Give New Life to an Old Terra Cotta Pot With a Custom Pattern Update (Marimekko)

I don’t know about you but I have amassed a large number of terra cotta pots over the years. They’re great planters because they’re cheap, easy to find, and, because they absorb water, they are especially good for succulents and other plants that prefer dryer soil. Even though I love my terra cotta planters, their monotone color scheme wasn’t bringing much excitement to my home decor. Luckily I was able to do a quick upgrade. As a bonus, I got to use a pattern from one of my favorite designers: Marimekko1

I wanted a quick and easy way to transform these pots and make them a little more colorful. I still had some Marimekko paper napkins leftover from my oyster trinket tray project so I found a shady spot in the yard and got to work decoupaging. I had this DIY done in under 30 minutes!

What you’ll need:

Patterned paper napkins– I used these but I’d also love to try these and these (so cute!)
Mod Podge— to make it more durable I used dishwasher safe Mod Podge
Paint brush
Terra cotta pot

Make sure the pot is clean and dry before you begin.

First, take the napkin and peel it in half separating the white backing from the pattern. Apply a small but even amount of Mod Podge to the planter working in sections. Place the patterned napkin on top of the planter then carefully brush Mod Podge over the napkins smoothing out air bubbles.

You can experiment to get the look that you prefer. I noticed that adding one layer the napkin left it a bit see-through and gave it an almost painted on look.

With two layers of napkins, the color bled through a little bit. I love the way these two techniques book on the same pot!

By the way, can we talk about how much I love the fact that Marimekko makes paper goods? I have been a long-time fan of this designer with their bold iconic patterns and was ecstatic to see that they don’t just make clothes.

I’m definitely going to try this DIY again with this classic flower pattern and maybe this palm print too!

If you love Marimekko as much as I do, check out this sheet and duvet set. I have my eye on these for a guest room makeover.

For now, t’s time to update the other planters in my home.