How to Paint Terracotta Pots

Painted terracotta pots can add charm to any home or garden.  Doing it yourself means adding your own personal style and saving some money versus purchasing decorated pots. 

Step 1 – Clean the Pot

Lay some old newspapers or an old sheet where you will be working to catch any drips or paint spills.

Clean the inside and outside of the pot with a cloth soaked in warm water. Once it’s completely dry, sand away any loose clay particles or rough edges, especially around the rim, base and outside.   

Step 2 – Seal the Pot

Seal the inside of the pot with oil or water-based polyurethane before you paint. Allow one coat to dry completely and then apply another coat. 

Step 3 – Apply the Paint

Once the sealer dries completely, start painting the outside. Available in 2-ounce bottles in a wide range of colors, water-based acrylic paints are convenient to work with. They clean up easily with soap and water. You can also use latex paints on clay. Apply one coat of paint to the pot and allow it to dry completely before applying another coat. For best results, apply at least two or three coats. Terracotta is very porous and will absorb the first few layers of paint very quickly. Another fun alternative is to apply two coats of dark gray paint and a final coat or two of chalkboard paint. Let your terracotta pot dry in the sun.

Attach embellishments with glue, or paint on any design or pattern. You can find design patterns in bookstores or on the Internet. Sketch the design onto transfer paper, place it on the pot and paint it any color after outlining the image. Pictures, old wallpaper or even tissue paper can be applied to the pot with decoupage. Allow the pot to dry thoroughly, preferably overnight.  

Step 4 – Seal the Pot Again

After reviewing your paint job, apply a few coats of clear acrylic sealant to the outside of the pot. The sealant protects it from moisture in the soil and prevents the paint from bubbling, cracking and peeling. If you used chalkboard paint, do not seal this. Let the pot dry thoroughly, for a few days to a week, before you place any soil or plants in it.

Pam Estabrooke, district manager of ProTect Painters, contributed to this article.