Condensed tannins, also known as proanthocyanidins, have been added as functional additives to acrylic-based clear coatings to promote polymer coating longevity and also stabilize timber color on accelerated and exterior weathering. When added at 20% compared to commercial hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS) and phenolic stabilizers used at comparable coating loadings. Other tannin chemical modifications such as methylcarboxylate groups were also associated with greater coating longevity beyond that achieved with the synthetic UV and antioxidant additives. This study has also revealed that tannin addition to acrylic coatings can act to photostabilize timber coloring on exterior exposure. While tannin use can contribute color to coatings, any color was rapidly bleached on UV exposure with a dependency on tannin content, degree of modification, and coating formulation pH. Moreover, through manipulating tannin addition levels, this tannin decolorization could offset typical wood darkening associated with UV exposure to provide low or no wood color change over longer exposure periods. With the photooxidative stability efficacy of tannins established on exterior exposure, condensed tannins in native and modified form offer potential as sustainable functional additives for the coatings sector.