How to Paint a Flower Pot with Ceramic Paint

Flower pots come in all colors. Unfortunately, sometimes they come in a color that doesn’t fit your style or aesthetic. What to do? I’m going to show you how to paint a flower pot with ceramic paint.

Ceramic flower pots can be found at the big box stores, dollar stores, garage sales, and flea markets. They come in all sizes and shapes. And colors. That’s where this project comes in – changing the color of that flower pot by painting it with ceramic paint.

I was lucky last year when a friend brought us a beautiful orchid in a ceramic pot. The orchid was gorgeous, but the color of the pot was not my favorite.

The orchid quickly found a home in our bedroom for several months. The bloom is now in remission as Sweet Shark babies it back to blooming.

Now is the time to change the color of the ceramic flower pot. Come along on this project.

Using Ceramic Paint and Stencils to Decorate a Flower Pot

Good timing for this ceramic flower pot paint project. I needed just the design and the type of paint for this project.

Supplies You Will Need To Paint A Flower Pot

Have you ever painted a ceramic flower pot? I haven’t. Painting this ceramic flower pot was so easy. Now I will not let the wrong color hold me back.

I have stenciled with ceramic paint, but I have not painted a flower pot or anything with ceramic paint. What supplies will you need?

• A ceramic pot of your choice
• Paint created for painting specifically on ceramics; that means porcelain, glass, and ceramics. My go-to is No Bake Ceramic Paint from A Makers’ Studio. You should read all about this awesome paint option. It comes in 14 vibrant permanent colors, is hand washable, microwaveable, and food safe.
• A paintbrush

Painting The Flower Pot

Step 1 – Choose your pot. As I said, mine was a gift. Make sure that the flower pot is clean and free of dirt, grease, oil, etc. If you read Bluesky at Home often, your know my favorite colors are blue and pink. Mauve isn’t on the top 50.

QUESTION: Can you use a terra cotta pot for this project? Yes, terra cotta pots are a good alternative if you don’t have a ceramic pot on hand.

Step 2 – Choose your ceramic paint color. I already had a pretty blue – You’re the Water to My Ocean – that I have used for other stencil projects.

QUESTION: Can you use acrylic paint for this project? Yes, but you will get a different finish on the planter.

Step 3 – Turn your flower pot upside down. This makes it easier to paint the bottom of the pot first. I put my flower pot on a candle to hold it off the work surface.

Step 4 – Squeeze a dollop of the No-Bake Ceramic Paint on a piece of cardboard, paper plate, or glass plate.

NOTE: A little Ceramic Paint goes a long way.

This amount covered the entire flower pot.

Step 5 – Use your paintbrush to apply the Ceramic Paint to the flower pot. I painted one coat and let it dry for several hours and then added a second coat.

Step 6 – Turn the flower pot over and paint the inner rim of the pot and the inside for an inch or two. Then let the flower pot dry overnight.

You are done with painting your flower pot – or any plain glass vase, dish or platter. Your transformed ceramic piece will have a smooth finish and slightly shiny.

Was I done with my flower pot painted with ceramic paint? NO! I wanted to add more design to my now pretty blue-painted flower pot.

Adding a Stencil Design to the Ceramic Painted Flower Pot

Want more design on your painted pot? It’s easy to do with a stencil.

A few weeks ago I ordered a new stencil from A Makers’ Studio. I love French-inspired designs and Le Fleur has 8 different designs you can use on just about any surface.

You can stencil with Ceramic Paint, GelArt Ink or ChalkArt. Since ChalkArt is removable, I chose it for this project. I used Peace & Joy, a bright white. I always keep this color on hand.

If I wanted the stencil design to be permanent, I would have used Ceramic Paint in Angel Wings.

Step 1 – After choosing your stencil and your paint color, cut out the stencil that you want to use. Remove the stencil from the paper backing. Then adhere the tri-mesh stencil to the surface. Smooth it down to remove any bubbles.

NOTE: Keep the paper backing and the plastic envelope for storing the stencil.

Step 2 – Normally, you use a plastic scraper to apply the ChalkArt. Since my flower pot had a ridge in the surface and the sides are not straight, I find it easier to apply the ChalkArt with my finger while wearing a plastic glove.

Step 3 – With your finger, rub the ChalkArt over the stencil design. Be sure to cover it completely.

Step 4 – Carefully pick up a corner of the stencil and gently pull it back to reveal your stencil design.

Place the stencil in a container of water or in the sink and rub off all the ChalkArt. Place the stencil design-side down on a paper towel to dry.

Allow your ChalkArt design to dry for about 30 minutes.

Filling The Ceramic Painted Flower Pot With Flowers

With my flower pot now painted with ceramic paint and finished with a pretty French flower stencil, I was ready to fill it with flowers.

I picked up two bunches of white hydrangeas at my local Trader Joe’s. I cut off part of the stem and let them soak in a container in the sink while I was painting and stenciling the ceramic flower pot.

I used three stems in my flower pot.

It doesn’t get any better than a blue flower pot filled with white hydrangeas. I placed the flower pot on a side table in our living room. In this spot, we can see it from the entry, the living room, and the kitchen.

I hope that I’ve shown you how easy it is to change the color of a ceramic or glass container by painting them with ceramic paint.

Here are other ways that you can use ceramic paint for stencil projects:

First, please PIN this project to your Pinterest ideas for future reference. Check out my Paint Projects and Stencil Projects Boards.