How to upcycle terracotta pots

If you're working with an old pot you may need to give it a sand or a scrub so you've got a nice, smooth surface to work with. Clean it first, using warm, soapy water and let it dry. Then use a steel brush or coarse sponge to remove any marks and sand using 220-grit sandpaper. If you're using a new terracotta pot – like we are – you may skip this step. But a word of warning: a lot of new pots have a fine residue of dust or hard-to-remove stickers and price tags – this all has to go. Soak in warm water, and then use a steel brush or sponge to remove any extra dirt or sticker glue before sanding.

Next up, add your primers – wear a mask to protect from the fumes for this bit (it can be a bit stinky and noxious). First spray your internal sealer on the inside of your pot – this will protect your plant from the chemicals used in the paint. It will also make sure that moisture inside the pot doesn't cause the paint to peel. Hold the can 15 to 20 centimetres away from the surface of the pot and apply a light, even coat.

Evenly spray your external primer (or sealer) to the outside of your pot using the same technique. Again, this will protect your pot from the paint and chemicals, and also extend its lifespan.

Choose your main colour and apply two coats of paint with a paintbrush or roller (if you're using a roller, pour the paint into a tray first). Each coat will need anything from 15 minutes to two hours to dry. 

If you're using two tones, apply your painters' tape and paint the second colour. Using painters' tape will allow for a nice, neat line where the two colours meet. Stick it down well to make sure no paint bleeds through, and use small sections of tape for precision. If you want your pot patterned, use the tape to create your desired effect – zigzags patterns look particularly good.

Wait two hours for your next colour to dry (like the first, best to apply two coats), and then carefully remove your tape. When you take this off, make sure you do it slowly and carefully so as not to take off any of your new paint with it.

In just a few easy steps you've turned your old pot into something beautiful. How easy was that? Experiment with different paint colours and techniques and voila! A stylish garden makeover.