How To Distress Terra Cotta Pots | 2 Easy Methods
A plain new terra cotta pot has its charm — but a beautifully distressed one with layers of faded paint and a weathered finish? That’s the kind of thing that looks like it came from a European market or an estate sale.
Learning how to distress terra cotta pots is one of my favorite simple DIY projects. It costs almost nothing, takes an afternoon, and every pot turns out completely unique. I use two different methods depending on the look I want — a water method for a softer, washed appearance and a sanding method for a more layered, aged effect.
Both are easy. Both are satisfying. Here’s how to do each one.
What You’ll Need
For Both Methods:
- Terra cotta pots
- Fine grit sandpaper
- Sponge brushes
- Acrylic paint in your chosen colors
- Small container for water
For the Water Method:
- Acrylic paint in one or two colors
- Water to thin the paint
For the Sanding Method:
- Two complementary paint colors — one lighter, one darker
- Fine grit sandpaper
Optional:
- Sealer or matte varnish to protect the finished pot
- Yogurt container or small stand to dry pots upright
Water Method and Sanding Method
Water Method
I bought new terra cotta pots to use for this project. First I will show you the water method of painting. I used acrylic paint in greens and white. I found these acrylic paints on Amazon at a great price.
DecoArt 2-Ounce White Gloss Crafter’s Acrylic Paint
You can use whatever colors you like. You will need sand paper. I used a fine grit paper. Also a sponge brush.
Container for water to thin paint.
Thin paint by adding just a little water to your paint. As soon as you paint the pot, run under very small stream of water.
Let dry.
Sanding Method
The Second Method – Sanding. I used two paint colors that complimented each other. A lighter green and a darker green. First paint you light color onto the pot. Let dry just until it is tacky to the touch. Then sand the areas that you want to distress.
After you are happy with the sanding, you paint your second coat of darker color.
Let the second coat dry completely. Drying the pots on top of a yogurt container works great.
Once the second coat is dry, sand again to get additional distressing. There is no wrong or right to this. Just sand until you get the look you like. If you take off to much paint, repaint that area, let dry and sand again if you want to have less distressing.
All finished
I love the distressed look and they are always unique and one of a kind. Which look do you like, the water method or the sanding method
Check out the details here to make your pots into Terra Cotta Cafe Pottery.
Once your pots are distressed they become something you’ll actually want to display — on a porch step, tucked into a garden bed, or styled on a table. If you want to take them a step further, check out how I turned distressed terra cotta into French cottage cafe pots — one of my most popular projects.
Tag me at @bonbonbell.home when you try this — I love seeing your finished pots. 🌿
What a great way to add interest to plain terra cotta pots, I love it! Pinning! By the way, I’d go crazy without internet for that long!
Hi Roxanne……..This was a fun project..thank you so much for stopping by and for pinning. I am going to hop over to see your Restoration Hardware Chandelier Hack, sounds very interesting. Hope to see you again soon.
These look fantastic!! I would love to do some big versions of these for my front porch!
Hi Amanda……A bigger version of these would be wonderful. I want to give that a try also…..we are moving soon so I am kinda in a DIY limbo until then. Selling one house and building another. I have to keep things to a minimum. LOL! Hope to see you again soon.
Oh man no internet for a week would kill me!! But I love how you did these pots I will definitely have to try it!
Hi Sydney……yes no internet is horrible…..we have it happen periodically, but I guess that is part of the price of living out in country. LOL! Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you again soon.
I lost internet connection a couple of weeks ago too and like you it drove me crazy!
Love this idea for giving pots that little extra ‘edge’.
Thanks for linking up to Marvelous Monday on Smart Party Planning.
Hi Catherine…..Thanks for stopping by. i love your link party on Monday’s. Have a great week!
Hi Deedra…..I am planning on trying some other colors but haven’t yet. I think yellow is going to be my next color selection. Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by.Hope to see you again soon.
Great idea and I love the look!
Hi Benita…..Thank you and thanks so much for stopping by. I very curious about your Aunt Bee’s Kerosene Cucumbers. Going to head over to your blog and check it out. Have a great week!
I love the way the water method ones turned out. I have two new pots sitting in my kitchen that were a mother’s day gift. I want to try this with them before I plant in them. I already have some acrylic paint and sponge brushes leftover from another craft I tried. Pinning this! :)
Hi Rachel…..that is great timing that you got the pots for Mother’s Day and already have the paint and brush. You are set. I had so much fun with this project and I hope you do as well. I would love to see your pots once you have them done. Another great thing about this project is that every pot is unique. Thanks so much for stopping by. Hope to see you again soon!
This looks so amazing! I can’t wait to try it. Pinned and tweeted! Thanks for being a part of our party. I hope to see you, Monday at 7 pm. Lou Lou Girls
Thank you. I appreciate you stopping by.
Thanks so much for the tips! Pinning for the future:). Thanks so much for sharing at Dream. Create. Inspire. Link! Have a great weekend!
Hi Tara. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day!
What a fun project! I’ll have to try it this summer with my kiddos! Thanks so much for sharing at the Talented Tuesday Link Party!
Hi Amy……thanks for stopping by..Have a Great Day!
Your being featured tomorrow on the Inspiration Spotlight Party @DearCreatives feel free to linkup again & grab a featured button. Hope to see you again soon. Have a great 4th of July weekend!
These turned out so good! I have loads of these terracotta pots lying around that need a boost. So I’ll have to to give it a try!
Great and easy idea! I am getting one to do this weekend1
Hello! I’m visiting from Tips and Tricks Tuesday! These look great! Thanks for sharing!
ooooo, I like the effect of the water distressing. I paint some pots a couple years ago and did the sandpaper method…which I have a love hate relationship with, so gritty messy. Beautiful pots you put together!
What a great idea!! I’d love it if you shared this on the DIY blog hop!
http://www.pleasuresofthenw.com/diy-party-no-3/