Do you have a bunch of old vases or planters sitting around that no longer fit your home decor? With this DIY project, you can turn them into pieces that make them look like matte-finished ceramic or terracotta!
It’s so easy! All you need is a decorative container, water-based paint, and baking powder!
Virtually any container will work with this project – glass vases, bottles, candle holders, pottery, or planters.
Create a Ceramic Look with Paint and Baking Powder
Follow the how-to instructions below to dress up any container. I’ve included tips in each step, as well as how you can take this project one step further. Have fun!
What You Will Need:
- 1 cup (or more) water-based Acrylic Craft Paint or Latex Wall Paint
NOTE: Oil-based paints will NOT work for this project! - 1 teaspoon (or more) Baking Powder
NOTE: Make sure to use Baking Powder, NOT Baking Soda – see note below. - Natural Bristle Paint Brush
- Glass Vase, Bottle, or any glass or pottery container
- Plastic Container with Lid for mixing/storing paint (such as Ziploc containers)
- Plastic Spoon for stirring paint
What You Do:
- Wash and dry your vase or container to make sure you’re starting with a clean surface.
- Add your water-based paint to the plastic container, then add the baking powder. Stir with a plastic spoon until the baking powder is thoroughly mixed into the paint.
You will see bubbles form as the baking powder reacts to the paint (see paragraph at the bottom of this article for more information). The paint texture will become thick as the baking powder reacts to the liquid – almost the texture of a mousse.
TIP: Make sure to mix enough paint to cover the container, or containers – if painting more than one at a time. - Apply a first coat of paint to the outside of your vase or container – you can also paint the inside of the container if needed.
TIP: Brush the paint on horizontally as you work your way from the bottom of the container to the top. Using horizontal brush strokes will make the container look more like a spun clay or ceramic pot when finished.
The first coat of paint will be fairly thin and you probably will be able to see through it. This is okay – adding more layers of paint will make the paint more opaque. - Allow your container to dry to the touch – usually around 30-40 minutes – then apply another coat of paint.
TIP: Seal your paint container between coats so the paint doesn’t dry out. - Continue drying and applying layers of paint until you get the look you want – usually 2-4 coats of paint.
- Allow your painted container to dry thoroughly overnight, or for at least 24 hours, before using.
One Step Further
- More Texture – If you’d like more texture to your paint, add up to 4 teaspoons of Baking Powder. The more baking powder, the thicker the paint will be. Allow the last coat of paint to dry slightly, then use your brush to create a stippled texture.
- Paint Color – Experiment with different colors of water-based paints. For example, use a coral, salmon, or orange color to make your vases look more like terracotta. A grey paint will make your vases look more like concrete. White makes the vases look like matte ceramic. You can mix craft paints to the color you want, or buy sample cans of paint at the home improvement store (they’ll mix the color for you).
TIP: This project is a great way to use left-over interior wall paint.
TIP: Many home improvement stores sell sample-size containers of interior paint. This allows you to get the color you want, without having to spend a lot on large quantities of paint. - Two-Tone – Paint just a portion of a vase for a two-tone look. For example, start with a white vase (glossy or matte) and paint just the bottom half of the vase, leaving the upper part the original white.
- Create a Collection – Thrift stores are an excellent place to find inexpensive vases and containers to use for this project! When shopping for vases or containers, don’t focus on the color they are now – rather, focus on the SHAPE of the container. Find three or five containers in various shapes that look good together. Paint them either all the same colors or variations of the same color, and you have an instant collection!
TIP: Odd numbered collections are usually more interesting in home decor than an even number.
The Difference Between Baking Soda and Baking Powder
Baking Soda and Baking Powder are two different things. Baking Soda is sodium bicarbonate. It requires an acid and a liquid to become activated. Baking Powder contains sodium bicarbonate, but it also contains an acid (often Cream of Tartar) – therefore, it only needs a liquid to become activated.
The Finished Project
Here are the vases I bought at the thrift store before I painted them. I chose them for their shape and for the variety of heights.
Here are the same vases after I painted them. Pretty cool, eh? I think they turned out great!
I’m looking forward to doing this project again with different colored paint.
More photos…
If you give this project a try, I’d love to hear your comments!
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