After our beloved dog, Faith, died from cancer in early May (you can read all about it here and here), Iโve been keeping my mind and soul busy by checking a few DIY projects off my gargantuan Wish List.ย (If only my bank account could grow as quickly as my project list โฆ).
For me, doing something creative is incredibly healing and this super quick and easy project was the perfect outlet for my grief. And I absolutely loooove the way they turned out!
I think once you โageโ your first terracotta pot, youโre going to become addicted to how crazy simple it is to do and how budget-friendly it is as well!
THE โBEFOREโ SITUATION โย PRETTY BUT โMEHโ
I love all the rooms in our farmhouse but I gotta say, I think the kitchen is my fave.
Itโs small but DANG! itโs a workhorse because I planned out exactly how every little inch was going to be used.ย We donโt have any upper cabinets yet we donโt lack any storage space whatsoever, and it makes the room feel much larger than it is.
Anyway, thereโs this little corner nook under the open shelving thatโs beenย begging for something cute to take up residence there.ย I wasnโt quite sure what it needed so I bought a pretty white glazed clay pot, stuck a pothos plant in it, and called it a day.
I liked the zhooshed-up nook well enough but it just felt so dang โcoldโ with all the white on white on white on white โฆ
I realized that the corner lacked warmth and contrast so I got busy looking for inspiration, which I ultimately found in a book I bought well over a year ago but never read. Ha!
THE INSPIRATION โ JOANNA GAINESโ โHOMEBODYโ BOOK
Page 122 in Joanna Gaineโs โHomebodyโ book
I gotta confess something โฆ I bought this book on November 24, 2018 (the receipt is still in it) but I only got around to reading it two months ago!ย I guess I can thank the pandemic lockdown for forcing me to slow my roll and actually sit down and enjoy reading a book or two again.
I was so inspired by this book!ย Not only as an interior stylist but as a photographer as well.ย The photos in this book are simply stunning โ each one is a beautiful work of art that should be framed and proudly displayed on a wall somewhere. No joke.
I noticed a recurring item โ aged terracotta pots โ in the majority of the spaces she decorated and loved how they added just the right amount of warmth to an area.ย I had an AHA! moment and knew THATโS exactly what the kitchen nook needed.
Clay pots that already look aged can be a bit pricey so I decided to go the DIY route!
THE SUPPLIES YOUโLL NEED FOR YOUR DIY PROJECT
โข Terracotta pots and saucers โ I used this size and this size for my project.
โข Valspar Antiquing Glazeย โ Iโve had it for 2 years now and I use it on EVERYTHING โ itโs pure magic!
โข Valspar Limewash Glaze โ this is the first time I used it and Iโm hooked!
โข Damp paper towels
โข Dry paper towels
A little side note: Use whatever size pots you want for this project โ you donโt need to use the sizes I used.
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START WITH THE ANTIQUING GLAZE
STEP 1: Take a damp paper towel and dip a corner of it into the lid of the antiquing glaze (a little goes a long way) and rub onto small sections at a time.
IMPORTANT!: Quickly go right to Step 2 after rubbing each section with glaze. You donโt want the glaze to set.
STEP 2: Immediately take a dry paper towel and wipe off the glaze.
If you want the glaze to look darker, then build it up with thin layers instead.
Left is glazed, right is unglazed. Already looks pretty dang good!
HOT TIP:ย Make sure to glaze the top 1/3 of the inside of the pot too because that part typically peeks out over the dirt.
FINISH IT OFF WITH THE LIMEWASH GLAZE
Step 1: Take a fresh damp paper towel, dip it onto the lid and rub the glaze over the whole pot and saucer.
This glaze doesnโt take quite as fast to set as the antiquing glaze so itโs ok to let it sit for a few seconds.
Step 2: Take a fresh dry paper towel and wipe off the limewash glaze.
How cute are these little buggers?
Step 3: Do a little happy dance because YOUโRE ALL DONE! Wasnโt that super quick, easy, and fun?
Feel free to go back and touch up any spots with either glaze to make the pot exactly to your liking.
THE โAFTERโ โ INSTANT WARMTH & CONTRAST
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I hope you enjoyed โagingโ your terracotta clay pot planters as much as I did!ย If youโre looking to tackle more DIY projects, make sure to check out these other DIY posts.
Thank you so much for following my blog and for letting me help you create your own lived-in, loved-in spaces!
