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Garden Sanity by Pet Scribbles

Chalk Paint on Plastic Pots – An Amazing Makeover!

This post and photos may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. If you purchase something through any link, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. Any supplies used may be given to me free of charge, however, all projects and opinions are my own.


January 8, 2019 By Laura Leave a Comment

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Try chalk paint on plastic pots for an easy makeover that you’ll love, especially if you match the paint to your home decor!

chalk paint on plastic pots

I found my set of plastic plant pots at our local Walmart.

Each one is $5 and I love the quality. They are heavy, sturdy, and the fake dirt inside is solid.

The evergreen plants look very real too! Upon checkout, the cashier stuck her finger into one of the pots to see if they were real, so they definitely look good!

black plastic plant pots

Where to find plastic plant pots

What is key to look for, when shopping for these, is the basic plastic pot.

These are the kind of plastic plant pots that are meant to stick into a decorative planter, usually in another material such as galvanized steel, ceramic, or terra cotta.

You can save money by applying chalk paint onto the plastic pots and give them an amazing makeover!

I’ve found a few other places that also sell similar plastic plant pots with realistic plants in them, in addition to Walmart.

Amazon has quite a few, as does IKEA. And don’t forget to look at your area craft stores and home improvement stores too. Scout around and you can find some gems, just like I did!

Supplies for Chalk Paint on Plastic Pots:

Good to know: I often link the supplies I use directly to Amazon, so that you can 1) see what the items look like; 2) read the reviews there; and 3) easily purchase the product. However, please remember that you may find these items as your local craft store for a cheaper price. (I make a tiny commission on anything you purchase through these Amazon links at no extra cost to you, which I put directly back into the expenses of running this website.)

  • Plastic plant pots
  • Apple Barrel craft paint in White — Plaid Crafts
  • Waverly Inspirations chalk paint in Agave and Moss — Plaid Crafts
    (I got a fabulous mini set of these paints at Walmart,
    but you can use similar colors in this set from FolkArt)
  • Mod Podge Antique Matte formula — Plaid Crafts
  • Mod Podge decoupage brushes — Plaid Crafts
  • Martha Stewart Crafts small paint brushes — Plaid Crafts
    (my favorite brushes!)
  • Sea sponge
  • Wax paper
  • Stencil brush
  • Bakers Twine

Chalk Paint on Plastic Pots Tutorial:

White Craft Paint

First, I painted a coat of basic white craft paint onto each of the pots. I wasn’t concerned with full coverage of every little spot, as this coat simply served as my base coat to cover the black color.

painting over plastic plant pots

When the paint was almost dry, I took a sea sponge and pounced more white craft paint onto each pot to add some texture and roughness to the painted surface.

sea sponge used to paint plastic plant pots

In some cases — because the paint wasn’t completely dry yet — the sponge removed paint here and there from the pots. I love this easy way to invent some texture on a once-smooth surface.

plastic pot makeover with paint

This will help achieve the distressed finish I want. Let this dry completely before proceeding.

3 plastic pots with white chalk paint on them

Blue Chalk Paint

Next, I brushed on one coat of the blue chalk paint, again not completely covering the previous white coat.

blue chalk paint over white chalk paint on pots

Helpful tip: Chalk paint dries very quickly, which means each of these layers will not take long at all to apply!

Green Chalk Paint

After the blue paint, I add sections of the green chalk paint here and there on each pot.

adding green chalk paint to plastic pots over blue and white paint

The chalk paint on the plastic pots looks a bit deliberate right now, but keep watching as I continue painting.

plastic pot makeover with chalk paint

More Blue Chalk Paint

To blend the colors more, I added another rough coat of the blue chalk paint on the plastic pots.

plastic plant pot makeover with chalk paint

More Green Chalk Paint

Then I took a stencil brush and softly brushed and swooshed around some of the green chalk paint.

make plastic plant pots distressed with paint

I love how the plastic pots are being transformed before my eyes!

chalk paint makeover on plastic pots

Antique Mod Podge

Finally, once I was happy with the look of the chalk paint on the plastic pots, I brushed on a coat of Antique Mod Podge to seal everything.

plant pot redo with chalk paint and Mod Podge

Helpful tip: These Mod Podge brushes make applying the Mod Podge so easy. I swear by them. 

Mod Podge decoupage brushes

My favorite reason for using the Antique version of Mod Podge is the tinted formula which provides just a bit of an antiqued look to whatever you apply it to.

seal painted plastic pots with Mod Podge

In the image above, you can see how quickly the Mod Podge begins to dry. I applied Mod Podge to the pot on the left first, then the middle pot next, and finally the pot on the right just before I took this image.

I let everything dry well overnight, and woke up the next morning to rustic chalk paint on pots that made my heart sing!

chalky paint plant pot makeover

Bakers Twine

As a final detail, I tied red and white Bakers Twine around each pot.

three chalk painted pots tied with bakers twine

Chalk Paint on Plastic Pots!

No more black plastic pots!

chalk painted plastic plant pots

The texture and blending of colors turned out wonderfully!

Helpful tip: There’s no right or wrong way to layer the paint colors you choose. Play with the colors and layering until YOU love it. And that’s when you’ll know you are finished!

plastic planter makeover with chalk paint

I’ll keep these on our window sill in our Breakfast Room for the Winter season and even into early Spring.

chalk paint on plastic pots tutorial

These pots look gorgeous without any Bakers Twine too.

chalk paint makeover with plastic plant pots

But I’ll keep the red and white twine on them at least through Valentine’s Day.

chalk paint on plastic pots makeover

More DIYs with Chalk Paint on Plastic

A faux verdigris picture frame in one simple step!

One very light coat of chalk paint over a black plastic frame which has a raised design.

A faux verdigris picture frame in one simple step!

Turn plastic toy hockey sticks into vintage-looking wood!

These hockey sticks began as yellow and white plastic sticks!

DIY Hockey Stick Decor

White plastic IKEA frames look like painted wood!

These IKEA frames are white plastic with a raised design, which are fun to paint!

before and after painted IKEA KVILL frames

Happy crafting!

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Filed Under: Crafts & DIY, Winter Crafts Tagged With: chalk paint, Christmas decor, Craft Tutorials, decor, distressed paint technique, DIY, DIY Christmas, faux plants, holiday decor, home decor, layered paint, Martha Stewart Crafts, mod podge, painted pots, Plaid Crafts, plastic pots, Valentine decor, Waverly Chalk Paint, Winter decor

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Welcome to Garden Sanity by Pet Scribbles. I’m Laura, an artist and self-taught gardener. Gardening is therapeutic for me, peaceful and calming. I write articles and film videos centered around my own gardens, with plenty of plant suggestions and gardening tips. I’m glad you’re here and happy to share my garden inspiration with you!

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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