Since being stuck at home with limited project supplies, I have had to turn my creativity up a notch. I have always loved the look of aged terra cotta pots, but unfortunately I did not have all the supplies it called for on hand.
I did, however, have a few extra terra cotta pots and some paint. So I decided to do a little easy DIY: Painted Terra Cotta Pots!
I like the look of regular terra cotta pots, I think they are perfect for Spring. But my front porch has a lot of green and blue hues to it so I wanted them to accent that a little more.
And since all my leftover paint was in that color family, I decided to go for it and transform them into something totally different! I am so happy that I did, because I think they look really spectacular on my porch now.
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Supplies Needed:
- Terra Cotta Pots
- Paint (I used Fusion Mineral Paint)
- Paintbrush
- Dark Antiquing Wax
Directions On How To Paint Terra Cotta Pots:
The first thing you need to do is make sure your terra cotta pots are clean. I actually used them for planting last year so they were a little dirty. All I did was wash them off in warm, soapy water and then let them dry completely.
After they are dried and cleaned, it is time to paint them! I used Fusion Mineral Paint and again I am so super impressed with this paint!
The three colors I chose for this project were Lichen, Bayberry, and Homestead Blue. These were all the sample sized pots and I had plenty of paint for this project, as well as some left over too!
Once I painted them, I let them dry overnight. Now, you can either choose to be done at this step or continue on with me to the next step.
I wanted them to look more aged and older, but if you are happy with just a little paint on the pots, then leave them as is!
Distressing The Painted Terra Cotta Pots
So to distress them, the first thing I did was dry brush a little white paint on them. Basically, I poured a little white paint out on the cardboard I had the pots on, and dipped my brush in it.
Then I swiped several times on the cardboard to remove the excess white paint. Once I just had a little left on my brush, I barely brushed a few strokes of white paint on the pots.
You can do this as much or as little as you please. I wanted them to have a bit of a chippy look so I am very happy with how they turned out after dry brushing the white paint on them.
Again, you could stop here if you are satisfied with how they look. But, I wanted to give mine even more depth and texture after dry brushing the white paint on.
Once they were dry (which didn’t take very long since I only used a little paint), I wanted to add a dark antiquing wax to them to give them more dimension.
Aging The Painted Terra Cotta Pots
If you remember from my painted mirror frame I did a few months ago, I used the antiquing wax on that too. You don’t need much of it at all. A little goes a really long way.
All you need to apply it is a damp rag and then a dry rag as well. Use your damp rag to apply the product, and then the dry rag to wipe away the excess.
Don’t worry if you accidentally put too much of the wax on it, you can easily buff it out or repaint it. I worked in small sections and just rubbed on a little here and there as I went.
I was very pleased with the final look of this easy DIY. After adding the antiquing wax, the pots really looked like they have gotten a lot of use over the years! Which was definitely the look I wanted to achieve in this project.
All in all, it only took me two days to complete and that was mainly because I was just waiting for the paint to dry. It was super simple and so much fun to do.
I love doing easy projects like this, especially now when there is so much on my mind right now. It is such a great stress reliever and the best part is you can just use what you have on hand!
Another option to make them even more distressed and aged, would be to use sandpaper and roughen them up a little.
I thought about doing this too, but I was so happy with how they turned out that I didn’t want to mess them up! And plus, if I ever decide I want to, I can always go back later and do so!
I would love to get a few more terra cotta pots and paint them in this same technique. But of course I was just using what I already had on hand.
Maybe if I can find some cheap online, I will order more and paint them too. I will keep you updated! And if you guys try this out, let me know! I would love to hear how this easy DIY: painted terra cotta pots went for you as well!
Ahh these are adorable! It’s such a good thing to do to pass the time and be creative! I started a small business painting and selling plant pots while I was at uni! 🙂 thanks for sharing this for others to follow!
Oh that sounds like so much fun! I would love to do something like that! It always helps pass the time doing something creative like this for sure!
Love them! Have been craving to paint while I”ve been in quarantine!!
Yes me too! I just wish I had more stuff to paint now lol
Such a great idea, I love it. These look very beautiful, congrats! x
Thank you so much! I appreciate that Giulia!
Such an easy and fun project! Thanks for the post! You are so creative!
Awe thank you so much! I am trying to be or else I will go crazy here stuck at home lol
These are so pretty! The whole process seems very simple. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much Heather! It is very simple and easy for sure!
Ahh I love this! This is such a creative idea, especially when you’re stuck for ideas and supplies at home due to lockdown! You could get SO creative with these pots too! xxx
Yes you really could! I wish I had more pots to paint now! Maybe I can order some more off of Amazon lol
Yes you really could! I wish I had more pots to paint now. Maybe I can order some more off of Amazon lol
How cute! What a lovely idea!
Thank you so much Ren!
Such a great vibration, I love. So simple but efficace.
