Terracotta pots are nice, inexpensive, durable containers that are commonly used to hold plants. You can find them in different sizes but, unfortunately, limited color options.
That’s not a problem, though, if you’re the kind of person who likes to customize your stuff anyway. With a bit of creativity and some paint, you can transform your boring terracotta pots into eye-catching works of art that complement your home decor.
But what kind of paint works best for terracotta pots? The best paint for terracotta pots is acrylic paint. Spray paints, acrylic or otherwise, are typically formulated to adhere to terracotta as well.
And what are some of the best products available on the market today? Let’s learn more about what you’ll need to do to successfully customize your pots. Then, we’ll review our top picks for the 5 best paints for painting terracotta pots.
Which Paint is Best For Terracotta?
When painting your terracotta pots, you can use different types of paint. The most commonly used type of paint is acrylic paint. Most spray paints, especially the acrylic kind, also work well for painting terracotta as they are often formulated to adhere to a variety of surfaces.
You may look for metallic or pearlescent acrylic paints to add a little sparkle and shine to your pot, but of course, this is a matter of taste.
Now we can move on to painting!
How To Paint Terracotta Pots
Painting terracotta pots is a budget-friendly and truly enjoyable craft.
Step 1: Prepare your terracotta pot for painting
Before you start painting your terracotta pot, you will need to prepare it for painting. New or forgotten pots can be covered with a thin layer of dust. So the first thing you’ll need to do is to clean the pot.
- Soak the pot in warm water and dish soap for a little while. Then, you can scrub it lightly with a brush to get rid of any grit or dirt. Once the pot is clean, set it out to dry in a sunny place. Make sure the pot is completely dry before you start painting. Since terracotta pots tend to soak up moisture, you may have to leave it for a while until it dries completely.
- When the pot is clean and dry, you can then smooth its surface with sandpaper. Try to get rid of rough spots and jagged patches. However, do not worry about getting the surface to be completely smooth. Once you’re done, wipe the surface of the pot with a damp cotton cloth and allow it to dry completely again before you proceed.
- The next step, sealing, is optional. If you’re going to place your painted pot outdoors, then sealing the outside of the pot with a clay pot sealer will enable the paint to last longer. On the other hand, if you’re placing your pot indoors and want it to take on a nice vintage look over time, you can skip this step.
- Alternatively, you can seal the outside of your pot with a paint primer. This will help you to achieve a smoother finish when painting and prevent the pot from soaking up paint.
- Once you’re done priming the pot, allow the primer to dry completely before you proceed. This may take as little as 15 minutes or as long as two to three hours.
Step 2: Prepare your paint
Of course, you have to prepare your paint. You can thin the paint with a little water until it’s the consistency of cream. This will help the paint to spread more easily. If you’re using spray paint, shake the can vigorously until you hear the ball rattling within.
Now, you’re ready to begin painting! But how you decide to paint the pot is completely up to you.
Tip 1: If you would like to paint only some areas of the pot, you can cover the other areas with painter’s tape. You can express your creativity in your designs with just some paint and tape.
Tip 2: Once you apply the first coat of paint with your foam sponge paintbrush or flat paintbrush, let it dry to a large extent before applying additional coats.
You won’t need to paint the bottom or inside of the pot unless you just want to. However, you may want to paint the top inch of the inside of the pot for an extra-nice finished look.
You can also decorate your pot with more paint on top of any base layer and add designs with stencils. Once, you’re done with all the design work, leave the pot to dry thoroughly.
Step 3: Keep your newly painted terracotta pot safe by sealing it
The last step involves sealing the painted pot. Set the pot upside down on a tall can and spray several coats of a matte or glossy sealer for a nice polished look.
For a visual tutorial on painting a terracotta pot, check out his quick and easy video tutorial by Beter Homes And Gardens on YouTube.
The Top 5 Paints For Terracotta Pots
We’ve done our research and found some of our top terracotta pot paints on the market:
Rank | Product | Key Features |
---|---|---|
1. | Crafts 4 All Acrylic Paint Set | 12 colors, versatile |
2. | Apple Barrel Acrylic Craft Paint Set | Matte finish, 18 colors |
3. | Delta Creative Ceramcoat Acrylic Paint | 100+ choices, non-toxic |
4. | U.S. Art Supply Metallic Acrylic Paint Jar Set | 8 colors, vibrant |
5. | FolkArt Metallic Acrylic Paint | 34 choices, versatile |
So let’s take a look at some of the best paints you can purchase for your terracotta pot painting needs today.
