Trash to Treasure: DIY Textured Paint and Baking Soda Vase

Create the look of authentic clay vases using paint, baking soda and coarse salt!

Yesterday, while out thrifting, I picked up a ceramic vase that had the perfect shape for a quick DIY update.

In the past, I've made plastic vases look like concrete and Dollar Tree vases look like Hobnail milk glass, but this vase instantly reminded me of the beautiful and popular, yet crazy expensive vintage clay pottery vases.

Turning old dated vases into stylish faux clay pots is nothing new (just do a quick Google or Pinterest search). There are many variations of this technique and each pot and vase is unique and turns out differently.

I love sharing affordable DIY projects and filling my home with unique vintage finds, so it only made sense that I share my version of the DIY textured paint and baking soda technique.

- SUPPLIES NEEDED TO MAKE DIY FAUX CLAY VASES -

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- Old Vase (I bought mine from Goodwill)

- Chalk or Mineral Paint (I used Ash by Fusion)

- Baking Soda

- Glue brush

- Coarse salt

- Fine grit sandpaper (I used 400 grit)

- Cup or container for mixing

I love the look of authentic clay pots and was fortunate to find a vase with an identical shape for $4.49. You can certainly use any size or shape vase/pot for this DIY project.

There are a ton of tutorials and even more variations for creating faux clay pots. You can use paint and baking soda, paint and Plaster of Paris, paint and baking powder or a combination of them all. You can spray them with textured spray paint or cover them in dirt or spackling. The list is long and the possibilities are endless!

For my DIY faux clay pot transformation, I decided to just grab a bunch of supplies and play it by ear.

Supplies to make a thrift store faux clay pot

(I didn't end up using the light gray paint or floss. I was thinking of using the floss to make textured lines in the pot, but I was able to achieve the look I was going for without using the floss)

- HOW TO MAKE FAUX CLAY VASES WITH PAINT AND BAKING SODA -

STEP ONE:

Lightly sand your vase using fine grit sandpaper, wipe clean and allow to dry. This helps create a little "tooth" for the paint to adhere to for optimal adhesion.

STEP TWO:

Mix together paint, Baking Soda and salt. I wish I could tell you I measured, but I just poured about a 1/4 cup of paint into a cup then kept adding baking soda until I was happy with the consistency (approx. 2 parts paint to 1 part Baking Soda). Then I mixed in about a teaspoon of coarse salt for added texture.

STEP THREE:

Apply a coat of the paint/baking soda/salt mixture to your pot using a glue brush. Be sure to apply the paint horizontally around the pot and not up and down or in circular motions. The glue brush will create perfect natural-looking lines and texture if you apply the paint correctly.

*** TIP *** If you are not achieving the texture you are hoping for then your paint may be too thin. Add in more baking soda until you have a thicker consistency.

Once the paint is dry, apply a second coat of paint to your vase.

Painting vase with paint and baking soda

STEP FOUR:

Lightly sand your pot using fine grit sandpaper (I used 400 grit).

I chose not to seal my vase because I prefer a naturally aged look, but you can always seal yours with clear ultra flat water-based poly.

If you prefer more of a vintage aged look, you can rub a little dirt over your vase to create even more depth and dimension.

I love how this affordable paint and baking soda vase transformation turned out! It looks so much like an authentic clay pot and you would never know it started out as a $4.49 thrift store vase.