Knock-Off Painted Ceramic Bloom Vase Makeover
How to paint ceramic and use spray paint for an ombre effect + a thrifted vase gets an Anthropologie-inspired makeover.
You know what? If I had a dollar for every time I uttered the phrase, “I found this really random thing in the thrift store.” Well, I’d have enough for a thrift store shopping spree, that’s what.
#SignsIHaveAProblem
But I did… I found this vase in the thrift store last week that looks kiiiiind of like something out of The Phantom of the Opera. Robert looked at me like I was crazy when I said I wanted it. And I got a big thumbs down on Instagram when I showed it in Stories.
No one believed in this thing. Haha!
Paint fixes pretty much everything though, and I just knew this one could be really pretty with a couple cans of spray paint. And then… I found them.
Several vases at Anthropologie that looked exactly like what I had in mind… except for much more expensive because it’s Anthropologie.
Can you see the resemblance to the thrift store version from this vase, this vase, and this vase?
Here’s how I gave this one a facelift, if you have a ceramic vase needing some love.
Knock-Off Ceramic Bloom Vase Makeover
(Affiliate links are provided below. Full disclosure here.)
Supplies Used:
- Spray primer
- White gloss spray paint
- Beige gloss spray paint
- Gold metallic craft paint (or liquid gold leaf )
- Small craft brush
(I thankfully already had the paint and primer in my stash… perks of being a DIY addict.)
The Steps:
1. I gave the entire vase a coat of the spray primer first and let dry.
2. Then sprayed it all over with the white paint.
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3. Once the white paint was fully dry, I flipped the vase over and sprayed just the bottom third with the beige spray paint. (Hold the spray paint can at about 10-12″ away from the vase surface.) The overspray created this glazed ombre effect.
4. When the entire vase was dry, I flipped the vase right side up again and used a small craft brush to apply the gold craft paint to the edges of the ceramic flowers. In hindsight, I think the gold would have looked a little better with some real gold leaf, but I’m still happy with it.
Done! It’s the perfect little piece for spring and summer. But I painted it in neutral colors so that I would have the flexibility to use it any time of year, if I wanted. Capsule decor thinking over here. 😉
The whole thing for the vase, paint, and everything cost about $10 which sure beat the pants off of the $40-something versions on Anthropologie.
What do you think?! I stuck it on our breakfast nook table and it’s just the cutest.
Breakfast nook sources (since y’all sometimes ask):
- Wall color: Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee
- Dining table
- Chairs (similar – ours were thrifted)
- Chandelier (similar – ours was secondhand too)
- Stockholm map art
- Console table
- Lamp (similar)
- Rug
- Head planter
- Wooden bowl (similar)
- Baskets
Moral of the story: Look past the color of items in the thrift store. Sometimes they just need someone to believe in them.
(If you want more ideas of common thrift store items that make beautiful decor, see them all here.)
