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Flowerpot painting is the best way to add a personal touch to your garden and space. You can transform your ordinary clay flower pot into a colorful piece of art with the help of basic materials and creative ideas. There are many ways to decorate your terra cotta planters, regardless of your level of expertise. Let’s get decorating some pottery.
What paints do you use on a flowerpot for outdoor and indoor purposes?
There are various types of paints which you can use on flowerpots for both indoor and outdoor.
- Outdoor Acrylic paints: Acrylic paints are easier to use and are best for indoor and outdoor flowerpots. These paints get dry in a short period and are available in a variety of colors. Acrylics stick well with most surfaces. But it has one drawback; if you expose it to the elements, it gets scratched or peels off with time, but you can avoid it by placing the pot in the shelter.
- Gloss Enamel Paints: These paints are best for outdoor plants due to their longevity. These paints are resistant to UV rays and water. It gives a glossy look to your pot. Place the pot in a well-ventilated area while painting and drying.
- Chalk Paints: These paints provide a smooth, glossy feel and a shiny look. These are perfect for indoor planters. So, you can paint or cover them with wax for extra protection.
- Spray Paints: They can cover huge areas. It is appropriate for both indoors and outdoors. It is available in various colors and textures, including marbled and metallic.
- Latex Paints are durable and adherent. These are available in several decorations, such as gloss, satin, and matte. Latex paints are suitable for both indoors and outdoors.
- Oil Paints: These paints are suitable for pots outside in harsh weather. Keep it in well-ventilated areas while painting and drying. Oil paints are water-resistant and long-lasting.
- Paint pens like sharpies and poscas are great for details and tend to last longer.
How to paint on a pot?
Materials:
- Terra-cotta pot
- Microfiber cloth
- Kraft paper or newspaper
- Wide rubber bands
- Paintbrush
- All-surface primer
- Acrylic craft outdoor or indoor paints based on where you plan to use the planter.
- Aluminium foil
- Masking or painter’s tape
- Acrylic paint pens – poscas
- Glaze (optional)
- X- Acto Knife (optional)
- Sponge or foam brush
- Stencils (optional)
- Face mask when using spray paint.
Step-by-step directions:
1) Prepare your workspace
First of all, prepare your workspace and make sure your workspace is well-ventilated.
2) Clean the pot
Clean the dirt from your terra cotta pot. If the pot is new, remove the sticker and wipe it with a microfiber cloth.
3) Create a design
Trace or draw your design on the pot. There are a variety of ways to do that, some of the ideas that can help you can be found in the FAQs section like using carbon paper, vinyl, stencils, or even a trace paper if you are not comfortable with free-hand drawing.
4) Apply a coat of primer
Apply primer keeping the pot upside down to keep the substance from filling inside the pot or wrap with aluminum foil to cover the surfaces you are not going to paint. This will allow your painting to stay protected from moisture inside the pot.
5) Start Painting
Once the primer dries, paint with a thin layer of acrylic craft paints or any paints of your choice. For a smooth finish, let each coat dry completely.
6) Reapply a coat of glaze or primer
To cover your painting from outside, seal it with clear coat of spray.
7) Remove the Aluminum foil
Remove the foil, or peel the masking tape that you used to cover the untouched surface. Your flower pot is ready to grow plants and display.
FAQs
Get right to the answers with just a click:
What types of paints don’t get washed off with water?
Can Sharpie and Posca pens be used to draw on a pot?
How to seal acrylic paint on flowerpots?
How to transfer a design onto a pot?
Flower pot painting ideas
Easy Flower Pot Painting Ideas
Paint flowerpots with these DIY ideas if you are a beginner looking for simple ideas:
Beautiful daisy flower pot
Bubble bee flower pot painting
Recycle tin cans into planters with this beautiful artisan painted planters inspiration from Natural Life.
Have fun making DIY Green and Blue swirls on a pot or choose you own colors.
Vibrant houseplant pots from pinterest.
Make Summer ice cream painted flowerpot as planter for housewarming gift or buy one from Etsy.
Painting Boho rainbows from pinterest.
Fairy house flower pot painting idea from pinterest.
Cute Flower Pot Painting Ideas
These adorable ways to paint flowerpots are not only cute but perfect to make small planters attractive and charming:
Painting fruits on pots from Etsy.
Cute fruit flower pots from unknown source.
Minimalist Floral Painting pot
Beautiful red painted terracotta pot
Psychedelic and graphic shapes painted pot from Etsy.
Cityscape painted pot from Etsy.
Dragonfly painted pot from Facebook.
Cute summer painted pot from Pinterest.
Labelled flowerpot using sharpie. Idea from Etsy.
Monstera and flower black pot from Etsy.