1. Crafts 4 All Acrylic Paint Set
The Crafts 4 All Acrylic Paint Set is a nice option for beginner and professional artists alike. If you’re ready to try out painting terracotta pots for the first time, this is a great product to start with.
The Crafts 4 All set of acrylic paints produce vibrant, long lasting colors.
The set consists of 12 tubes, each containing 12 mL of a vibrant, eye-catching hue. The color palette includes lemon yellow, emerald green, vermillion, and crimson red among others.
The product comes with three free paint brushes which you can use to apply the paint onto your terracotta pots. The paint is non-toxic and is ASTM D-4236 certified. It can be applied on a wide variety of surfaces besides terracotta clay including ceramic, glass, wood, plastic, and foam.
The Crafts 4 All Acrylic Paint Set offers a great value and is certainly a fantastic one to consider when shopping for high-quality acrylic paint for terracotta pots.
2. Apple Barrel Matte Finish Acrylic Craft Paint Set
Next up, we have a product that contains an even larger set of colors – the Apple Barrel Matte Finish Acrylic Craft Paint Set.
This product contains a total of 18 two-ounce bottles of high-quality acrylic paint colors and shades. From Jack-O-Lantern, to Yellow Flame, to Purple Iris, you have all kinds of beautiful choices for your pot.
The Apple Barrel paint offers a matte finish and can be used on surfaces like wood, plaster, Styrofoam, and of course, terracotta pots. The paints can be sponged, brushed, stamped or stenciled. They’re water-based acrylic paints and are non-toxic.
The Apple Barrel Paint Set comes at a great value for its quality and versatility. It is definitely one of the best options you can get for your terracotta painting needs.
3. Delta Creative Ceramcoat Acrylic Paint
The Delta Creative Ceramcoat Acrylic Paint is another excellent option for painting terracotta pots. This water based acrylic paint offers great coverage and dries to a matte finish.
It works well for decorative painting, stenciling, and base-coating. The paint is easy to clean up with soap and water when wet. It is non-toxic and manufactured in the USA.
The Delta Creative Ceramcoat Acrylic Paint can be purchased in a vast array of colors including Coral, Citrus, Dark Brown, Bright Red, classic Purple, Sunbright Yellow, and Turquoise, to name just a few.
Each hue come in a 2-ounce bottle and you can purchase just the colors you need. The versatile paint can be applied to a wide variety of surfaces.
The Delta Creative Ceramcoat Acrylic Paint is a high-quality paint that you can use to give your terracotta clay pots a nice makeover.
4. U.S. Art Supply Metallic Acrylic Paint Jar Set
The U.S. Art Supply Metallic Acrylic Paint Set consists of 8 100ml (3.33 fl oz) jars which contain 8 different vibrant metallic colors of paint.
The color palette includes metallic hues of blue, gold, green, red, silver, purple, copper, and bronze. The paints are water-based, non-toxic, and acid-free. Thus, they’re safe for use even by kids.
The U.S. Art Supply Metallic Acrylic Paint product is made from high-quality pigments. The paints feature a smooth consistency that allows you to mix and apply them easily. You can use these paints to give a nice shiny look to your terracotta pots.
The U.S. Art Supply Metallic Acrylic Paint has a couple of superb reviews from satisfied customers. It’s an excellent set of metallic acrylic paints to consider if you’re looking for that nice shimmering effect on your terracotta pots.
5. FolkArt Metallic Acrylic Paint
The FolkArt Metallic Acrylic Paint is another metallic acrylic paint that works well on terracotta pots. The paint comes in 2-ounce bottles and offers a bright, durable, and glossy finish.
The paint is water-based, non-toxic, and works with other surfaces as well. Like Apple Barrel, FolkArt is a sub-brand of Plaid, a renowned manufacturer of arts and crafts products.
The paint is available in a total of 34 different colors ranging from copper, green, and regal red to solid bronze, turquoise, and royal gold. You can purchase any of these colors individually without having to get a complete set.
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