Thank you. It is very simple and easy!
I absolutely LOVE this idea and we definitely need fun projects around the house for me and my four kids! They’d absolutely love this.
Yes! It would definitely be a perfect project to do with kids for sure!
I would never have thought of painting terracotta pots but they look absolutely beautiful! And that’s such a good tip about using tester paint pots as well. A great idea for some lockdown activities for Flora, thank you, Charity! xx
No problem! I am trying to keep myself entertained and busy so I am just using what I have on hand!
Such a great post, those pots look lovely. I think I might have to have a go at this myself
Yes! You definitely should! It was easy and fun!
These look so effortlessly gorgeous! I feel like I’ve seen a couple of pots lying around in the garden so would love to give something like this a go.
You should definitely try it out if you have some extra pots on hand! It was so easy and fun!
Awesome idea, painting is so much fun and I feel you on being creative with limited supplies due to being stuck at home.
Yes, I am trying to stay busy and creative without having to spend money and order things. Especially since I am on a much tighter budget now not working.
I’ve been painting pots too – using chalk paint and a sealer. Mine are just the black plastic ones as I rather like my terracotta plain. Such a fun thing to do and yours look gorgeous.
Thank you so much! And yes painting pots is a fun and easy thing to do while being stuck at home!
These are sooo cute! I’m going to have to grab some pots and paint the next time we are out and try this for myself, thank you for sharing it with us!
Yes you should definitely try it out! It’s a cheap, easy, and fun DIY project!
Yes you should definitely try it out! It’s a cheap, easy, and fun DIY project.
These are so cute! Looks like a fun little day project. I might add this to our list of home improvement ideas!
Yes you should! It was so simple and easy. And of course fun to do too!
The pots are very cute, I love the colours! Maybe I should start doing projects at home too since I have the time.
Yes you should! It makes the day go by a little quicker I think!
I love these! Beautiful!
Thank you Tamra, I think so too!
These are so cute! I love the teal one! Great project for being stuck at home! 🙂
Thank you so much Paige! It was a great project while being stuck at home. Now, I wish I had more pots to paint lol
They look great!! We are going into the garden after homeschooling to paint some stones bright colours 🙂 x
Awe that sounds like so much fun! Enjoy it!
Love these – they’re so cute
Thank you! I am pretty happy with how they turned out for sure!
This is awesome! Its good to be creative, it brings out another side of you.
Thank you! It really does and it helps pass the time for sure!
I plan to have a bunch of containers as well as our garden, thank you for this great article to dress up our terra cotta!
No problem! I am sure they will look great in your garden too!
Wow, I love these, so pretty! I actually did something similar a few years ago with terra cotta pots and pastel paints! I really love this tutorial and think the aged effect looks amazing. If I ever do this again, I’ll be sure to give it a go! Thanks for sharing, this is such a fun way to get creative and get our gardens ready for the summer! <3 xx
Bexa | http://www.hellobexa.com
Thank you so much Bexa! I am a sucker for anything old and chippy so I try to make my new things appear that way too! I just love the character it adds to the piece!
These look great! Such a nice idea for getting creative during these times 🙂 x
https://www.femaleoriginal.com
Thank you so much Faye! Yes, I love spending this time being creative. Helps the time pass by a little quicker I think!
I love the colours you’ve used, they look so good now especially with the white paint added!
Thank you so much Meaghan! I am glad I had some white paint on hand for this project!
I love how your pots turned out! Such a fun project to tackle while you are stuck at home!
Thank you so much! It really was a fun project to do!
I always get so excited for when you advertise a new post! I love your post ideas and this one is definitely no different. Super cute.
Al xx
Awe Al you are too sweet! Thank you so much! Your words mean a lot!
Beautiful…..!!!!!!!
Thank you
This is such a cute project. I think I will have my kids get involved in this and make these as Christmas gifts for family members.
Oh that would be the perfect idea to give them away as Christmas presents!
I love how the pots turned out! Such a fun way to tackle these days stuck at home!
Thank you so much! It is a lot of fun to have some projects to do while being stuck inside!
Ooh I’ve been looking for some new DIY products and this is such a cute idea! The painted pots look so much more expensive & chic, I’m definitely trying this out!
Soph- https://sophhearts.com/ x
Thank you so much! You definitely should try them out! They were a lot of fun!
They look absolutely incredible! It can be so hard to find cute pots and the terra cotta ones are so readily available but not the nicest to look at. Your painted ones look beautiful, I don’t know why I’ve never thought of doing this! x
Sophie
Thank you so much Sophie! Yes, it’s amazing what a little paint can do!
Super cute idea! I’m getting excited to start my garden soon, but it’s still too cold to plant anything here. This is a great idea for “getting ready” for a few plants, while I wait to actually get to plant something!
Oh yes! This would be a perfect thing to do before actually planting something!
