Paint Flower Pots

If you're like me, you love flowers and live greenery in your home. I would like to buy freshly cut flowers every week, but in order to save a little cash I like to have indoor plants that give the same effect. However, most of my terracotta pots have been sitting outside so they're either dirty or don't quite have that cool, patina look to them. Instead of buying new ones, consider painting them.

I got this idea from an article in one of Martha Stewart's old Living magazines. She suggests using oil-based enamel paints to give the pots a glazed, or shiny, look. Don't forget to paint the bottom first, let it dry, then flip it over to paint the sides and inside. Add an indoor (or outdoor) plant, and voile! a fresh look to something you already had.


Martha Stewart's painted (with oil-based enamel paint) pots


Wrap painter's tape around the middle of the pot and then paint one half.


Paint the pot turquoise and then sand some of the areas with course sandpaper to give it an aged look.


Paint a small pot, fill with moss and then use it as a table marker, place card, picture holder, decorative accessory, etc.


I made these pots a couple of years ago. I got the idea out of a Pottery Barn catalog, except their pots cost about $5 each. I bought these 4" terracotta pots for $.87 each, painted them with chalkboard paint (about $5 for a quart), and then wrote the name of the herbs in chalk. You can easily wash off the chalk, let it dry and then write something new.


Or, you could paint the pots and then paint or stencil the names of the herbs you have.


I also liked this idea. Paint only the bottom or top half and write inspiring words or phrases.


You could even group several painted pots and plants in the middle of a table as a centerpiece.