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!
Carly
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
Lori
I’m gettinmg out my spray can and giving my vases a face lift! So simple so elegant
Carolyn
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!
Sahira
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!
Ray Nelson
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.
Melissa Riker
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!
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Preciously Me
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!
Marsheila
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 .
Melissa Riker
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
tiziana
Hi
Do the vases smell after you sprayed them white?
Melissa Riker
I don’t recall there being any odor after the spray paint is totally dry.
Heather May
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!
Cindi
Did you paint the inside or the outside? I’m curious about how they would look if just the inside were painted…
Melissa Riker
I painted the outside Cindy so I can still put water in them and use them.
Melissa Riker
Sorry I misspelled your name!!
Kathleen Bell
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.
Melissa
It’s such an easy project-go for it!!
Margo
Did you have to do any special prep work before spraying these? Also, did you spray the inside of the vases?
Melissa
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!
Janel from NellieBellie
You are too stinking clever…love this!!
Melissa
Thanks so much Janel!
Shannon @Fox Hollow Cottage
Gotta love spray paint. What a super idea 🙂 I like the repurpose aspect of the craft too. Making them new, and useful again 🙂
Tiffany | offbeat & inspired
I LOVE this!! What a great idea for those random vases that accumulate from Valentine’s Days and dollar store trips! Definitely doing this! 🙂
Donna
Those are absolutely beautiful! I have so many of these vases, some just like yours. Great idea!
Melissa
Thanks Donna! It was a super easy transformation!
Patty
sorry. These ARE beautiful!!! 🙂
Patty
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!
Melissa
That’s a great idea Patty! Let me know if you try it!
Leslie
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.
Melissa
Sounds super pretty Leslie! I have been thinking about getting one of those spray handles, does it make a huge difference for you?
Leslie
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!
Melissa
Awesome, thanks! I’m going to pick one up next time I’m at Lowe’s!