .jpg format at 2500 x 2500 resolution.

18. Abstract Watercolor Backgrounds

Don’t like wishy washy wet-on-wet watercolors? These backgrounds are created from bold and defined strokes that build up layers of color to create a visually exciting abstract background.

This pack includes 10 different color variations of the same pattern concept, all in .jpg format at 3000 x 2000 resolution.

19. Wedding Backgrounds: Textures and Patterns

If you’re designing wedding invitations, save the date cards, place cards, or any other kind of wedding stationery, you’ll definitely want to take a look at these watercolor wedding backgrounds. Including floral, graphic, and abstract patterns in shades of blush pink and peach, they make the ideal starting point for wedding print or web design.

The set includes 12 files in total (6 textures and 6 seamless patterns) in .jpg format at 2700 x 4000 resolution.

20. Winter Watercolor Backgrounds

Inspired by frozen landscapes, icy waters, and winter skies, this collection of winter watercolor backgrounds in cool blues is a true work of art. Use them for web design, print design, wallpapers, or any other type of creative project.

This set includes 12 different .jpg backgrounds at 6000 x 4000 resolution.

21. Watercolor Wash Bundle Volume 1

This collection of watercolor textures is highly varied in terms of color, painting style, texture, and visual effect. Whether you’re looking for a subtle pastel, a dark and moody background, or something vibrant and bold, you’ll find it in this pack.

The bundle contains 35 hand-painted backgrounds in .jpg format at 4800 x 3200 resolution.

22. Tropical Watercolor Seamless Patterns 

These hand painted repeating illustrations of tropical plants and flowers would make a great background for a website, stationery, or product packaging with an exotic theme.

The collection includes 10 .png files with a transparent background at 2835 x 2835 resolution.

23. Watercolor Paint Drop Background        

Looking for a background that looks like someone has gone wild and flicked paint all over? You’ve found it! This collection of backgrounds is made with rainbow colored watercolor paint splatters and makes for a bright and cheerful background that would be suitable for a toy store website, wrapping paper, or a greetings card for someone young and fun at heart.

The collection includes 4 .jpg files at 300dpi.

24. Wood Effect Watercolor Texture

This interesting collection of watercolor backgrounds is painted to look like woodgrain with a variety of whitewashed color effects including pink, blue, beige, and more. Use them to create a shabby chic or handmade look for print and digital designs.

The pack includes 8 watercolor textures in .jpg format at 300 dpi.

25. 64 Watercolor Textures

Looking for a watercolor background with defined dry brush strokes and interesting colors? This bundle of watercolor background textures includes some unique paint effects and neon colors. They make an ideal background for illustrations and typography.

The bundle includes 64 .jpg files at 2300 x 3286 resolution.

26. 12 Watercolor Patterns

These bright and colorful repeating watercolor backgrounds made a unique artistic background for any art or design project. Half of these backgrounds have a paper texture background and half have a transparent background so you can customize the colors and effect.

The pack includes 24 files in total – 12 .png files and 12 .jpg files at 300 dpi

27. Abstract Watercolor Textures

These abstract design backgrounds are created with a combination of bold watercolor brushstrokes and geometric inking patterns to create a unique and artistic effect. Use them to create an eye-catching effect in your projects.

The set includes 20 backgrounds in .jpg and .png format at 3500 x 2400 resolution.

28. Pink Peach Watercolor Texture

This romantic and feminine set of watercolor textures in shades of peach is ideal for web design, social media, and print design.

The collection includes 12 .png frames at high resolution, a .png background, and 27 watercolor spots and shapes to create your own unique designs.

29. Crystallized Watercolor Backgrounds     

These jewel-toned watercolor background textures include interesting patterns and paint effects that will add immediate texture and depth to your artistic design projects. They’re ideal for creating posters, flyers, websites, posters, phone cases, apps, presentations, and more.

This set includes 40 .jpg images at 6000 x 4000 resolution.

30. Hand Painted Watercolor Textures

When you think “watercolor”, often the first image that springs to mind is smooth blended pastels. These bold, graphic watercolor textures are anything but. Painted by hand on real paper, these unique textures will add creative flair to any design project.

The collection includes 5 original paintings in various formats including transparent .png, layered Photoshop files, vector EPS, AI Illustrator, original JPG and exported JPG with 12 different colors for each image.

31. Pale Watercolor Backgrounds      

This collection of elegant watercolor backgrounds in shades of gold, beige, pink, and brown is ideal for branding, social media, wedding invitations, scrapbooking, and a range of other uses.

The pack includes 22 .png files at 600 dpi with size ranging from 2400 x 3000 to 1800 x 6700.

Looking for more graphic elements for your designs? You might want to check our our list of best Photoshop brushes or get some inspiration from our web and graphic design examples.