Paint a Flower Pot for Mother’s Day. Get this from Etsy.
Paint mushrooms on planter with this etched morels, bees and poppies inspiration from Etsy.
Create Rustic Pots by scratching paint with a plastic card from Etsy.
Paint a textile fabric design that you love like this Mud-cloth-inspired Bohemain planters from Pinterest.
Bright Retro Lines Planter from Etsy.
Paint Clay Flower Pots
These are also ideal for terra cotta pots and any ceramic/ porcelain pottery:
Hand-painted Daisy flowerpot from Etsy.
Ombre waves line art from Etsy.
You can decorate your home for an event like this Easter Themed pot or you can gift it your friend.
Beautiful Flowerpot people from Etsy.
Paint a beach pot for cottage from pinterest.
Make a Marbled pot with marbling method to create mismatched patterns with swirls of paint.
Evil Eye planter, ideal for front yard from Etsy.
Seaweed Painted pots from Etsy.
Abstract Floral Art from Pinterest.
Sunflower painted pot from Etsy.
Oil painting flower pots from Etsy.
Geometric pattern pot with light colors for an indoor garden.
Magic Sunset Mushrooms painted terracotta pot from Etsy.
Decoupaged Art Deco plant pot from Etsy.
Metallic gold moon flower painted pot from Etsy.
Plastic Flowerpot Painting Ideas
Use colorful acrylics, stencils, and even whimsical motifs to give plastic pots a makeover. Have fun with floral patterns or abstract designs.
What types of paints don’t get washed off with water?
When you are painting a flowerpot, you must choose the paint that is water resistant. So here are a few types of paint that do not get washed off with water.
- Outdoor craft paints: These are specially designed for outdoor use and are resistant to water, weather changes, and rain.
- Spray paints: Spray paints are made for outdoor application work as a protective barrier since they are resistant to rain and moisture. To ensure maximum longevity, use high-quality paints.
- Acrylic paints with sealant: Acrylic paints absorb water easily, however for optimal moisture protection, especially when used outdoors, a clear varnish or sealant can shield the paint from moisture damage.
- Latex paints: Can be used to decorate flowerpots; however, for outdoor use acrylic latex paints also requires sealant.
- Enamel Paints: They have a glossy finish, are long-lasting, and provide water and weather protection.
Can Sharpie and Posca pens be used to draw on a pot?
Yes, both Sharpies and Posca pens are ideal for drawing on pots. The permanent ink on Sharpie pens sticks to surfaces well. Any stains can be avoided if you handle it carefully. Posca pens are known for their brilliant color versatility and create opaque, long-lasting designs. Both options provide creative ways to decorate pots and convey artistic flare.
How to seal acrylic paint on flowerpots?
For outdoor plants, if you are using acrylic paints, it’s better to use a sealer, it will protect your paint from washing away or dull over time.
The materials you need to seal painted pots is thick glaze spray – we recommend this triple thick glaze from Rust-Oleum.
Directions:
- To seal flowerpots, spray the clear gloss top finish and allow it to dry. Ensure that you follow the instructions given on the back of the can. This keeps water and soil from flowing through the porous terracotta.
- Create a vibrant and lively design on the pots using acrylic paints. First Paint the inside and outer rims of the pots. Give it time to dry.
- Once the clear gloss topcoat has dried, seal the entire pot by spraying it. To prevent moisture from leaking through and chipping your paint, this last process helps seal the flowerpots.
Water will naturally leak through a permeable terracotta pot. The dampness will cause the paint on the pot to fracture if it is painted but not sealed. When you seal flowerpots, you keep moisture inside and your paint in good condition.
How to transfer a design onto a pot?
There are many ways to transfer your design onto a pot.
- Freehand Drawing: If you have good drawing skills you can sketch the design directly on your pot with a pencil or a marker.
- Tracing: You can trace a design with tracing paper on a terracotta pot from a printable on paper. The trace will leave soft lines that you can follow and darken with a pencil before painting.
- Stencil: The easiest method is to use a stencil to transfer the design. There’s no tracing, simply stick you stencil on the pot with a painter’s tape and paint on it. Dabbing with a foam brush gives best results.
- Carbon paper: Position a piece of carbon paper, carbon side down, between the design and the pot surface. Apply pressure with a pencil to trace the pattern, ensuring that the carbon is properly applied to the pot. This method is effective for complicated designs.
- Transfer paper: To transfer a design from transfer paper to a pot, place the paper on the pot’s surface and heat it with an iron.
- Vinyl sheets: You can cutout your design on a vinyl and use it as stencil.
I hope you enjoyed these fun and creative flower pot painting ideas.
Written By: Alveena Nazir
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