How to Decoupage Flower Pots

Co-authored by Claire Donovan-Blackwood

Last Updated: February 18, 2020 References

Flower pots are a great way to display your favorite plants on your patio, balcony, and window sill. Instead of buying a fancy one, why not make your own using decoupage glue and pretty, patterned paper? With the right preparations, you can make it waterproof too! You can also use the pot to store craft supplies on your desk, such as pens and pencils.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Preparing the Pot

1
Choose a terra cotta pot. You can use any size of terra cotta pot for this. If you plan on putting a plant into your pot, it must have a drainage hole at the bottom. It would be a good idea to pick up a matching saucer for it as well. You won't be decoupaging the saucer, but you can paint the outside to match your pot.
2
Wipe the pot down with a damp sponge. Even if you bought your pot brand-new, it may still be covered in dust. This can prevent the paint and glue from sticking. Wipe the entire pot, inside and out, with a damp sponge, then set it out to dry.
- If the pot has any rough edges, buff them away with some sandpaper. Be sure to wipe the pot down again when you are done.^{[1]
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3
Coat the inside of the pot with 2 to 3 layers of waterproof polyurethane sealant. You can use the spray-on kind or the brush-on kind. Let each coat dry before applying the next one. How long it takes for each coat to dry depends on the type of sealant you are using. If you plan on putting a plant into the pot, it would be best to use an oil-based sealant. If you'll be using the pot as a decoration or to hold craft supplies, you can use a water-based sealant.^{[2]
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- The sealant is important, especially if you'll be adding a plant. It will keep moisture from sinking into the pot and causing the paint/glue to bubble.^{[3]
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4
Paint the outside of the pot with 2 to 3 coats of acrylic paint, if desired. You don't have to paint the pot at all if you don't want to, but it will give your design a nicer background. Once again, let each coat of paint dry before applying the next one.^{[4]
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Research source} Acrylic paint dries quickly, so you'll only have to wait 15 to 20 minutes between each coat. When you are done painting, let the pot dry completely.
- You can paint the pot any color you want, but something that matches the background of your paper will work the best.^{[5]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Decoupaging the Pot

1
Choose paper with a pretty design on it. Wrapping paper, scrapbooking paper, tissue paper, and napkins make great choices. Seed packets also work well.^{[6]
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Research source} If you can't find any paper that you like, cotton fabric is a great alternative. Choose something with shapes that are easy to cut out, such as birds or flowers.
- You can use any design you want to decorate it, but something nature-themed would look the best on a flower pot.
- How much paper you need depends on how big your pot is and how much of it you plan to cover up. You can cover your entire pot with paper, or you can add just a few designs on it.^{[7]
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2
Cut your paper into individual shapes or designs. For example, if your paper has birds on it, cut the birds out, and leave the background alone. You can also carefully tear around the shapes instead. This will give you a more rustic touch. It will also make it easier to overlap the edges if you plan on covering the entire pot.
- If you are using a seed packet, you could simply cut around the front image so that it's a square or rectangle.^{[8]
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- If you are tearing a napkin, outline your shapes with a clean, wet paintbrush first. This will make your tears more precise.^{[9]
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3
Paint a patch of decoupage glue onto your pot where you want the image to go. The patch needs to be a little bigger than the first image you will be laying down. You can apply the glue using a paintbrush or a foam brush.
- You can use any type of decoupage glue, such as Mod Podge. The finish does not matter because you will be sealing the pot later on.
EXPERT TIP

Claire Donovan-Blackwood
Arts & Crafts Specialist
Claire Donovan-Blackwood is an Arts & Crafts Specialist and CEO of Heart Handmade UK, a site dedicated to helping people live a happy, creative life. With over 13 years of experience, Claire uses art as a form of therapy and focuses on mindfulness in the making of art. She makes crafting easy and accessible for those she works with. Claire received her B.A. in Photography & Visual Imagery from The University of Huddersfield.

Claire Donovan-Blackwood
Arts & Crafts Specialist

Make sure you use a glue that is not water-based. Otherwise, the glue will reactivate when you water the plant and become tacky again. Then, apply paper or fabric to the pot and smooth it out so that there are no bubbles. After it’s dry, finish the pot with a coat of varnish.
4
Paint the back of your paper with decoupage glue, if needed. Flip your cut paper over and paint the back with a thin coat of decoupage glue.^{[10]
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Research source} You can skip this step if you are using thin paper, such as tissue paper or napkin. This is because the glue that's already on the paper will seep through it.
5
Press the paper against the wet glue. Use your fingers or a clean foam brush to smooth the paper down. Start from the middle and work your way outwards towards the edges.
- If you are using a napkin, you will need to peel away the blank, back layer first.^{[11]
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6
Apply more decoupage glue over the image. Paint the glue on in thin layers, starting from the center of the image. Extend the glue just past the image and onto the pot. The brush will help smooth down the edges, and seal them against the pot.
7
Continue gluing more images to the pot. You can glue down just one image, or several. You can even overlap images for a collaged effect. If you choose to overlap images, it might be a good idea to let the first layer dry. This will prevent things from getting too soggy.
- You can cover the upper rim of the pot if you want to, but don't put anything inside the pot.
- Leave the bottom of the pot blank.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Finishing the Pot

1
File away any unevenness, if needed. Take a close look at the top and bottom of your pot. If there are any rough, uneven edges leftover from the decoupage, file them down with a piece of fine-grit sandpaper or a nail file.^{[12]
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2
Cover the pot with two coats of decoupage glue. Let each coat dry before applying the next one. Also, make sure that you extend the glue just past the bottom and top edges of your pot. This will help seal the designs in further. Wait for the pot to dry completely before moving on.^{[13]
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3
Seal the pot with 2 to 3 coats polyurethane sealant for added protection. Once more, allow each coat to dry fully before applying the next one. A water-based sealant would be best here, as an oil-based one may add a yellowish tint to your pot.^{[14]
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Research source} For something more durable, use the type of varnish meant for boats.^{[15]
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- This will be your last coat, so use a finish that you like: matte, satin, or glossy.
- You only have to do this if you will be putting soil into the pot. If you'll be using the pot as decoration, you don't need this extra coat.
4
Allow the pot to dry completely. Overnight is best, but it would be best to check the label on your bottle of sealant. Some types of sealers have a curing time as well, which can take a few days. If you use your pot before everything has finished drying or curing, the surface may turn tacky.
5
Paint and seal the saucer, if desired. If you picked up a saucer for your flower pot, you can paint it as well. Only paint the outside edges, not the inside or bottom. Even with a waterproof sealer, the saucer will pick up too much water. This may sauce the finish to warp.
- Use colors and patterns that match your decoupaged pot.
6
Use the flower pot. If you plan on putting a plant into it, line the bottom with a coffee filter, a scrap of fabric, or a piece of window screening. This will help keep the dirt from falling through the hole at the bottom. You can also use the flower pot as a pencil holder on your desk, or as a piece of decoration.

Community Q&A

Question

Can I use varnish instead of polyurethane sealant?

T. Chinsen

Top Answerer

The basic difference between varnish and polyurethane is that a varnish is a thicker layer than polyurethane. Both work as a sealant to a surface. The key to a successful sealant application is to get the surface clean and dry. There are online comparisons to the specific differences if you have issues with the material content of the sealant.