With spring in full swing, it’s the perfect time to unleash your creativity and give your outdoor space a fresh look by painting terracotta pots. Today, I’m excited to join forces with some of my favorite bloggers to bring you a variety of gardening projects inspired by a single Pinterest photo.
A Gardening Pinterest Challenge
One collaboration that I always look forward to is the Pinterest Challenge, hosted by my dear friend Cindy at County Road 407. Each month, Cindy sends us a Pinterest photo and challenges us to recreate it at home. And since I can never resist a good challenge, I keep coming back for more!
If you’ve come from Katie at Let’s Add Sprinkles, welcome! Have you seen her adorable succulent tower? It’s simply delightful. Don’t forget to check out all the other amazing gardening ideas from my talented friends at the end of this post!
The Inspiration Photo
If you’re a Pinterest enthusiast, you know that the platform is all about turning dreams into reality. And if you’ve ever dreamed of having a leaning tower of pots, then you’ll be thrilled with the adorable topsy-turvy buckets from Cottage at the Crossroads. It’s like a gardening magic trick!
While I couldn’t get my hands on galvanized buckets or vibrant flowers due to the current stay-at-home order, I decided to work with what I had. I convinced some terracotta pots to embrace their true potential and stacked them in a charmingly imperfect way. The result is a fun and relaxed addition to my outdoor home decor.
To give my pots a touch of chinoiserie, I used a blue-and-white patterned napkin, which perfectly complemented the outdoor pillows I made last year. Inspired by the original pin, I also added a little sculpted friend to my stacked pots. Crafting this polymer clay dragonfly was so much fun, even though it may not be perfect. My kids were fascinated and they’re now begging me to make my salt dough recipe again!
During the process of painting terracotta pots, I picked up a few tips that I’d love to share with you.
Painting a Terracotta Flower Pot: Tips for Best Results
By painting terracotta pots, you can create a fresh and customized look for your porch or patio. As someone who has painted everything from beer bottles to DIY headboards over the years, I must admit that this project ranks among my most satisfying.
In my final stacked pot tower, you’ll notice that I combined painted pots with decoupage pots. If you want to know the full scoop on the blue-and-white pots, be sure to check out my post on how to decoupage flower pots.
Tip #1: Use a sealer on the inside of the pots
To prevent moisture loss and preserve your painted design, it’s a good idea to use a clay pot sealer on the inside of your pots. This handy product is worth having, whether you’re painting your pots or not!
Tip #2: Use chalk paint for base coating
After trying both acrylic paints and chalk paint for this tutorial, I have to say that chalk paint wins hands down. It only took me 2 coats of chalk paint (ultra matte acrylic paint) to fully cover a pot, whereas traditional acrylic paint required 3-4 coats. If you want to eliminate brush strokes, you can also use spray paint, but personally, I prefer the subtle texture of acrylics.
Tip #3: Paint with foam brushes for even coats
To achieve a smooth and even coat of paint on terracotta, I found that foam brushes work wonders. Although you can prime the pot for a smoother finish, I knew I would be sealing it with a topcoat in the end, so I skipped this step.
Tip #4: Use painter’s tape, fine brushes, or stencils for unique designs
Painter’s tape is a fantastic tool for creating pots with alternating colored rims or fun color-blocked designs. You can even use the wrong end of a small paintbrush to add polka dots, just like I did with my smallest clay pot. Another fun idea is to use a stencil to paint labels for an herb garden directly onto the pots.
Tip #5: Always seal the painted terracotta pots
To protect your decorated flower pots, it’s essential to seal them. I personally used Mod Podge Outdoor, which is not waterproof but offers water resistance. This product works like a charm, as I’ve used it for my outdoor garden stakes as well. Just make sure you allow it to fully cure before filling your pots with plants.
For more delightful garden projects, be sure to check out my DIY mosaic flower pots or these flower pot painting crafts.
Pin it for later!
Don’t forget to pin this article for later, so you can always come back to it when you’re ready to embark on your terracotta pot painting journey!
Continue Your Tour
Before you go, make sure you don’t miss out on the incredible garden projects and decor that my friends are sharing too! Your next stop on the tour is Lora B, who will amaze you with her beautiful ladder garden display. She’s a master of upcycling, so get ready for a treat!
Enjoy your gardening adventures and have fun painting those terracotta pots!
