Being on a budget doesn’t have to mean using ugly containers. If you’re willing to put a little elbow grease into converting a cheap plastic pot into something unique and stylish, then you can have nice looking pots for less than $20. Hunt down garage sales and scour Craig’s List to find inexpensive pots. Then with $10 of paint and stenciling supplies, you’ll be well on your way.
Supplies Needed
- Plastic pot
- Spray paint (for background color)
- Outdoor house paint (for pattern color)
- Smooth paint roller
- Stencil
- Stencil paint
Instructions
Lay out plenty of newspaper in a well ventilated area. Place the pot upside down and spray paint on in short, even strokes. When entire exterior is covered, flip the pot right side up and paint top of pot edge and the top two inches inside the pot. Allow to dry completely before proceeding to the next step.
Use your stencil to mark out the placement around the pot with light pencil marks (so that you can space it out evenly). Apply the stencil glue to the back side of the stencil according to the package instructions. Place the stencil in the first spot and smooth it down so that the stencil glue is holding it in place. Use the paint roller to apply an even coat of paint all over the stencil. Skip a spot and reapply the stencil to the pot and roll another coat of paint on. Repeat all the way around the pot until your pattern is complete.
Allow the paint to completely dry overnight before planting.
Voila!
UPDATE: Adriana of Anarchy in the Garden has posted tons of photos from the Patchwork Festival where I used this pot in a tomato growing demonstration.
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{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
Beautiful!!!! Going to have to try this out. I knew there was a good reason we have a mountain of empty pots sitting in thecirner of our yard.
I saw this on twitter when you made it! Stunning! Thanks for sharing the how too! I might look at this project in the fall when some of my pots empty out.
Only you can turn containers from drab to fab!
Lovely! I love hand (spray) painted pots!
This is a rad idea, but I must say you’ve also done an exceptional job executing it! The white on black looks really sharp
Wow!! I love it!!!! how creative you are! I just found your great
blog thanks to P. Allen Smith website, I’m thrilled!
Thanks for sharing
This a really cool idea for making a garden pot- I will certainly have to try this out.
nurseries throw out hundreds of pots. Ask them for them for free, thought they have the grooves, often.
This is so pretty. Is it safe to plant edibles in painted pots?
Depends on the paint, whether you painted the interior of the pot, and the pot’s material.
thats so innovative…just changedthe original lok…m surely going to try this out:)
This is beautiful – I have enjoyed your website and love seeing your new and creative ideas! Looking forward to getting your book too:)
Thanks Donna! I hope you enjoy the book!
Where did you find this stencil? Thanks.
I think I bought it at Joann’s. If not there, Michael’s.
Do you need to put a lacquer or spray finish over it to protect it if you leave outside?
Nope!
Where can I find that awesome damask stencil? It’s exactly what I want but can’t find it at Michael’s…
Arleen–As a I mentioned above, I got it at either Michael’s or Joann’s.
Such a cute idea! Will the color fade at all?
I’ve had this pot for over a year with any fading.
I came up with the idea of stenciling a plain pot yesterday. Just did think about painting the entire pot first. Now I see it on here, this is great. I think I’m goning to like this site.
should be *didn’t think
This turned out great! Have you ever tried this on a clay pot instead of plastic? The winds in my neighborhood don’t allow for plastic pots
I don’t see why not?! Good luck!
Love the pots u did, but I have a question I spray painted mine today and after hours I saw a scratch so I went and used my nail to see if more would come off and it did :/ what should I use on this so more paint doesn’t come off???
Hi Alex–It sounds like you need to pick a spray paint meant for the type of pot you are painting (i.e. a spray paint meant for plastic, if your pot is plastic).
Oh my soul! how thrilled i am to have stumbled on your blog. I love love love the ideas. This weekend I’m painting pots and building a vertical pallet garden!
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