How to Paint a Terra Cotta Pot Using Wood Stain

Looking for a creative way to spruce up some plain old terra cotta pots? Why not try painting them with wood stain? Unlike other types of paints that come in bright colors and can leave pots looking shiny, using wood stain to paint them gives them a warm, natural looking matte finish. You get the look of classy custom planters for a fraction of the cost of buying them new. Ready to get started? Here's what you'll need:

Supplies:

- A terra cotta pot (or pots)
- Wood stain in the colors of your choosing
- Paintbrushes or foam brushes in assorted sizes
- A pencil (optional)
- Outdoor acrylic spray sealer in a matte finish

First you'll need to decide how you want to paint your pots. Do you want them all solid colors? What about stripes? Or maybe you really want to go for it and do an elaborate design. Take some time to think about how you want the final display to look once you get your plants placed in the pots.

If you have decided to go with a design start by lightly sketching it on using your pencil. Don't worry about being too precises - just try to get your ideas roughed out on the pot. Avoid pushing too hard so you can erase the marks later before sealing the pot. Once you have your pattern in place you're ready to paint.

Use your paintbrushes to apply a light coat of stain. If you are doing a solid colored pot go ahead and apply the stain to the entire pot. Otherwise take your time and fill in the pattern you drew carefully. The pencil marks should help keep the stain colors from bleeding together where they meet if you are using more than one color.

If there are brushstrokes in your stain allow it to dry completely and then use a fine grit sandpaper to carefully sand them away. Avoid using too much pressure so you don't take all of the stain off the pot. Apply a second coat if necessary.

Allow all coats of stain to dry completely. Use an eraser to lightly erase any remaining pencil marks from your drawing on the planter. Finally, seal the pot by spraying a light coating of matte finish acrylic spray over the top. This will help to protect the stain from the elements so that your terra cotta pot stays looking great all summer long.That's it! Now you have a custom pot with a beautiful stain pattern that you can fill with flowers or plants of your choosing. Have fun