How to White Wash a Terra-cotta Pot

Terra-cotta pots are very versatile and can be used for a number of home decorations, indoor and outdoor. However, if you love that antique look and want to incorporate terra-cotta pots into more of a farmhouse style, then here is a tutorial for you! Watch my video below to learn how to easily white wash a terra-cotta pot.

What You’ll Need:

• Nab yourself some terra-cotta pots… Amazon, Dollar Store, Walmart, Home Depot… anywhere really!
• Milk Paint – we sell milk paint here in small sample sizes that will cover these pots and larger. A little bit goes a long way!
• Water
• Bowl and spatula for mixing
• Paintbrush
• 220 grit sandpaper or higher

How to White Wash a Terra-cotta Pot

• Mix up your milk paint using 1 part milk paint to 2 parts water. This is different from traditional milk paint ratios because we want to make it more watered down to achieve the antiqued look.
• Start with 1 tsp milk paint, then add 2 tsp water and mix with a small spatula. Make sure that most of the lumps are out.
• Lightly add a coat of milk paint since this will sink deep into the porous texture. You can always add another coat of paint later on if you want the white to be brighter.
• Allow the pots to dry.
• Take 220 grit sandpaper or higher and lightly sand. Scratch lines should not be visible.
• Add another coat of milk paint if you want the exterior to be brighter and repeat the sanding process, otherwise you can leave as is.

And there you have it! A simple way to white wash a terra-cotta pot to achieve an antique look. These are certainly fun to use in your home decor, like how I styled mine on my fireplace mantel. But, you can use this same process for outdoor terra-cotta pots that you may want to sit on your porch. Either way, it’s an easy DIY, just how I like them.
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