Do you love the vintage pottery trend? In this tutorial, learn 2 different methods for making your own upcycled vase that looks like antique stoneware!

This vintage pottery vase makeover contains affiliate links, but nothing that I wouldn’t recommend wholeheartedly. Read my full disclosure here.

The vintage pottery trend is everywhere. Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware have been selling pottery that looks a bit like antique stoneware for years, but it was just recently that it seems like everyone is trying their own hand at it! And I can see why….these vintage inspired vases sell for anywhere from $20 – $100!

The best part is that I was able to make my upcycled vases that look like vintage pottery for FREE! I had all of the supplies on hand! LOVE it when that happens!

I’ve been seeing tons of Instagrammers trying to DIY their own upcycled vase using supplies that you’re likely to have on hand – like thrifted or dollar store vases, dirt (yep, that’s right….everyone has dirt) and spray paint!

In this article, I’m tackling 2 different methods of making upcycled vases look like vintage pottery!

If you’d rather watch a video, here are some behind the scenes videos that I filmed while I was working on this DIY vintage pottery:

If you love DIY videos, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you don’t miss the next one!

So here are the vases that I’ll be using:

shows a green vase and a glass vase sitting on a wood table with over lay text that says before

The green larger vase is thrifted and the clear glass vase is from Dollar Tree. But you can really use any vase that you have laying around. Everyone’s got a spare vase lying around, right?

Upcycled Vase #1 (Spray Paint + Dirt)

So let’s jump right into the first vase tutorial. On this clear glass vase I’m going to be using the spray paint & dirt method.

shows a clear glass vase sitting on a wood table with text at top that says before

Supplies for upcycled vase #1:

Vase – this one is from Dollar Tree, but you could use any old vase you may have laying around

Rubbing Alcohol

Cotton Round

Flat White Primer

Flat Black Spray Paint

Dirt (yep, just like the kind right outside in your yard)

Matte Spray Acrylic Sealer

shows a green and clear vase with rubbing alcohol and pads sitting on a wood pallet outside

Step 1. Clean vase.

Any time you paint on a glass or ceramic surface you want to be sure it is nice and clean so the paint adheres.

I’ve found it works best to clean with rubbing alcohol on a cotton round right before starting the DIY to remove any grim or oils from the surface.

shows the clear vase being spray painted with white primer on a wood pallet outside

Step 2. Spray vase with white primer.

To help with the adhesion of the paint, lightly coat the vase with white spray primer and let dry.

shows the glass vase painted black with rust-oleum spray paint sitting ona wood pallet outside

Step 3. Spray vase with flat black spray paint.

Next do one thorough coat of the flat black spray paint on the vase and let dry.

shows the black spray painted glass vase covered with dirt on a wood pallet outside

Step 4. Cover with dirt.

Once the first coat is dry. Cover the vase with sandy dry dirt. Rub very lightly so you can scratch the surface.

Now you could stop here if you wanted, but I chose to add more dirt to create some texture on the vase.

shows the black glass vase covered on dirt on a wood pallet outside

Step 5. Spray vase & add dirt.

On the 2nd coat of black spray paint, lightly toss dirt directly onto the wet spray paint. There’s really no rhyme or reason here. You just spray and toss dirt on the vase until you get a look you’re happy with. It’s THAT easy.

For the dirt, it works best to use dry dirt with a sandy texture – that will give you a fine texture on the upcycled vase.

If you wanted a more chunky texture, try using a wet dirt or mud instead!

Step 6. Spray vase with sealer.

Once you’re happy, finish with a coat of matte spray sealer.

Note: even after it has been sealed, handle with this one with care. Don’t try to brush off the dirt more because it will just scratch the painted surface.

shows a vintage black vase with greenery sitting on a wood plank

Ta DA! Didn’t it turn out so cute?

shows a black and white vase sitting on a green cabinet and wood plank with greenery in them

For now I have it styled here with faux greenery under my basket wall on top of this green boho cabinet on a wood cutting board.

shows a black vintage vase and white vase with greenery sitting on a wood plank in a teal cabinet with a wicker basket wall in the background

shows an up close picture of a black vase made with spray paint and dirt with some greenery hanging out of it

shows a black and white vintage looking vases siting on a wood plank and teal cabinet with greenery hanging out of them with a wicker basket wall in the background

shows a before and after picture and in process pictures of a glass vase that gets a vintage makeover with black paint and dirt. Has overlay text that says vase makeover, before and after

Now it’s time to see the other method I used on that green vase!

