How to Decorate Terra Cotta Flower Pots

Turn ordinary terra-cotta pots into works of art.

Terra-cotta pots are appropriate for many uses. They are primarily used to hold plants but can also be used to hold candles or even as a container to hold keys or spare change. Decorating a terra-cotta pot will make it a good accent piece in your home no matter what purpose you use it for. The easiest ways to decorate the pots are by painting or decoupaging them to match or complement your decor.

Things You'll Need

• Soap
• Sandpaper
• Polyurethane
• Acrylic paint
• Paint brushes
• Stencils or stamps
• White glue
• Magazines or napkins
• Scissors

Instructions

Painting Terra-cotta Pots

1. Wash the pot thoroughly with warm water and soap and rinse well. Dry all parts of the pot.

2. Sand the edges of the pot with sandpaper to smooth any rough sections. Sand the sides if the entire pot feels rough.

3. Seal the inside of the pot with polyurethane or craft acrylic and allow it to dry.

4. Paint the entire outside of the pot with a base color of acrylic paint. Apply two to three coats, allowing the paint to dry between coats.

5. Paint designs on the pot using stencils or by hand with acrylic paint. Stamps that are dipped in paint are another option for decorating.

6. Seal the paint with polyurethane when it is dry. Once the polyurethane is dry, your pot is ready to be displayed.

Decoupaging Terra-cotta Pots

1. Wash the pot well with soap and water and rinse thoroughly. Dry completely before beginning.

2. Mix together an equal amount of white glue and water.

3. Cut designs from magazines, napkins or pictures that you want to use on the pot.

4. Apply the glue mixture to a small portion of the pot with a small paint brush and apply one of the cut designs. Continue this step until the entire pot is covered.

5. Allow the pot to dry for one to two hours. Brush over the entire pot with a thin layer of the glue mixture. Display the pot after it has dried overnight.

Tips & Warnings

• Mosaic is another method for decorating terra-cotta pots. Cover the pot with a layer of white glue and arrange small, flat stones or broken pottery on the surface of the pot.

References

• Patricia's Pots: How to Paint a Terra Cotta Flower Pot
• All Free Crafts: How to Decoupage Terra Cotta Pots