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    Home » DIY Projects

    Age Terra Cotta Pots: 3 Easy Ways

    January 3, 2022 by Patti Estep 4 Comments

    Two terra cotta pots. One with plaster and a primrose inside and one white washed with a saucer as a lid.
    Three aged terra cotta pot with flowers

    Learn 3 ways to age terra cotta pots with readily available and inexpensive items. The project is very easy to do and can be completed in less than an hour. 

    Three decorated terra cotta pots to look aged.

    Do you love the look of old weathered pots? You know the rustic looking ones which have taken on a chalky appearance from minerals and salts leaking out over the years. Some have hints of green from moss or lichen. 

    Here are three different techniques or tricks to age terra cotta pots, and give them the beautiful patina of old vintage planters.

    Whitewash age terra cotta pot

    Three Ways to Age Terra Cotta Pots

    1. Whitewash 

    This is the easiest of the three.

    • You can easily whitewash a pot by using white or cream craft paint and water, about a 50/50 solution.
    • Simply wash the entire pot using a sponge brush. This is kind of messy, so make sure you have plenty of newspaper to cover your work surface.
    • Apply the watered down paint liberally, keeping a cloth or damp paper towel nearby, to catch drips, remove excess paint, and dab until you get the look that pleases you.
    Flower pot centerpiece

    You can also get a similar effect by using a dry brush technique for a subtler look. Take an old bristle brush and a little bit of full-strength paint. Wipe most of the paint off onto newspaper so that only a little remains, and then sparingly brush the paint onto the pot as shown in the picture above of my flower pot centerpiece project.

    Sgraffito age terra cotta pot

    2. Sgraffito 

    The second technique is called "Sgraffito," which comes from the Italian Sgraffire, which means "to scratch."

    • In this method, you paint your pot with one or more colors.
    • Let it dry and then apply a second coat or more, on top.
    • Then using sandpaper, simply remove or scratch some of the top layer revealing the color(s) underneath.
    Layered paint to age terra cotta pot

    Originally I thought I would create a moss effect for a natural look with paint and sponges but I wasn't happy with the results, and I wanted something that coordinated with the other pots, so I painted it white and used sandpaper to distress the pot and now I love it.

    Plaster on terra cotta pot

    3 Fresco 

    The third and final technique is a Fresco method, created by using ready mixed plaster.

    • Using a knife or the back of a spoon, work the plaster on to the pot.
    • Let dry and paint the entire pot with watered down white paint.
    • Yes, it's that easy.
    Terra cotta pot and container of plaster

    This will give the pot a unique stucco effect, similar to those old barnacle-like styles you often find at expensive garden shops.

    Aged terra cotta pots with flowers in top and one with a saucer on top.

    These aged pots are beautiful with real plants but you can also use them as a great gift container. Just apply the same paint technique to a terracotta saucer and use it as a lid.

    Fill it with anything from a bag of chocolates to jewelry or a pretty tea towel. The possibilities are endless.

     

    Patti signature

    More Clay Pot Crafts

    • The Flower Pot Centerpiece
    • Clay Pot Essential Oil Diffuser
    • Flower Pot Herbal Beer Bread Gift

     

     

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    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Victoria @DazzleWhileFrazzled

      March 20, 2016 at 8:46 am

      I've always wanted to know how to do this. Thanks for the tutorial. Visiting from Blogtalk.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        March 20, 2016 at 2:33 pm

        Thanks Victoria!

        Reply
    2. Carole West @Garden Up Green

      January 24, 2016 at 8:16 am

      I love all three, the second one is my favorite. Great project and so simple to create something unique. I love Terracotta pots. I was in a farm/garden store not long ago and asked the young gal where I could find their Terracotta pots and she looked at me and said, "what's that?" My response, "How about a clay pot?" Needless to say it was a unsuccessful conversation that made me wonder who doesn't know Terracotta?

      Reply
      • Patti

        January 24, 2016 at 8:50 am

        Hi Carole,

        That is too funny! It never occurred to me that some people may not know what a terracotta pot it. Oh well, I'll have to include the term clay pot in my sharing. Thanks for the kind words and the great story!
        Patti

        Reply

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