How to Paint Terracotta Pots

How to Paint Terracotta Pots

Terracotta pots and saucers offer the perfect blank canvas to create beautiful, unique works of art and add color and class to any outdoor space. Creating a colorful herb garden would be a great way to not only spruce up the space, but to provide fresh ingredients for the dishes we hold so dear to our hearts.

Materials needed:

• Terracotta pots of varying sizes
• Terracotta saucers – matching the sizes of the pots
• Terracotta pot sealer – available in aerosol cans at your local craft store
• Rag
• Paint – a base color and one or two accent colors- I used Sand Motif PPU4-13 as
• the base and Fiji P460-5 and Caribe PPU13-01 as accent colors
• Paint brushes
• Small styrofoam cups
• Turkey baster
• Potting soil and small stones
• Herbs, flowers or succulents

Step 1: Clean the pots

Using a damp rag, wipe the pots and saucers to remove dirt and dust. Allow them to dry.

Step 2: Seal the terra cotta pots and saucers

Using a terracotta sealer, in a well-ventilated or outdoor area, spray the outsides and inside rims of the pots and all sides of the saucers. Make sure you follow the instructions on the spray can for best results. Two or more coats may be required. Allow to dry per the instructions.

Step 3: Paint your pots

With your base color and a paintbrush, paint the inner rim and outside of the pots. Allow to dry for two hours. Apply a second coat if needed.

Step 4: Paint your saucers

Paint the saucers with your accent colors. I alternated painting the saucers in my two accent colors for a bit of variety and fun. Allow to dry for two hours. Flip and paint the saucer bottoms. Allow 2 hours to dry. Add a second coat if needed.

Step 5: Apply drip effect

Once your pots and saucers are dry, place them upside-down on three styrofoam cups. This will prevent the dripping paint from sticking the pots to your work surface. Pour a small amount of your accent color into your turkey baster and squeeze it gently around the bottom rim of your pots. Allow the paint to drip naturally down the sides.

If you are using one accent color, use a paintbrush to smooth the accent color across the bottom of the pot and allow to dry overnight before planting.

If you are using two, allow the first accent color to dry for two hours before applying the next. Use a paintbrush to smooth the second accent color across the bottom of the pots and allow to dry overnight.

Step 6: Pot your plants

Potted plants need proper drainage to grow and thrive. A great way to ensure this is to fill with small rocks, covering the bottoms and drainage holes before adding soil. To fill the pots I selected: lavender, sweet basil, Thai basil, German thyme, and sweet mint- few of my mom’s favorites.

Step 7: Display your project

These pots look great displayed en masse. Arrange them together to add a splash of color to your outdoor space.

Whether you’re making them for mom or just to add an extra dose of creativity to your culinary masterpieces, these colorfully, painted pots are sure to please.

Source behr.com