Painting terracotta pots is a fun way to add color to your home and garden, or to give someone a thoughtful handmade personalized gift.
The best part is that you can do whatever your creative mind thinks up. The options and possibilities for decorating them are endless. Plus this is a budget-friendly project for you or the kids.
In this tutorial you’ll learn what type of paint to use, how to prepare your terracotta pots beforehand for the best results, and how to seal them afterward so your design will last as long as possible.
What Kind Of Paint To Use On Terracotta Pots
I’ve used either acrylics or regular spray paint on my clay pots, and they both work great. In my experience, if you choose to use acrylics then it’s best to seal the pot, or the paint will probably blister or peel.
- Acrylics – These are the easiest to work with and most precise, and you can use regular paint brushes or your fingers to apply them.
- Spray paint – This tends to create a stronger bond on terracotta pots, works great as a base layer, and you can easily use stencils to spray on your design.
How To Prepare Terracotta Pots For Painting
The first thing to do before painting your terracotta pots is clean them, even if they are brand new. If there’s any sticky, oily, or powdery residue on the clay, the paint may look lumpy or it might not stick in some spots. Here are tips for prepping them:
- Brand new pots – If you’re going to paint brand new clay pots, wash them with soap and water, and scrub them with either a cleaning brush or a pot brush to remove any oil or powder first.
- Used pots – If you want to paint old, previously used clay pots, you need to remove all of the caked on dirt and grime first. So be sure to take an extra 20-30 minutes to follow my tutorial for how to clean terracotta pots.
- Ensure they are dry – After washing them, you should make sure the pots are COMPLETELY dry before painting them. Terracotta clay soaks up moisture, so it may take a day or two for them to dry. You can set them in the sun to help speed up the process.
Do You Need To Seal Terracotta Pots Before Painting?
You do not need to seal your clay pots before painting them, this is an optional step. It depends on how you want your finished product to look, and how long you want the paint to last. Here are your 3 options:
1. Waterproofing – Using a waterproofing sealer will help the paint last the longest, but it will also affect the breathability of the clay. This means that the terracotta will not wick moisture away like untreated pots do, so the soil won’t dry out as quickly.
2. Priming – Rather than sealing them, you could use a water-based paint primer instead. It won’t completely seal the pot, which will allow the clay to breath better. Primer can also help the paint last longer, but your pots will still get the aged look over time.
3. Skip it – The easiest option of course is to simply skip this step and leave your terracotta pots untreated. This is great if you want them to get that nice aged look faster, or if you don’t care about the longevity of the paint.
How To Paint Terracotta Pots Step By Step
Ok, now let’s jump into the steps for painting terracotta pots. Figure out your design and then gather everything you need ahead of time to speed things up.
Materials Needed
- Clean terracotta pots, sealed or unsealed
- Foam sponge brushes
- OR regular paint brushes
- Assorted acrylic paint colors
- Drip cloth or newspaper
- Paint pallet or paper plate
- Water (optional)
- Decorations (optional)
- Spray sealer (matte or glossy – optional)
Steps For Painting Clay Pots
Total Time: 30-90 minutes (not including dry time)
Step 1: Set up your workspace – Lay down a drop cloth or spread out some newspaper over your workspace. This will protect the surface of your table from any accidental drips, and also help to keep the pots clean while the paint dries.
Step 2: Thin the base layer paint (optional) – If your pot is unsealed and you would like to apply a base layer before adding your design, then thin your acrylic paint with a little water first.
Unsealed terracotta tends to soak up the paint very quickly, and thinning it for the first layer makes it much easier to spread it on quickly and evenly using a foam sponge brush.
PRO TIP: You don’t need to paint the very bottom of your pot or the entire inside, since nobody will see those once you have a plant in there. But you might want to paint the top inch or two of the inside rim that won’t be covered by soil.
Step 3: Finish your base coat – Use non-thinned paint to finish applying the rest of your base coats until you achieve the opacity and color that you like.
The exact number of coats you use on your pot will depend on the color and quality of your paint, and whether or not you want the terracotta showing through.
You don’t have to wait for the paint to dry completely between coats. But it should be at least 75% of the way there before you add another layer. It can be tacky or sticky to the touch, but not wet.
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Step 4: Decorate your pots (optional) – This is where the project gets really fun. From using stencils or hand-painting a pretty design, to gluing on cute accessories – there are tons of things you could do to jazz up your pots.
I added some decorative twine around the top of mine for a little texture, and adhered it onto the pot using all-purpose crafting glue.
Then I cut out some vinyl letters using my Cricut machine (a hobby/craft machine that cuts materials like paper, leather, and more) and glued those on too.
Step 5: Let them dry – Once you’re done painting and decorating them, it’s very important that you let your terracotta pots dry completely before moving to the next step. They should not feel sticky or tacky at all.
This might take longer than you think, so give them at least 24 hours before you decide they are dry. The thicker the paint, the longer it will take.
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Step 6: Seal the paint (optional) – It’s a good idea to seal your painted terracotta pot once it’s dry so your design will last longer, and it won’t easily chip or scratch.
I used a matte spray to preserve mine, but you could use one with a glossy finish if you like the shiny look better. Spray the pot according to the directions on the can, and be sure to cover your entire design.
If you want to learn all there is to know about maintaining healthy indoor plants, then you need my Houseplant Care eBook. It will show you everything you need to know about how to keep every plant in your home thriving. Download your copy now!
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Share your tips or ideas for painting terracotta pots in the comments section below.
