DIY White Faux Ceramic and Milk Glass Vases
Lately I have been drooling over white in decor-stark, shiny white. (Like that makes any sense with three boys and a big dog!)
I have been noticing white glass and ceramic everywhere as well.
When we were packing up for the move I realized I have boxes upon boxes of vases that I neither like nor use. Many of these are cheap florist vases that I received when my husband was deployed when we were dating. (He was wooing me, I got a LOT of flowers that year! Nowadays I prefer an extra hour of sleep to flowers!) Some of the vases I had picked up at the dollar store to use as centerpieces for charity events I used to plan.
So as I unpacked all those vases last week for the umpteenth time since we got married I decided to try to transform them into something I’d actually like looking at!
Since we pretty much go to Lowe’s daily since the move it was a no-brainer that I was going to need some spray paint. I used Rust-o-leum Universal in Gloss White, It worked great on my IKEA Bookcase Makeover and I love that you can use it on any surface.
(And yes, the grass seed in the backyard is sprouting very nicely, thank you for noticing!)
Twenty minutes later and voila! Faux milk glass/ceramic! I actually couldn’t decide what it looked like more hence my somewhat indecisive blog post title! The ornate glass vase looks a lot like milk glass but the smooth dollar store vases remind me of the West Elm ceramic vases I had been coveting.
Regardless, they look a heck of a lot better than before and I am just giddy at how they turned out!
Now on to my plan for how to use these vases….you know that weird space above the cabinets in the kitchen? You know, the one that everyone had covered in fake plants when you were a kid? Well I have an idea for that space in our new kitchen and these vases are step one in the process.
After the vases were dry I went to set them up there but the crown molding all but made them disappear. After rummaging through the garage amid all the moving box chaos I found some wood scraps from our DIY Reclaimed Wood Headboard and DIY Stained World Map and used those to prop the vases up and here is how it looks now!
I think they look great up there and play off the white subway tile we chose for the backsplash. I’m slowly but surely figuring out what else I want to put up there but I’ve accepted that its going to be a while before it looks like my “vision.” To see the whole kitchen tour hop over to this post.
Do you have an obsession with white? Check out my Office/Craft Room for more eye candy!
Like what you see? Follow me on Facebook and Pinterest-I have some great projects in the works coming up that you won’t want to miss!
I did a few light coats and had no dripping at all…it looked even better than I had thought it would. Before I started I wasn’t too worried about the finish because I knew I would be putting them over the cabinets and no one would see them up close but they turned out so nicely I wouldn’t mind having them on display!
I love these! Thanks for linking up! I’ll be pinning these…
What a great idea! You didn’t find that the paint dripped or anything????
Now paint your kitchen a smoking HOT color like Paprika and those vases will POP!
That would be awesome! Our kitchen is an open floor plan and I haven’t quite figured out how to paint it without doing the whole space but its on my (mile long) list!
Haha! I also have scrapwood and even some cardboard boxes propping up my glass on top of the cabinets too! Although I don’t have any faux milkglass yet, but I’m off to buy some white paint today. 🙂 Thanks! I’ve got 3 or 4 vases that I could easily paint so that I would actually use them. Now I’ll just have to remember which ones are the real ones my Grandma gave me and which ones are the ones I made myself…
Hi Melissa, Had to say WOW the vases are just so cool . Love it . Just found your blog, and I am sitting up now ready to have a read . Just love those vases, will have to check out paint choices here, in Australia, I haven’t seen your product here. Your finish on the vases is so good my airgun is put to shame . Cheers
Hi there,
Just read your comment all be it years ago but did you ever find a paint to use to do this DIY as I am in Australia too.
Not sure if you found the spray paint already? If not, please visit https://www.rustoleum.com.au/ to find a stockist near you. I’m in South Africa and love their products. All the best.
PS Melissa, I must of pressed the wrong button , I am good at that . I have came up as Unknown …. my name is Candice . Hi .. I am off to read now . Cheers .
