Paint a Glass Vase to Look Like Stoneware

Stoneware and pottery are classic home decor elements that are also very much on trend right now. And here’s a full tutorial for how to paint a glass vase to look like stoneware for a fraction of the cost of the real thing.

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How to Paint a Glass Vase to Look Like Stoneware

Y’all know that I love a bargain and I also love transforming things with my paint brush. I find it very rewarding to give a thrifted piece a brand new look.

And today I’m sharing a recent project that I did for this month’s Thrifty Style Team Challenge, hosted by Julie at Redhead Can Decorate. Each month our team of clever and creative home decor bloggers shares tips and projects for decorating your home on a budget.

All of this month’s projects are at the bottom of this post so be sure to visit everyone. There are so many great ideas this months and you’ll want to see them all.

For my project, I took a glass vase that came with a flower arrangement and made it look like an antique piece of pottery. It only took a few simple supplies and a couple of hours for the transformation. Read on to see how I did it.

Supplies needed

For this simple project you’ll only need a few items:

• Paint – I used a small amount from a sample pot of paint. The color was Benjamin Moore Baby Fawn.
• Baking soda
• Brush – use an older one or a cheap one
• Sanding sponge or sandpaper
• Coffee grounds
• Glass vase – I saw some just like mine for $1 at the thrift store. You can use any shape for this.
• Natural sea sponge
• Clear finish – acrylic urethane or clear spray finish will work

And here’s the easy process.

Instructions for painting a glass vase to look like stoneware

1. Sand the glass vase

Lightly sand the vase to rough up the surface. Your paint will adhere better.

2. Mix the paint and baking soda

For this small vase here’s the approximate ratio I used:

3 parts paint to 1 part baking soda.

It will be thicker than regular paint but you should still be able to apply it with your paint brush. It’s okay if it’s a little lumpy but try to break up any larger lumps.

3. Paint the vase with the baking soda mixture

Cover the vase with the baking soda mixture. You’ll probably need two coats. Paint a few inches down inside the vase.

For my vase, I painted the bottom first.

4. Add more texture

This step is optional.

Wet a sea sponge and ring out all excess water. After the second coat has dried slightly, pounce the wet baking soda mixture very gently with the damp sea sponge to add more texture to the paint.

TIP: Don’t pounce to heavy or you’ll actually remove the paint. I recommend starting on the bottom of the vase to get the hang of it.

You can also gently drag your paint brush across the wet surface for more texture.

Here’s how mine looked after I added texture to it.

5. Allow paint to dry completely

After the paint dries it will look rough and textured like a piece of unglazed pottery.

6. Stain the piece

After the paint has dried completely, gently smear wet coffee grounds all over it. This will give it an aged look. As a bonus, your hands will get exfoliated and be super smooth.

Allow the coffee grounds to dry and then wipe them off. This is a messy process so be sure your work surface is covered.

NOTE: You can use other items from your pantry like cinnamon, nutmeg, mustard seed, or even soil. Add a little water to make a paste then smear it on.

7. Finish with a clear coat and enjoy!

For durability you’ll want to finish the piece with a clear coat after it’s completely dry. You can use it as a vase for artificial or dried flowers or simply enjoy it as a piece of art.

What do you think? I’m thrilled with how this project turned out and have so many ideas of other things to paint like this.

I haven’t decorated for fall quite yet but did pop some artificial eucalytus branches in the vase to see how they would look. You can see my new paint color and a sneak peek of my new mirror below. Stay tuned for a full reveal soon.

More thrifty home decor projects

Here are all of this months projects to inspire you!

Redhead Can Decorate –A Look Back at Redhead Can Decorates Best Affordable DIY Projects

Our Crafty Mom –Wooden Candle Holders with a Faux Concrete Finish

I Should Be Mopping the Floor –Unique Containers for Flower Arrangements

The How to Home –How to Make a Pom Pom Pillow

DIY Beautify –Thrifty Vintage Art for Your Walls

2 Bees in a Pod –French Country Lamp Makeover

Postcards From the Ridge –How to Paint a Glass Vase to Look Like Stoneware

The Tattered Pew –The Secret Tip to Drying Hydrangeas

Cottage on Bunker Hill –How to Make Autumn Leaf Clay Trinket Dishes

Amy Sadler Designs –Wheat and Floral Decor for Fall Decorating

Songbird –DIY Hanging Glass Bottles for Tiny Flower Bouquets

My Family Thyme –Make an Easy and Inexpensive Fall Wreath

Southern Yankee DIY – DIY Faux Concrete Planter

More Painting Tutorials

You can transform almost anything with paint. Here are some of my past painting projects:

• How to paint a brick fireplace
• How to paint and stencil a vinyl floor
• How to paint a laminate countertop
• Learn how to get a crackle paint finish
• Paint numbers and letters on furniture
• How to paint paneling like a pro