DIY guide to creating aged pottery

There’s nothing quite like a beautiful, antique vase to bring depth and character to a space. Whether filled with a bouquet of fresh flowers or foliage from the garden, or even left empty to speak for itself, the right vase can make a strong statement and become a focal point in your styling.

Throughout our home, we love using a range of dark, earthy accents and styling pieces to complement our crisp white walls and minimalist aesthetic. So, I wanted to create some unique pieces to fit this brief. 

Having previously experimented with Geneva Vanderzeil’s iconic #trashtoterracotta upcycle, I know how easy (and fun!) it can be to turn old ceramics into statement vases. For this project, I pictured something a little more textured and old world – and I think I pulled it off!

Before and after 

There were a few little surprises along the way, but I’m loving how these two old op-shop (thrift store) vases turned out. The texture is exactly what I pictured, but I think it’s the colouring that really gives it that worn, antique look.

So, here is our simple DIY guide to creating aged pottery pieces – for a fraction of the price you would expect to pay in stores!

Materials:

Step 1: Chose your vase

When shopping for your vases, the most important aspects to keep in mind are of course the size and the shape. If you plan to fill your vase with flowers, something larger is best, but if you intend to use it as more of a decorative piece, a smaller vase can be a great choice. 

I sourced these at local op-shops, but it took a few visits to different stores to find the right sizes and shapes that I was looking for. This project would also work well on larger pots – and would make a beautiful feature either inside or outside of your home!

Step 2: Time to prime

Before getting started, wash your vase with warm soapy water and ensure it is fully dry before applying primer. I used Rust-Oleum’s 2XU Ultra Cover Spray Paint in ‘Flat Black’, which is a primer and paint in one. 

This will help the plaster stick to the vase, and act as a base colour for any parts that may show through. We’ve gone through SO many cans of Rust-Oleum spray paint throughout our renovations and projects. It always holds up so well! 

Step 3: Apply the plaster

Once your vase is dry, it’s time for the messy part – applying the plaster! Initially, I mixed the Plaster of Paris as per the instructions, but I found the consistency too runny. If you are after a more textured look, play around with the plaster to water ratio until it forms a thicker consistency.

I found it best to ‘pat’ the plaster onto the vases using my fingers. If you want a smoother look, you may want to try wiping the plaster on, or you could even apply it with a plaster scraper.

Step 4: Perfect your texture

To me, this project really is all about the texture, so it’s worth investing a little extra effort to perfect it – but this step is completely optional. After applying the plaster, I used a wet all-purpose sponge to gently press the plaster into the vases here and there, skipping areas to retain inconsistencies and depth.

Once dry, I used fine-grit sandpaper to gently smooth any rough patches or abrasions. Having used the sponge, there weren’t many – but it’s good to remove any small spikes that may scratch or chip.

Step 5: The finishing touches

As the final step, I used a combination of Rust-Oleum’s Chalked Ultra Matt Spray Paint in ‘Charcoal’ plus the 2XU Spay Paint to bring back the dark, moody colouring. Originally, I had planned to paint the vases entirely and then sand back further, but loved the way it looked with the plaster showing through. 

To achieve this worn, aged pottery look, spray in very light horizontal strokes, alternating products. You may want to allow it to fully dry before assessing and deciding whether to apply another light coat.

We hope you enjoyed our DIY guide to creating aged pottery! It’s such a fun, fast and affordable way to upcycle an op-shop find, or to give new life to your old ceramics.

If you decide to recreate something like this, we would love to see! Feel free to tag @januaryrevival in your next projects, and as always, be sure to reach out if you have any questions.

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8 Comments

  1. Arti
    November 25, 2021 / 12:47 pm

    Very different DIY. I am going to try it.

    • Kellie
      Author
      November 25, 2021 / 1:28 pm

      Thank you Arti! Hope you enjoy it – I would love to see how your vase turns out ☺️

  2. January 6, 2022 / 12:55 am

    Such a fun DIY project! Love the contrast with the white flowers 🙂

    • Kellie
      Author
      January 6, 2022 / 12:03 pm

      Thank you so much!

  3. January 6, 2022 / 1:29 am

    Interesting idea and process!

    • Kellie
      Author
      January 6, 2022 / 12:04 pm

      Thank you Carrie! Such a fun little DIY.

  4. Stacey Stolman
    January 6, 2022 / 10:16 am

    Great idea. You have inspired me!

    • Kellie
      Author
      January 6, 2022 / 12:04 pm

      Thank you Stacey! Would love to see if you decide to give it a go. ☺️

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