3 Ways to Age Terracotta Pots

Aging terracotta pots is a fun craft for any time of year. Do you love the look of old weathered pots? You know the ones which have taken on a chalky appearance from minerals and salts leaking out over the years. No need to wait, you can easily create faux aged look in no time.

Three Ways to Age Terracotta Pots

Today I’m sharing three super easy and inexpensive ways to create faux aged terracotta pots.

~ 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.

You can also get a similar effect by using a dry brush technique. 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 sparing brush the paint onto the pot as shown in the picture above of my flower pot centerpiece project.

~ 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, then once it is dry, apply a second coat or more, on top. Then using sandpaper, simply remove or scratch some of the top coat revealing the color(s) underneath.

Originally I though I would create a moss effect 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.

~ Fresco ~

The third and final technique is a Fresco method, created by using ready mixed plaster. This will give the pot a unique stucco effect, similar to those old barnacle-like styles you can find in expensive garden shops.

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.

These pots are beautiful with flowers but you can also use them as a great gift container, by applying 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.