Can I Cover an Ugly Plastic Planter?

Don't put up with an ugly planter.

There is no reason why you should have to live with an ugly plastic planter. You can use paint or contact paper to cover it with a two-dimensional design. You can also use clay for a three-dimensional surface. There are many brands of clay are designed to dry through contact with air, often found in the school supplies sections of large retailers. If clay isn't your thing, you can also use Popsicle sticks for either a flat or dimensional cover.

Paint

Begin by scrubbing the planter with soapy water and drying it thoroughly. Once it is dry, sand it with 100-grit sandpaper to prepare the plastic for paint. Wash the planter again to remove any residual sanding dust. You can now paint the planter with acrylic paint, available at any hobby or art store. The design is limited only by your imagination or skill. If you want a simpler planter, use a single color. Allow the paint to dry, then brush on several coats of gloss or matte medium to protect it.

Contact Paper

Select a pattern of contact paper that you like. Ideally it should not have any complicated patterns, which would be difficult to match between pieces. Measure each side of the planter and draw the different pieces onto the contact paper, allowing an extra quarter inch to compensate for any corners. Wash the planter to remove any dirt and residue. Peel the backing off of each piece of contact paper and apply them to the planter one at a time until the entire surface is covered.

Air-Dry Clay

Roughly sand the surface of the planter with 40-grit sandpaper to score the surface and make the clay stick better, then wash it to remove the dust. Spread a quarter-inch thick layer of clay over the entire surface, then sculpt and build up any designs that you want. If you are not experienced with sculpting, press clay into molds (available at craft stores) and allow it to dry to obtain specific shapes. These shapes can be pressed into the clay covering the planter. The two clays will fuse together upon drying.

Popsicle Sticks

Covering an ugly planter with Popsicle sticks is a fun project that your kids can help you with. You can decorate the sticks in advance with paint or markers, or wait until they are on the planter. Sand the planter with 40-grit sandpaper and wash it to prepare the surface, then glue each stick in place with a hot glue gun. The sticks can be arranged vertically, horizontally, diagonally or in any other pattern that you want. You can also use multiple layers of sticks to create interesting patterns.

References

• Woodzone: Sandpaper 101
• Jevitt: Contact Paper -- Unbelievable Tool With Unbelievable Usage And Benefits
• "The Prop Builder's Molding & Casting Handbook"; Thurston James; 1989