They look great. Oh my love of spray paint.
They look great! What a great way to use those old vases.
So awesome! I love this look!! Can’t wait to try it!!
Cher
http://www.designsbystudioc.com
Great makeover! I’m loving all the painted vase posts right because everyone has a different take on how to make them. I really like the gloss white that you chose. Did it cover up the green vase well?
Love, love, love these and I will be doing this. I love the way they look in your kitchen, awesome job.
They look wonderful!!! So pretty and simple, the best kind of project! Thanks for linking up to Delicately Constructed Friday!!
Hope you have a great weekend!
Michelle
http://www.delicateconstruction.com
looks great, I love milk glass and it is so expensive to find the real thing that is pretty and in good shape!
Beautiful!!!! Thanks for linking up to my Saturday Pinterest Party! I’m giving you a pin on Pinterest! Have a super weekend Susie
I cannot wait to try this with some old vases I have under the sink that were just waiting for a chance to breath! I am ur newest follower! Thanks for the kool idea! (:
-Carrie Eve @
a-hooahs-housewife.blogspot.com
These came out GREAT! I just got rid of a ton of ugly vases (what was I thinking!??). I’ll have to hit up Goodwill to find some now!
Thanks for sharing!
Meredith @ http://www.waittilyourfathergetshome.com
Such a great idea! They look fantastic! Thanks for sharing.. I gotta pin it for a reminder 🙂
Great post! Your vases look fantastic!
Wow, what an awesome idea! I love Rust-o-leum paints. I have some clear glass hurricane lamp bases that I wanted to change. So over adding shells and other things to add interest. I’m working on my livingroom makeover with blue and white accents. I have loads of cobalt blue glass and so making my lamps white will take it over the top!
Oops, got so excited I forgot to mention I’m a new follower! : )
Beautiful! What a great idea!
These are so cute! Look beautiful! We hope to see you back next week to our “Strut Your Stuff Saturday.” Thanks for coming!! -The Sisters
Thanks for linking up to the Piece of Cake Linky Party! I love ceramic vases and now I can have more for quality cheap–thank you! You’re project will be one of the three I will feature this week. Be sure to grab a featured button!
Lovely!
These look fantastic! They look great on your cabinet! Great use for those boring old vases 🙂
I LOVE, LOVE how these turned out! I have several similar vases, and this would be a great way to spruce them up! 🙂
Erin
takingtimetocreate.blogspot.com
I’m getting out my spray paint now! You did a fabulous job and sooo easy. Can’t wait to get started painting my old glass. Lori
I, for one, would appreciate some information about the actual painting process you employed. Did you spray on the outside? On the inside? Both? How many coats? How long did you wait between putting on additional coats? Did you experience any runs and drips and if so, what did you do about them? Inquiring Minds Want To Know!
Hi Jan,
I sprayed the outside of the vases and the inside around the top. I used two light coats and had no problem with drips and runs. I made sure to shake the paint thoroughly beforehand and do a test spray before spraying the vase to make sure there were no splatters. I only waited about 20 minutes between coats but it was pretty warm that day. I hope that answered your questions, please let me know if you have anymore, thanks for stopping by!
Melissa
Thanks, Melissa. That is very very helpful. I have a couple of clear glass vases that I would like to try this on, but I’m too chicken to just go out and “do it” without having some kind of directions!
No problem Jan!
I love these vases and really want to do this. I enjoyed reading your blog. Very interesting posts! Following you now..
I just did this with two vases I had lying around and they turned out beautiful!! I am currently obsessed with white so now I cant wait to find other things I can paint! Thanks for the tip!
I’m in love with white right now too-glad your vases turned out so well!
Take care,
Melissa
I love this idea! I have seen inexpensive vases at the thrift store, but could never imagine them in my house. Now, I can pick up a few, or more than a few, and turn them into something beautiful. Thanks for the great post!
