A quick and easy way to decorate your outdoor area, or other areas in your home, is to paint garden pots and planters. Whether you have existing pots laying around that could use a little TLC, or you plan to do some gardening in the near future, Cornish Milk Mineral Paint makes it easy to transform inexpensive plastic containers, ceramic pots, concrete planters, window boxes and more. The following tips will guide you through your own project.
Selecting Materials
You can use Cornish Milk Mineral Paint on most surfaces, including wood, stone, ceramic, plastic, and more. In spite of this, certain materials, particularly those used outdoors and in gardening, will weather differently over time.
Plants will absorb water and other materials from porous materials, such as terracotta, over time, which can lead to changes in your finish and a more weathered appearance. For porous containers, we recommend using darker, more neutral colours that will weather gracefully over time. If used indoors, you can also line clay pots with a plastic liner to prevent moisture from seeping through the surface.
Plastic pots may also be a good choice if you want to create a cleaner, modern look, or don't want to change the finish of your pot. In addition to being inexpensive and lightweight, they are also non-porous, so you won't have to worry about water marks and discolour.
Glazed ceramic containers, while non-porous, often have shiny finishes that paint cannot stick to. In most cases these can still be painted, but they will require a little prep work. We recommend sanding glazed surfaces lightly with 150 grit sandpaper or a quick prime with our plant-based eco primer, which helps paint adhere better. Apply a thin first coat of paint and allow it to dry completely, then apply additional coats.
Surfaces should be cleaned to remove dirt or grime before painting to ensure proper adhesion. Our Cornish Milk BioClean will be suitable for this job. If possible, we recommend keeping outdoor containers inside or in a covered area for 5 days. This will give your finish time to cure before exposure to the elements.
But if you want your newly painted pots to be outside right away, we recommend using our Cornish Milk extreme lacquer. Let this cure for 24 hours and then your newly painted pots can be used outside.
Finishing Ideas
Decorative pots and planters are a great opportunity to experiment with colour and finishes. Some of our favourite techniques include:
- Pull in an accent colour from around your home or garden and paint your pots to match.
- Consider using the colour of your doors, windows, or even a predominant colour in your garden from a much loved flower.
- Layer multiple colours together using a dry-brushed technique to create a stone effect. Start with a mid-tone neutral and add white, making 1-2 additional colours to mix and layer.
- Use a stencil to give dimension to simple, flat surfaced pots. Painter's tape also works well for geometric designs.