Schulzie Roland says
Starting a terracotta custom plant pots. Never did it before . I want mine to be very
Colorful and classy.. still confused about what kind of clear coat before painting the the clear coat after to keep them cute. I just retired. We shall see.? Any ideas let me know cause I’m going to sell them and want to look more than worth. Thanks, Schulzie
Amy Andrychowicz says
The type of sealer you use on your painted terracotta pots depends on whether you want to waterproof them or not. If you want to completely waterproof them, that means that the water won’t wick out of the pot, so it will retain moister longer (which can lead to overwatering if people are used to using unsealed clay pots). But if you don’t waterproof them first, they will age faster and the paint will I take on a more vintage look over time (meaning the paint could start to crack, chip, and/or peel, which is the look some people are after). I’ve linked to a few of the products I’ve used in the sections in the article where I talk about sealing the pots, so take a look at those for specific product recommendations.
Sue says
Where do I find the sealer for prior to painting? I am making a lighthouse snd a duck so was only painting the outside.
Thank you
Amy Andrychowicz says
I have a link to the type of paint sealer I use on my terracotta pots in the article, but you should be able to find something similar at any craft or home improvement store.
robin yates says
Do I need to wait any amount of time before put a plant in a freshly painted pot? Dont want the fumes to hurt my plant.
Amy Andrychowicz says
The fumes will go away when the paint is dry, and then you can pot your plant without any worry.
Judy Jane Paget says
This was a most interesting article! I would be a beginner thinking of starting on two July 4th themed pots and very excited to begin this project since I read your tutorial. What a find! Thank you.
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome, glad to hear you found the article helpful. 🙂
Susan says
Hi I am going to make a lighthouse out of terracotta pots do I have to seal inside the pots if I am not going to paint them, only painting the out sides.thank you
Amy Andrychowicz says
There’s no need to seal the insides of your terracotta pots if you’re not going to use them for plants. However, taking the extra step could help your paint job last longer, since the clay won’t be able to absorb any water. But it’s totally up to you.
Sylvia says
What was the paper plate used for?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I just use it to put the paint on, but it’s totally optional.
Wendy Lauch says
Just wondering when you first seal the pots…do you seal the bottom and the complete inside even though you don’t paint the bottom or the entire enside.. Thank you..trying to plan a project for my classroom.
Amy Andrychowicz says
It really comes down to your personal preference. You don’t need to seal the entire pot, but you certainly can, there are pros and cons to both. If you seal the entire pot, the clay will not longer breath, so it will retain moisture longer. However, if you don’t seal the entire thing, the clay will still absorb moisture, which means the paint may not last as long.
LETICIA PANTOJA says
HI, I HEARD GLOSS MODGE PODGE WAS GOOD FOR SEALING PAINTED CLAY POTS. I PAINTED A POT WITH ACRYLIC PAINT, WHEN I APPLIED THE MODGE PODGE OVER TO SEAL THE PAINT, IT MADE MY PAINT SMEAR.
WHAT DID I DO WRONG? OR IS IT YOU CANT USE MODGE PODGE OVER ACRYLIC PAINT, JUST INDER IT?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Sorry but I’m not sure about using modge podge over acrylic paint on a terracotta pot, I’ve never tried that before.
Diane says
I use mod Podge over my terracotta pots and it works well. First I spray clay pot sealer then modpodge over it and then paint over midge. Then I put modpodge over that works well
Denise says
Hello, I loved you tutorial thank you. I have two question. First, Before adding the base coat can I use a spray primer and/or a spray primer with color?
Second, you mentioned how to paint terracotta pots that have plants in them. However you didn’t go into that other than saying to using the opportunity when re-potting. Or was that the only thing you can do for a potted planet?
Thank you.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, you can spray your terracotta pots with primer before painting them. I definitely recommend only painting pots that are empty and have been properly prepped beforehand. If they have plants in them, the paint is more likely to peel or bubble.
Wildtxflower says
Hi. I’m confused. Yes or no to prepping a clay pot before painting. I kept seeing yes and no all mixed in. I need this simplified. Please. Maybe I need it laid out yes for these reasons, no for these reasons.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, absolutely you need to prep your terracotta pot before painting them. I have the details for that in the “How To Prepare Terracotta Pots For Painting” section in the article.
Krisy says
After sealing painting and varnishing both the pot and the base, how long should it be left. I’ve left the for a week as per varnish instructions but the pot still sticks to the base, im not really sure what I’m doing wrong. Was thinking putting them in the sun for a day?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, I would definitely wait until the pot no longer fells sticky before using it. Putting it in the sun in a dry location is a great idea.
ACJ says
I knew how I did my plant pots just wasn’t sure if I did it correctly sealing them off. I just needed more inspiration and just reassurance I was doing them correctly to last. This information given was brilliant and easy to understand so thank you.
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome, glad you found it helpful!
Francine says
What kind of sealer do I put before painting can I use varnish it for clay terra-cotta pots
Amy Andrychowicz says
I talk all about it in the section titled “Do You Need To Seal Terracotta Pots Before Painting?”, and you’ll also find links to the products that I use.
J. Moore says
Thank you so much for this valuable information!
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome!
Dene Payan says
Hi Amy, I was wondering if we need to primer the inside of the pot or just the outside?
Amy Andrychowicz says
You can just primer the parts you plan to paint. Most people just paint the outside of their terracotta pots, but you could paint the inside too, especially if you plan to completely seal it after.
Antonio says
Hi, thank you for this post. I also plan to add vinyl, do you suggest sealing before spraying, then after? I am worried any moisture I s the clay would cause the vinyl to come off.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Humm… I’m not sure what you mean by adding vinyl. If it’s similar to what I did with the wording on the pots, then yes, sealing it before and after should work great.