What Can You Use to Decorate a Terracotta Pot?

Paint

• Terracotta takes on paint well and it looks nice for a long time if taken in during freezing weather. Because of the porous properties of terracotta, it may take a few coats of paint to cover the pot completely. A base coat is necessary because without it, any painted figures will run and lines will blur. Use acrylic craft paint mixed with a tiny bit of water to aid spreadability and apply it with a small foam brush. Paint the inside lip of the pot for a polished finish. Paint the base coat all one color and add figures like hearts, flowers, stripes and dots after the base coat dries. Spraying finished pots with clear acrylic sealant inside and out prevents water damage and scratches.

Decoupage

• Decoupage involves affixing paper products or fabric to a surface with a special glue in a collage-like manner. This project works well with pictures cut from magazines, pieces of wrapping paper, napkins or fabric to cover the outside of the pot. Decoupage is very sticky, like glue. Brush it on the pot, apply paper clippings in sections and paint over the whole thing to secure well. Painting or sealing the pot with polyurethane sealer protects the decoupage from damage by moisture. Seal the inside and outside to protect the images.

Stencil

• Paint the pot and spray sealant inside and out before stenciling. It's easy to create the image by taping the stencil to the pot with painters tape and filling in the design with acrylic paint. Stencil brushes dab small amounts of paint over the stencil to create the design. Remove the stencil and let the paint dry for two or three hours before spraying sealant again to protect the image. Stencils can be added to just the rim of the pot or around the entire pot.

Tile

• Small glass or ceramic tiles enhance terracotta pots when affixed with tile mastic and spaces filled with grout. Spread a small amount and place tiles on top so they have spaces in between, and move to another section until the whole pot is covered. Let it dry. Broken pottery all at the same thickness provides a viable alternative to tiles. Seal the inside of the pot to protect the work of art.