Upcycled Vase #2 (Textured With Joint Compound + Paint + Dirt)

shows an up close picture of a green vase on a wood table with text at the bottom that says before

Just a reminder, here’s what the thrifted vase looked like before. It wasn’t horrible, but I just couldn’t find a good place for it because the color was didn’t work in any of our rooms.

Supplies for upcycled vase #2:

Vase – this one is from a thrift store

Rubbing Alcohol

Cotton Round

Flat White Primer

Joint Compound (if you don’t have this, check out my other ideas in step #2 below)

Dirt (yep, just the kind outside in your yard)

Black Acrylic Craft Paint

Old Paint Brush

Matte Spray Acrylic Sealer

shows a green and clear vase outside on a wood pallet with someone holding a bottle of rubbing alcohol

1. Repeat steps 1 & 2 from above tutorial.

You’ll want to start by also cleaning the vase with rubbing alcohol and spraying with white spray primer.

shows a vase covered in joint compound to create texture outside in a wood pallet

2. Rub vase with joint compound.

To give the vase that antique stoneware look with rustic texture, I’m using joint compound. Joint compound is also know as drywall mud and it’s usually used on drywall to protect and texture interior walls.

Since we’re renovating, we always have some joint compound on hand in the garage. However, if you’re looking for alternatives for other things you could use to create that texture, here are some ideas (Note: I haven’t tested any of these so no promises!)

Spackle – may need to thin with water
Plaster of Paris – may need to be thinned with water
Homemade play dough – 4 tbsp flour, 1/3 tbsp salt and water
Tile adhesive or mortar
Stucco

shows the vase covered in joint compound with dirt on it and a hand holding some dirt

3. Another coat of joint compound & add dirt.

After the first coat of joint compound was dry to the touch (about an hour), I did a second layer of joint compound going the opposite direction – horizontal.

As that was drying, I brushed on dry dirt from the yard.

Let that dry thoroughly, I left it overnight.

shows a paper plate on a cloth with dirt and black paint on it with a vase and brushes peaking out in the corners

shows a dark gray vase getting painted with dirt and black paint with a paper plate in the background with black paint on it

4. Paint with craft paint mixed with dirt.

Next take an old paint brush and brush on black craft paint mixed with …. you guessed it… more dirt!

I didn’t cover the vase entirely, but left some areas of the lighter joint compound poking through to give it some more visual interest.

When the paint is drying, I also added more dry dirt on top of paint for the lighter “dirty” color to the vase that really makes it look like antique stoneware.

Black vase sitting on wood pallet with can of spray sealer sitting next to it

5. Finish with spray sealer.

Just like the other upcyled vase, finish with a coat of matte spray sealer to hold everything in place.

shows a dark gray textured vase with some pampas grass sticking out the top of it, sitting on a bathroom sink with a teal wall background

shows a top view of a black textured vase with greenery sticking out the top of it, sitting on a bathroom sink with a teal wall background with a before picture of the vase at the bottom and overlay text that says vase makeover

Doesn’t it look amazing? I LOVE the texture on this one! It looks just like real vintage pottery, don’t you think?

Which upcycled vase do you like best?

Let me know in the comments below!

How To Upcycle Vases To Look Like Vintage Pottery

Active Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours

Difficulty: Easy

Estimated Cost: $10

Do you love the vintage pottery trend? In this tutorial, learn 2 different methods for making your own upcycled vase that looks like antique stoneware!

Materials

Tools

Old Paint Brush

Instructions

Upcycled Vase #1 (Spray Paint & Dirt)

Clean vase with rubbing alcohol and cotton round.
Spray vase with white primer.
Spray vase with flat black spray paint.
Cover vase with dirt.
Spray vase again and toss dirt onto wet spray paint.
Spray vase with sealer.

Upcycled Vase #2 (Paint, Joint Compound & Dirt)

Clean vase with rubbing alcohol and cotton round.
Spray vase with white primer.
Rub vase with joint compound for texture.
Add another coat of joint compound and rub on dry dirt while it is drying. Let dry overnight.
Paint with craft paint mixed with dirt.
Finish with spray sealer.

Categories

DIY Vintage Pottery Made From Upcycled Vase (2 Methods)

Do you love the vintage pottery trend? In this tutorial, learn 2 different methods for making your own upcycled vase that looks like antique stoneware!

If you’d rather watch a video, here are some behind the scenes videos that I filmed while I was working on this DIY vintage pottery:

So here are the vases that I’ll be using: