DIY White Faux Ceramic and Milk Glass Vases

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Several vases that are clear or colored before being painted white

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.  

A white lamp next to a picture frame and small plant

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.

Several vases that are clear or colored before being painted white
An in progress picture of several vases that are clear or colored before being painted white

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!)

Several vases that are were painted white

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!

Several vases that are were painted white

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.

Two vases that were painted white

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!

A kitchen with dark wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances

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!

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106 Comments

  1. 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!

  2. Such a great idea! They look fantastic! Thanks for sharing.. I gotta pin it for a reminder 🙂

  3. 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

  4. Beautiful!!!! Thanks for linking up to my Saturday Pinterest Party! I’m giving you a pin on Pinterest! Have a super weekend Susie

  5. looks great, I love milk glass and it is so expensive to find the real thing that is pretty and in good shape!

  6. Love, love, love these and I will be doing this. I love the way they look in your kitchen, awesome job.

  7. 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?

  8. 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 .

  9. 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

    1. 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.

  10. 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…

  11. What a great idea! You didn’t find that the paint dripped or anything????

      1. 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!

  12. 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!

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