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How to Paint Terra Cotta Pots

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Spring is the perfect time to learn How to Paint Terra Cotta Pots! I just love the simple, clean look of white decor. White candles, white candlesticks, white picture frames, white trim and even painted white terra cotta pots!

white terra cotta pots with herbs

I spray painted some pots for myself a few weeks ago. I guess I could call them an early Mother’s Day present to myself. But, seriously, it’s really amazing what a little bit of spray paint can do. This is another easy project. You can actually paint the terra cotta pots any color you like, but I painted mine white. I just love the clean look of white. It gives everything a fresh look.

White is really showing up all over Instagram, Pinterest and blogs. It adds the perfect cottage or farmhouse style to any home decor.

As I’m sitting here, trying to finish this blog post, my mind keeps wandering and I’m wondering where all the time/years have gone.  Spring is really flying by and I can’t help but reflect on all the things that have taken place in my family’s life over this past year. I am truly blessed and grateful. I can’t even begin to list all the reasons I have to be grateful. I am blessed because I have a husband who loves me unconditionally and a family that is so supportive. I am truly grateful that I get to share my crazy life with you here on The Birch Cottage.

Now, back to my regularly scheduled post topic…

white terra cotta pots with herbs
How to Paint Terra Cotta Pots

How to Paint Terra Cotta Pots

Painted terra cotta pots – I’ve seen them recently on Pinterest in all sorts of beautiful colors. Lots of pretty blues, teals, aquas, and white, of course. So, did you already know how to paint Terra Cotta pots? What color are you going to paint your Terra Cotta pots?

I love fresh herbs. Actually, I love fresh vegetables and fresh fruit as well. However, my family spends most of our summers camping, visiting family, and it leaves very little time for tending to homegrown produce. I may have had to give up my vegetable garden, but I refuse to give up on having fresh herbs. My most favorite fresh herb is Rosemary.

pot of rosemary

Rosemary is fairly easy to grow (just don’t over water it) and it smells absolutely amazing. Plus, there’s nothing quite like the taste or aroma of fresh Rosemary added to chicken or pork. Oh, yeah, you can even add fresh Rosemary to butter for a fantastic herb butter. I also have found basil very easy to grow indoors from seedlings. But, today I want to share with you how to paint terra cotta pots.

Supplies:

  • Terra Cotta Pots
  • Microfiber cloth
  • Painter’s Tape
  • Water Sealant (optional)
  • Spray Primer
  • Spray Paint

Step 1: Clean The Terra Cotta Pots

First, you’ll start with your terra cotta pots and trays. Before you begin, you’ll want to dust off the pots to remove any dust or dirt. If you get the pots wet, you’ll want to wait at least 24-48 hours before painting your pots. Terra cotta is very porous and you need the pots nice and dry before painting.

clay terra cotta pots with water sealant spray

Step 2:  Apply Water Sealant

After you’ve cleaned your terra cotta pots, you can apply water sealant to the inside of the pot. This step is totally optional. I recently read that applying the waterproof sealant may help extend the life of my herbs. Since I’m unable to water my herbs regularly during the summer, I need the plants to retain the moisture in their soil. Clay pots are very porous and allow for the seepage of water. I can’t personally attest to how well this works, but I’m going to give it a try. Before applying the sealant, I taped off the top edge of the inside of the pots. Just follow the directions on the water sealant can to apply.

taped terra cotta pots

Step 3: Apply Spray Primer

I applied two coats of white primer to the outside of the terra cotta pots and trays. You’ll want to apply light even coats to prevent the primer from running or pooling.

terra cotta pot saucers and spray paint

Step 4: Apply Spray Paint

The 4th and final step in how to spray paint terra cotta pots is to simply apply spray paint. Again, I used two light coats of spray paint to obtain a nice even coverage. Once the outside of the pots and trays were dry, I turned them over to spray paint the bottoms and under the rim of the top of the pot and tray.

white painted terra cotta pots with herbs

Once your pots are dry, you can then fill them with your favorite herb (Rosemary), succulents or plants. I planted Rosemary in one of my pots and Basil in the other. I just think the white is stunning!

Below is my Basil plant. I still need to add a little more potting soil, but otherwise my pots are ready to grow something aromatic!

basil in white pot

It’s amazing what you can do with a little bit of spray paint. As you can see, the clay terra cotta pots are just well, kind of dull and boring. Of course, you could use any color of spray paint, I chose white. I love the clean, crisp look of the white pots.

Spray painting terra cotta pots is an easy DIY project that anyone can do! I hope you found this how to paint terra cotta pots tutorial helpful. So what are you waiting for? Grab some terra cotta pots and spray paint!

More Terra Cotta Pot Craft Ideas

If you enjoyed learning how to paint terra cotta pots, you might also enjoy these other terra cotta pot craft ideas from The Birch Cottage:

I do hope you’ll come back to visit often.

white terra cotta pots with herbs

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