WOW! Thanks for the info. I have a medium blue ginger jar lamp from way back when that I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with. My colors are green, brick red, and gold, so the lamp’s in hiding. This would make the lamp fit in. White goes with everything, so even if I change colors, the lamp will still work. Black would also work as I have a small black ginger jar style lamp. Oh, the possibilities are endless.
Your finish is so smooth! They look lovely 🙂
Thank you Anny!
I like the way you solved the crown molding delimma with a simple trip to the garage to find something to fix the problem. Many of my favorite projects came from “fixing a problem”. Love the vases too.
Traci
Hello, I love your project and the way your vases came out!
I was wondering if you added something to make them look glossy?
Sonia
Thank you Melissa
melissa, Very nice to meet you. I love you idea and enthusiasm. I will definately try this and check out your other pins. Thank you for sharing! Sherri
Did you spray only the inside of the vases? It almost looks like the glass is still clear on the outside…
Wonderful idea, I have so many cheesy glass vases that I don’t want anymore but feel guilty to let go.
You have a lot of great ideas – found you on hometalk. Following you.
This is a fantastic idea!! Love this!
Love this! I decided to try Krylon Fusion in Satin White and got the look of the ceramic vases that I have also been drooling over. /Users/STEF/Desktop/12925_4763102079932_1820767841_n.jpg
oops, tried to attach a photo, but I guess I don’t know how!
WOW! Those looks excellent! I think I will use this as inspiration! I have a few vases that are sitting in a cabinet!
So funny – this summer I did the exact same thing, because I also had fallen in love with the “white look” that I saw everywhere from Pottery Barn and the like. Had no problem with dripping, but I also used the spray can handle that you can buy separately. I find that it gives me a more even coat. It worked great on everything from vases (like you did) to boxes, lamps, seashells, etc. I arranged them in a dark bookcase, with books that had white covers, so they really popped.
Sounds super pretty Leslie! I have been thinking about getting one of those spray handles, does it make a huge difference for you?
Yes – a HUGE difference! It’s one of those items where you think “I wish I had invented this”. First off – it gives a more even spray than when you are pushing the spray tab yourself. Secondly – there’s no paint dripping on your fingers (that used to happen a lot to me). And third – it’s much easier on your fingers and hands. When you do it yourself without the “handle”, your fingers get tired (at least mine did). With the handle, they don’t, because it’s a trigger and you are giving it a more even pressure. Not sure if all that makes sense, but once you try it, you’ll be hooked. And for only a few dollars – it’s certainly worth it!
Awesome, thanks! I’m going to pick one up next time I’m at Lowe’s!
Maybe those vases could be made into lamps by drilling a small hole in the bottom and using a simple lamp kit and shade. I just may have to try it! These a beautiful!
That’s a great idea Patty! Let me know if you try it!
sorry. These ARE beautiful!!! 🙂
Those are absolutely beautiful! I have so many of these vases, some just like yours. Great idea!
Thanks Donna! It was a super easy transformation!
I LOVE this!! What a great idea for those random vases that accumulate from Valentine’s Days and dollar store trips! Definitely doing this! 🙂
Gotta love spray paint. What a super idea 🙂 I like the repurpose aspect of the craft too. Making them new, and useful again 🙂
You are too stinking clever…love this!!
Thanks so much Janel!
Did you have to do any special prep work before spraying these? Also, did you spray the inside of the vases?
No prep work just be sure to use a spray paint with primer and start with clean glass. Also used very light coats. Thanks for stopping by!
I have been meaning to do this for like forever. I try to pick up random vases every time I go to the ReStore. I need to get off my butt and do this. Thanks. These turned out very nice.
It’s such an easy project-go for it!!
Did you paint the inside or the outside? I’m curious about how they would look if just the inside were painted…
I painted the outside Cindy so I can still put water in them and use them.
Sorry I misspelled your name!!
You said my favorite words…SPRAY PAINT! I recently did some Sea glass jars and have some left over…maybe they need to be white! Love getting inspired!
Hi
Do the vases smell after you sprayed them white?
