Aged Stone Vase or Found Pot DIY (ORC Week 3)
Love the trend of weathered pottery and ceramics, but not the price tag? Create your own aged stone vase, planter, or lamp using this simple tutorial.
Hello friends! It’s week 3 of the One Room Challenge, and I have a fun and simple tutorial to share with you: create your own aged stone vase! Have you been following the DIY “found pot” trend on Instagram? The earthy, weathered look adds texture and character to your decor, and works with a variety of styles. I had to try it for myself, and wanted to share my experience. You can also use this method on planters, lamps, bowls… etc. Any item that you want to update with a stone or cement look. Let’s get started!
In case you missed my previous ORC updates, you may find them here:
- Week 1: Modern Coastal Dining Room Mood Board
- Week 2: Pretty Toy Storage
Stone Vase Inspiration
Aged ceramics are a pretty big trend in design right now. I love the texture and interest that these pieces add to a space! Here are a few inspirational photos from designers I love:
The originator of the DIY found pot was Jaci from Jaci.Daily on Instagram. She came up with the idea, I’m just trying it out and sharing my experience! Jaci has highlights saved and so many of beautiful photos as well, so be sure to check out her feed!
Since then, I have loved watching friends try out this tutorial on vases, jars, lamps, and planters. I just had to try it too!
My Vase Before
Here is a look back at where my vase began. It was a Homegoods find, and I styled it for my simple summer tablescape last year.
More recently, you saw this vase dressed up with a few coats of matte black spray paint in our spring home tour. It was getting closer to the look I wanted, but still needed a little love.
My Vase After!
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Here she is in all of her aged, weathered glory! Will we look back at this trend one day and think, that was weird? Perhaps. But right now, I love it. Especially since our home is a new build, I am always working to add pieces with character and texture. I love the dark, worn look of the vase and how it contrasts with all of the clean lines here.
Stone Vase Tutorial
- Select your vase, pot, or lamp base. If you do not have one already, thrift stores are a great place to look! My vase is ceramic, but I have seen this technique used on glass as well. Make sure the surface is clean and dry.
- Spray with primer. I used THIS ONE which is technically a combination primer/paint. Spray in a well ventilated area and follow the directions on the can. You may need a few coats. Allow to dry.
- Spray with a textured spray paint. This is my secret step! If your vase/pot/lamp base is smooth and you would prefer a rough, aged look, use a textured spray paint. I used THIS ONE. Spray in a well ventilated area and follow the directions on the can. This creates a speckled, textured surface. You may need a few coats. Allow to dry.
- Make some mud! Go out in your yard with a plastic cup (or mixing bowl, etc) and collect a handful of dirt/clay/mud. In my yard, all we have is clay. Water it down if necessary and squish it around until you have a muddy liquid. Wear gloves if you would like 😉
- Coat your vase with mud. Using a gloved hand or a paintbrush, rub the mud mixture all over your vase (or pot/lamp base, etc). Don’t worry if it looks uneven; it’s supposed to look old and dirty! Allow to dry.
- Using a dry cloth or paper towel, rub off excess mud. You can also use a damp cloth to smooth it here and there. It is up to you how much dirty and weathered you would like it to look.
- Style with greenery and enjoy your new stone vase! And the extra cash in your pocket since you saved a lot using this DIY!
A Few Spray Paint Options
Not Up for DIY?
If you love the look but not the process, here are some pretty options:
Black Vases and Planters
Cream Vases and Planters
Ceramic and Cement Lamps
Thanks so much for stopping by today friends! What do you think of the aged stone vase trend? Will you try this tutorial? XO!
Going to save this one – I love how this technique turned out!
Thank you so much Lindsey! It was a fun and simple DIY!
Your vase turned out beautifully! It’s so fun to see it’s evolution 🙂
Xo, Katie
Thanks Katie! Always nice to make old things new. Or in this case… the opposite! 😉
Love this!! I’ve been wanting to try it, but waiting for our thrift stores to reopen!
Thanks so much Erin! It was a lot of fun. I’ve seen people use old glass vases and jars, too!
This is a perfect DIY! I love taking something and changing it up. Great technique. Love it.
Aw thank you Terrie! Glad you liked it.
Love the vase. It turned out great. I have been wanting to try and have the perfect one.
Thanks Torie! It’s a fun DIY and I’ve enjoyed seeing everyone’s creations on Instagram!
Just saved this one to pinterest, I love it!
Thank you for saving and sharing, Lindsey! 🙂
Love this so much!! I’m going to try it out. Where did you get your greenery stems? Those are perfect too!
Thanks so much Angela! The greenery is from Target and unfortunately no longer available, but these are similar: https://rstyle.me/cz-n/dscrahcicsp Hope that helps! 🙂
I love this technique and have tried it on a piece I have. But I didn’t use the textured spray paint. What color did you use or would you suggest? I love the look you got, which color textured paint did you use on this one? I’m looking for a pot of this style now. Thank you.
@simplesouthern_living
Marnette
Hi Marnette! I used this spray paint https://rstyle.me/+2RE7mRRtNNpQBlGvCsUIaQ in Black Granite. Hope that helps! 🙂
I love this look and am dying to try it on my old mustard color pottery . My question which might be silly…do you apply the mud mixture to the jar when the paint is still tacky or dry? I can’t seem to find that answer. On dry paint I would think it is just a dirty pot in ny house that will rub off eventually lol
Thank you!
Marianne
Hi Marianne! Thanks so much for the comment. You do wait for the spray paint to dry before applying the mud! Then wait for the mud to dry, and then you can brush/rub off the excess. You could probably using a sealing spray at the end if you wish, but I have not tried it! Hope that helps 🙂
I would prefer to seal so mud doesn’t flake off or run off in case water gets on vase. Please suggest sealers.
Hi Pat! You could try a clear spray sealer, I have not tried it so cannot recommend something specific. If I were planning to put cut flowers or greenery in the vase, I would place a smaller jar of water (like a mason jar) inside of the vase. That way, the water is not contacting it! Hope that helps.
Great project! How long did you wait before adding mud? I waited 15 mins per the drying instructions on the stone finish but the mud wiped all the texture away. Would you also mind sharing how liquidy your mud was – I believe mine may have been too moist. Thanks!
Hi Michelle! I apologize for the delay. I waited several hours before applying the mud, and some of the texture did come off, but some remained. As for the mud, mine was pretty watery, but you could try thicker mud too! 🙂
This is so beautiful! I’m a tad confused- did you paint over the mud? How did you get that black color?
Hi McKenna! Before I did the mud, I first sprayed the vase with black paint/primer and then a textured spray paint. Hope that helps!
Where did you get the greens from in the vase?
Hi Kelly! These branches were from Target a few years ago and no longer available, but these ones are very similar: https://rstyle.me/+MVxAou1NM0mIaGrWqqg7Ug Hope that helps!
Beautiful! I’m wondering if you used the color bleached sand as your textured paint. That’s is the color the Amazon link automatically pulls up, so I’m just curious if that’s the color you used?
Hi Kiera! I used Black Granite which is not showing as an option right now, but Granite Stone looks very similar!
Love this look, but not the price tag so going to try this for sure ! May I ask where your wall baskets are from? Love them !
Hi Tanya! Thank you so much, hope you have fun with the mud vase DIY! My wall baskets were from Hobby Lobby several years ago, but these ones are very similar. Hope that helps!