I love the idea. I don’t have any Terra Cotta pots on hand right now but I do have some plastic planter pots that could definetly use a fresh look for spring. Thanks for the inspiration!
Oh yes! You could definitely do those too! And no problem, thanks for stopping by!
These are gorgeous! We just finished a flowerpot craft, too, but I think I’ll use this to spruce up the ones I have left. Thanks!
No problem! Flowerpot crafts are so much fun!
I love that Have been craving to paint while I”ve been in quarantine
https://ieltstargalaxy.blogspot.com
Yes me too! It’s so much fun and makes the day pass by a little quicker I think!
These are gorgeous! I am useless when it comes to painting but if you ever decide to sell these do let me know. I will take 3 😉
Awe thank you so much! I totally would if I had more pots on hand lol
The way you painted and cover all the process is beautiful…
Thank you so much. I really appreciate you stopping by and reading it!
Ah these are adorable!! I love arts and crafts, so I will definitely give these a go 😀
Yes! You definitely should! It was fun and easy to do!
I absolutely love this project! My husband and I are moving to our first house in May, and my intention is to bring a lot of plant life into the house. Needless to say, I’ll be using lots of terra cotta pots. This is a great way to get them to match my decor! Love it! Thanks!
No problem! That is so exciting! Can’t wait to see what you do with them!
These are SO cute!! I have stack of tera cota pots too!! I know what I’ll be doing this weekend!! Love this!
https://justlivejoy.com/10-movie-thrillers-on-netflix/
Awe yay! I am glad I could inspire you! You will love doing this! It was so easy and so much fun!
This is such a cute idea! I love painting but ran out of canvasses so this is so cool. Love the pictures. Great post 🙂
Fy https://cultureeighteen.wordpress.com/
Thank you so much! I love painting too but I have now ran out of things to paint!
This looks like so much fun! And the end result is so cute and pretty. Fab idea gal xx
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it! I was happy with how they turned out for sure!
Oh, I love how they have turned out. They really tie in well with the rest of the area, don’t they? Also, love the distressed look to them, that’s a really great method to get that look isn’t it? Thanks for the inspiration…I now want to go paint lots of things haha!
Aimsy xoxo
Aimsy’s Antics
I know right! After painting them, I want to paint more lol and yes I love vintage and chippy items so I try to make even new pieces have that same effect!
These are so cute! I love plants and these would look so cute!
Yes! I love plants too!
I love these! I have some Terra Cotta pots that I need to decorate. This is a great idea! I subscribed to your newsletter. I have recently got into crafts and diy. I am interested to see all of your projects! If you would like to see mine, let me know and I’ll send you a link.
Awe thank you so much Heather! I appreciate it! I would love to see yours as well!
These are so neat! I’ve been wanting to paint some of my pots this spring, so thanks for the inspiration!
No problem! Glad I could inspire you a little!
Lovely post! I love vintage looking items so it’s lovely to see these gorgeous transformed pots. Thank you for the fab post!
Stay wonderful x
Thank you so much Louna! I definitely like to make things look vintage, even if they are new! There’s just something special about a weathered and worn piece!
Beautiful pots..Just loved it
Thank you so much. I think the pots turned out great too!
These are so cute and cool! The colors you choose are soothing in the eyes and it looks elegant for me..gonna do this when house renovation starts 😊
Oh yay! Yes, I am loving the colors together. They just seem calm and peaceful to me!
I’m going to be looking through the garage to see if I can find some pots for my daughter to paint. They might be a bit more wacky looking, but it should be fun.
I think the more wacky looking, the better! It gives them more character!
These are so cute!
Thank you so much! I think so too!
This is creative and easy to make. You make the pots look so beautiful
Thank you so much! I love when things are easy to make!
I love the colours you choose for the pots. Makes me want to start a diy project too!
Thank you! You definitely should. I love DIYs!
Embrace your creative side in order to keep yourself sane in this weird and trying times. I’ve created more art stuff in the last few weeks than I have in the last year
Yes! Being creative is helping me so much right now too!
Wow! A great idea, I will soon be taking this idea <3
You should! It was a lot of fun!
I wish I was this creative, normally I would just go out and buy something like this, but you’ve just made me realize how easy it is to make things like this! These look so fun and cute, I might just have to create something like this later. Great post – thanks for sharing x
Yes! You should try it! It is super easy to do!
These turned out really cute! I can’t wait until it gets a little warmer here in PA so we can start to enjoy the outside and all it has to offer.
Yes! We had really warm weather there for awhile and then it dropped back to being cold again unfortunately
I love how the terra cotta pots are easy to decorate and LOVE your plants!! I like that the color scheme goes with your vibes at home. Pretty cool that you gave it some of the white rustic vibes to it too. Thanks for sharing this easy to follow tutorial!
Nancy ♥ exquisitely.me
Thank you so much Nancy. I am very happy with how they turned out for sure!