Ombre Painted Pots

I love the soft painterly effect of this graduated technique. It puts a decorative, handcrafted spin on simple terracotta pots.

I picked up three sample pots of Porter's Paints in green-grey colours to spruce up a trio of Northcote Pottery egg-shaped pots. They’re cleaned, sealed, painted then sealed again to keep them looking good for longer.

“The ombre effect is created by blending tonal shades of the same colour, from dark to light. I used a different paintbrush for each.”

— Natasha

To ensure the porous pots were waterproofed to prevent staining, liming and mould, I used  Bondall Pot & Ornament Sealer, which penetrates the terracotta to form a clear protective layer. It also increases the surface hardness to make the pots more durable.

Working on a clean surface, I brushed the pots inside and out to remove any dust and debris.

I sprayed on Bondall Betta Tilecare Tile & Grout Cleaner, scrubbed with a soft scourer then hosed down the pots and left them to dry.

To seal, I spritzed Bondall Pot & Ornament Sealer all over, using a damp cloth to dab away any drips. I left the solution to penetrate and dry for about four hours.

TIP To apply, shake the bottle, hold the nozzle 300mm from the surface and move back and forth while spraying lightly.

I spritzed on another coat of sealer, inside and out, and left it to dry for another four hours.

TIP To skip the painting and leave your pots with a natural look, apply a third coat, then leave the sealer to cure for a couple of days before filling with soil and potting.

I used popsicle sticks to transfer colours onto a tray to avoid contaminating the original paints.

Then I brushed the darkest shade around the base of the pot to a third of the way up. I used a clean brush to apply a medium shade around the middle, then repeated for the lightest around the top and inside the lip, overlapping the sections slightly.

While the first coat was still wet, and without washing the brushes, I repeated the application from base to top, mixing the colours slightly in the tray before brushing them on. I left the pots to dry overnight.

I spritzed on another coat of pot sealer, left it to dry, then applied the final coat, leaving it to cure for a couple of days before adding plants.

Sealing raw terracotta pots keeps them looking good and this blended paint technique adds a modern twist.