Caxton magazines staffAll it takes is a little imagination and a dab or two of paint and you can transform tired plant pots into designer accessories
Before painting any type of pot, clean it thoroughly to remove dust, sand and dirt and allow it to dry completely.
DESIGN 1: BLACKBOARD JUNGLE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
Terracotta pots, 220 grit sandpaper, blackboard paint, a small paint brush and chalk.
- Sand your terracotta pots lightly with sandpaper so the paint will stick.
- Stir the blackboard paint well to maintain the matt finish.
- Apply one coat, covering at least 5cm inside each pot. Allow the paint to dry for eight hours before applying a second coat.
- Wait a further eight hours before drawing on your pots with chalk.
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DESIGN 2: GO FOR A DIP
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
Ceramic pots, masking tape, Plascon Polvin paint in the colours of your choice (we used Bovine and Lavish Lemon), a small paint brush and a water-based glaze such as Plascon’s Glazecoat Gloss.
- Depending on the look you want, mask off either the top or bottom of your ceramic pots at different levels.
- Apply two coats of paint, covering at least 5cm inside each pot. Allow the paint to dry completely between coats.
- Once the second coat is dry, apply a coat of glaze to seal the colour.
DESIGN 3: ULTERIOR MOTIFS
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
Terracotta pots, 220 grit sandpaper, Plascon Polvin paint in the colour of your choice (we used black and white), a small paint brush, masking tape, stencils and a stencil brush.
- Sand your terracotta pots lightly with sandpaper.
- Apply two coats of white paint, covering at least 5cm inside each pot. Allow the paint to dry completely between coats.
- Once dry, create a worn effect by lightly sanding certain areas in order to expose the terracotta finish beneath.
- Attach the stencil firmly to your pot with masking tape. Then using black paint and a stencil brush lightly fill in the design with a dabbing action.
- When the paint is dry, remove the stencil and sand the motif gently to create a distressed look.
DESIGN 4: TOUCH OF GLOSS
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
Metal pots, 220 grit sandpaper, metal primer (Plascon’s Tile & Melamine Primer is also suitable for use on metal), high gloss enamel paint in the colour of your choice (we used Plascon’s Strawberry Whip, Tender Shoots and Mamello) and a paint brush.
- Sand your metal pots lightly so the primer will adhere to the surface.
- Apply the metal primer covering at least 5cm inside the pot; allow it to dry for four hours.
- Apply two coats of paint, allowing eight hours drying time between coats.
