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How to Paint a Glass Vase
It’s no secret that I love color in my house. I have yellow chevron curtains (yes, they are the background for theses photos), bright pillows on my couch, and a turquoise ruffled lamp.
One really easy way to add a pop of color into your decor is with a painted vase. These look great with flowers inside, or just sitting on a shelf empty.
The best part of this project is that you paint the INSIDE of the vase, so it looks really great and glossy on the outside and since we’re using enamel paint instead of regular acrylic, it’s super durable. You can even put flowers with water inside and the paint will hold up.
And they are so easy , you’ll want to make a bunch of them!
So, today I’m going to show you how to paint a glass vase. All you need is a plain glass vase and some enamel paint.
I got my vase at the thrift store for 75 cents. Make sure to wash your vase, so it’s nice and clean before you paint it.
Make sure you are using ENAMEL paint. I got mine at Hobby Lobby for $1.89. They have a bunch of different colors.
Pour your paint into the vase and swirl it around until the entire inside of the vase is covered.
Just to be clear, I used an entire 2 ounce bottle for this vase, which I’d say is an average size, maybe medium vase. This paint is really thick, which is why it sticks to the glass and stays put. So pour a bunch in, swirl it around, and if you’ve got too much, just dump out the excess. Besides taking a long time to dry, there’s nothing wrong with using too much paint.
I’ve gotten a lot of questions about drying time. I would say to be safe, let your vase dry for a good week before you put anything in it. I used a really THICK coat of paint, and it took a long time to dry. Just let it dry a day or two after you think it’s dry, and you’ll probably be good.
You might need to use a paintbrush to get the entire inside coated. Just make sure you don’t leave streaks with your paintbrush.
And that’s it! I love these so much, I made a bunch in different colors.
And just in case you’re worried that your paint inside isn’t exactly smooth…. neither is mine.
I absolutely love these cute, colorful vases up on my “nic-nac” shelf.
Pretty cute, right?
And, did you notice that little yellow ball in the small vase?
It’s on of my Spring Kissing Balls. You can find the tutorial
So, grab an old vase and some enamel paint, and get yourself busy adding little pops of color all over your house!
How do you add some color into your house? We all have our little tips and tricks, so come on! I want to know your secrets!
How To Spray Paint Glass Vases
My daughter wanted a vase of these sunflowers in her room. Well, the vase had seen better days. So, this is what I came up with!
Supplies Needed:
Here is everything you need to get started on this painting project…
- Glass vase (any shape you want)
- Acrylic spray paint (your choice of color)
- Rubbing alcohol
- Plastic bag
- Paper/Cardboard (to protect your workspace- optional)
Instructions
Here’s how to do it!
Step 1
First, gather your supplies. I used one of those green glass vases. You know the ones you have in your kitchen cabinets that you never use. Or, the ones you can pick up at the goodwill for 50 cents? Yep, those!
Step 2
Before you paint the glass vase, you want to make sure it is clean so that the paint holds. Clean the glass well with rubbing alcohol and allow it to dry.
Step 3
Next, place the vase upside down on the paper or cardboard. Stuff it with a plastic bag into it to mask the inside of your vase.
Pro Tip: Make sure that the surface is covered completely, and that there is no paint leakage.
Step 4
Now, it’s time to start painting!
After choosing your color, hold the can of spray paint about 12 inches away from the vase and spray in a circular motion.
Pro Tip: Be sure to apply even coats, and avoid painting over the same spot more than once.
Step 5
Once the vase is fully painted, allow it to dry for several hours. Then, it’s ready to be filled with flowers!
I added my daughter’s favorite- sunflowers! Pretty in blue
She added it to this little shelf in her room…
FAQs
Here are a couple of questions that I see readers ask about learning how to make paint glass vases with spray paint. If you have a question, please check to see if I’ve already answered it below. Don’t see it? Leave it for me in the comments!
Can I use any color of spray paint?
Yes! You can use any color that you like.
What type of spray paint should I use?
Acrylic spray paint is the best type to use for painting glass vases. It’s durable and will last a long time.
How long will the paint last?
The paint should last for several years. However, it may start to fade over time if it’s exposed to direct sunlight.
Can I use this method to paint other types of glass objects?
Yes! You can use this method to paint any type of glass object. Just be sure to follow the same painting instructions.
That’s all there is to it! Painting glass vases with spray paint is a quick and easy way to update your home decor, and it’s a project that the whole family can enjoy.
Have fun experimenting with different colors and painting techniques, and be sure to share your finished projects in the comments below. I’d love to see them!
Supplies You Need to Paint a Vase
- A vase or glass bottle
- A paint brush
- Paint – I used latex paint, but I’m sure you could even use acrylic
- Baking soda
- A mixing stick – you could just use a popsicle stick
Option #1 – Paint glass vase with plain latex paint
Option #2 – Paint a vase with latex paint + baking soda
Option #3 – Painting OVER baking soda + paint with latex paint
How to Paint a Vase
No matter which technique you use, you need to know all the tips and tricks about how to perfectly paint a vase. This is going to get bumpy, so hold on for the ride….
Step 1: Get paint and a paintbrush (and baking soda if you choose)
Step 2: Dip your brush in the paint
Step 3: Paint your vase
Step 4: Let it dry
….Okay just kidding about that bumpiness. Painting a vase is CRAZY easy. There aren’t really any tricks. Really the only thing you need to decide is what you want the end result to look like.
3 Tips for Painting Glass Vases
- You will need multiple coats. I often ended up painting three. But just remember… it’s extremely easy and takes less than 5 minutes each time.
- Don’t paint all the way to the bottom of your vase if it’s sitting on a table–it will get stuck and the paint will peel off. Instead, like the photo below, leave some space on the bottom. Once your coat is dry, turn the vase upside to get the sections you missed.
- Only paint when it’s completely wet or completely dry. If you overwork it too much after the paint starts drying, you’ll get weird lumps. And they’ll be especially visible since glass is such a smooth surface.
How to Paint Glass Vases with Baking Soda and Paint
Simply pour a little bit of paint into a container and add some baking soda. I recommend about a 4:1 of paint ratio–but you can change that depending on the results you want.
You can also see how un-technically I add my baking soda in the video at the bottom of this post.
What does baking soda and paint do?
Here are the results I got from painting vases three different ways. Can you guess how each vase was painted?
A few people in my Facebook group got it right immediately–but I can’t tell a difference. At least not from the photo.
Here are a few more close up shots:
Okay, here’s the answer: the smaller vase is painted with baking soda and paint, and the larger vase is painted with JUST paint.
The only difference between the painted vases is the texture.
So. How do you make glass look ceramic?
The simple answer is: you paint it!
The rougher the texture you want, the more baking soda you can add.
However, it seems to me like even vases painted with only paint look like ceramic. So the decision is totally up to you!
Want to see the process in motion? Watch my TikTok here.
