How To Decorate Terracotta Pots With Netting

3 Materials
$3
15 Minutes
Easy

In this tutorial, we show you a fun way to use the netting bags that onions come in to decorate terracotta pots.


I’ve had these onion nets saved for quite some time now, working on the theory that I’ll find a use for them eventually. We try to buy produce without packaging as much as possible, but I still pick up packaged things occasionally if I know I can make use of it.



I recently shared my How to Upcycle Wire Lampshade Frames into Plant Stands with you. One of the stands holds a terracotta pot, and I came up with the idea of adding a little diamond pattern using the netting as a screen.



What we used to decorate our terracotta pots.


  • Terracotta pots
  • Spray paint (I used chalkboard spray paint that I picked up cheap in Lidls)
  • Fine netting. This one is the packaging onions often come in.


Top Tip: I’ve started using a rotating cake stand  protected with a plastic bag when spray painting my crafts. It allows you to spin the object as you spray it rather than trying to move around the object. It does make the whole process much more comfortable, so I highly recommend it if you do have a cake turntable to hand.



How to decorate terracotta pots with netting and spray paint


Start by slipping the netting over the terracotta pot.


If you only want to decorate part of the terracotta pot, use masking tape to blank out the rest.


I sprayed two pots, one completely and the other I masked off the rim.



It is best to spray paint outdoors or an extremely well-ventilated area. On this occasion, I did spray indoors due to it being too cold outside, so made sure I covered everything well to protect it.



I gave each of my terracotta pots one coat of the chalkboard spray paint.


I then left the pots to dry. Since terracotta is porous, this didn’t take long at all.



Once the paint was completely dry, I lifted the netting to reveal the decorated terracotta beneath.



And here is my finished decorated terracotta pot.



I love the pattern the netting has created.



While I was preparing the pots for spraying it did occur to me that sticking the net to them would also look fab. Perhaps that’s something I’ll try out in a future make.


If you have enjoyed this recycling tutorial, why not check out some of our other quirky projects using recycled materials over on our blog. You can find the link for another of our recent posts below.



 

How to Make Candlesticks from old Curtain Rings.


In this simple upcycling tutorial, we show you how to make candlesticks from a handful of old curtain rings and a couple of wooden spheres.


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  • Stephanie Hemingway Stephanie Hemingway on Jan 30, 2022

    This would look amazing if you wanted to make mermaid colors also!

  • Cinzia Farley Cinzia Farley on Jan 30, 2022

    I have used a similar process in many of my pieces but I used fishnet stockings. They're easy to work with. I also have saved many patterns of tights and stockings I damaged or no longer wear for one reason or another. I even picked up some children's lace tights I found on sale for a dollar with hearts, poka dots, flowers and stripes.

    They're so easy to work with. They're made for contour. I put my piece into a leg opening and go from there. They can be reused.

  • Mara Vsn Mara Vsn on Jan 06, 2023

    So You put the net, páint and take the net?

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  • Msf27430720 Msf27430720 on Jan 06, 2023

    I have been looking for way to recycle mesh bags from grocery store. Great idea which I'll be trying soon. Thanks!

    • Our9589149 Our9589149 on Jan 23, 2024

      I put a chunk of Irish Spring soap in them and tuck in flower pots to keep the barn cats from messing with them.

  • Alice Alice on Jan 23, 2024

    Love this look! I will give this a try when spring comes to mid-coast Maine, usually that is early June, not kidding, any spring weather before then is almost always a welcome tease.

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