I don’t recall there being any odor after the spray paint is totally dry.
Hi ….
I absolutely love your vases I seen something like this but she poured craft paint inside the vases did you paint the inside just wondering .
Hi Marsheila,
I did not paint the inside, just the outside. I wanted to be able to use mine as functional vases and was concerned that painting the inside would prevent me from putting water inside.
Thanks for stopping by! Melissa
Love what you did with this simple vases!!! So clever and beautiful!
I was thinking of doing somethings similar with white paint but spray paint is definitely better 😉
Thanks for sharing!
Situated at the fringe of short distance to city, Sant Ritz at Potong Pasir (Singapore) in District 13.
belgravia villas
The starting pieces are low-end, mass-market florist pieces anyway…why not just buy the white ones? Most of them were made in actual milk glass, albeit a lower quality glass.
Hi Ray! I actually received all those cheap vases while my husband was deployed years ago, he was sweet enough to send me flowers monthly so I had a plethora on hand! I didn’t want to throw them away so painting them helped them make them work with my decor without having to spend more money!
Word to the wise: don’t leave the vases drying in the heat. The glass will expand and then shrink when it cools off, cracking the paint. I learned the hard way!
Thanks for your blog (love it!) and this great idea! I just posted on FB and thanked your site. Did four ugly vases and now going to redecorate a bookcase with them and some family photos..haven’t started that part yet. Reworking my Cali LR slowly into white/shabby/rustic with white slipcovers and hw floors and rustic touches. Thanks so much!
I’m gettinmg out my spray can and giving my vases a face lift! So simple so elegant
Hey Melisa, these look really really good I can’t believe such an ugly vase can be made to look this good so easily.
Do you know if the Rust-Oleum paint is available in pots? I have a huge glass vase in the garden I’d like to tackle but I’d rather use one of my proper machines to spray it rather than a little handheld aerosole type can.
Thanks a lot
Carly xx
Beautiful ideas. I love it. I do some adeas with ceramic vases myself.
Thank you! This is a great, now I can make heaps of vases from my wine bottles as i didn’t know what to do with them! :)
Love this post!
The final result is beautiful!
I think I’m gonna use the same tecnique to revamp a couple of old-fashioned Murano glass vase.
Thanks.
What a great way to use those old vases..The look awesome! I am sure you get lots of complements.
They look really beautiful. Milky glass actually was an invention by Murano Glass masters
Your site is a nightmare… The obnoxious amount of ads make it impossible!! Uggggg
Can you tell me if you are on mobile or desktop Beth? There shouldn’t be but a few and the video player so I’d like to have my ad manager look into that and knowing which would help a lot.
Agreed!!!
Again, if you could tell me if you’re on mobile or desktop and what exactly is happening I can try to fix it. I am not having trouble accessing the blog at all.
I love your blog. I have been saving glass bottles, and can’t wait to try this.
That comment made my day thank you so much Victoria! I hope you love the “faux” vases as much as I do!
This is BRILLIANT! Trying to put my father’s house back together after stepmom passed and her family collected everything. Just found a huge stash of cheap florist’s vases. This is the perfect idea for them! Also trying to think of how to re-fill the wide stretch of blank space they left over the kitchen cabinets. DOUBLE awesome sauce!!! Thank you!
So glad it was helpful to you Jeanette, and sorry for the loss of your stepmom ❤️
Can you fill with water to use as a real vase or does the paint peel off?
The paint is only on the outside of the vase so it is fine to use as normal.
I love this idea. Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome Rebecca!
so excited to see this idea !!!! I want milk glass centerpieces for my wedding but on a budget .
I’m so glad it will be helpful to you, I love milk glass and I bet it will be gorgeous at your wedding!
Hi! Love this idea. About how many vases can you paint with one can?
It would probably depend on the size but you could do at least 5
Love the white vases. Can’t wait to try it. Would also love to see the revamped kitchen stools, but the link to it goes to cookie recipes, something I definitely don’t need.