Hey Friends!
White pitchers are the in-thing for Farmhouse decor! I mean, don’t even think about decorating in Farmhouse style without throwing (not literally, ’cause they’d break) a pitcher or two in somewhere.
The problem is when something gets popular, it also gets pricey! I don’t like paying a lot of money for something that may eventually go out of style (but I hope they don’t because I think they’re really pretty)!
So what to do? Hit the thrift store of course and buy some cheap pitchers for a pitchers makeover! 🙂
I bought these at the local thrift store for $2 each. They both had a nice shape to them, but the artwork on them is outdated.
Rust-Oleum to the rescue! I bought a can each of their white primer where to buy
This post contains Amazon affiliate links for your convenience. I make a small commission if you order through my links, but it doesn’t cost you anything more! If you do, thank you!
I wanted to paint the bottoms of the pitchers, so I flipped them upside-down and propped them up with spray cans.
I did a coat of primer and a coat of lacquer, allowing it to dry thoroughly each coat. I let mine dry overnight between coats, but I don’t think that’s necessary; as long as they are not in the cold, a couple of hours should be enough. I would let them dry overnight after the last coat before you use them.
The primer sprayed on a little rough, but it smoothed out nicely with the lacquer coat.
I flipped the pitchers over and repeated the process around the top of the pitchers, touching up anything that needed it everywhere else but taking care not to over-spray.
I think they came out really nice! They mix in well with my white gravy bowls.
They definitely add a nice Farmhouse touch to my entryway sideboard.
I only painted them a couple inches down on the inside, so I can use them as a vase for cut flowers. They are not safe for using as a beverage pitcher.
To clean, I simply either dust them or wipe them off with a damp cloth and pat dry. I would not soak them in water or use any abrasive materials to clean these because I’m sure the paint would come right off if I did.
I’m so stoked I was able to upcycle these pitchers to fit in the current Farmhouse style without spending a lot of cash! And I still have enough spray paint left over to do 2-3 more of these beauties! Whoo-hoo! 🙂
I hope you enjoyed my pitchers makeover tutorial! Please let me know what you think or if you have any questions in the comments section below!
Very pretty!! I love anytime you can up-cycle something old into something new and improved!! Hope you find time to stop by and share at My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday!
Thank you Elaine! I’ll do that! 🙂 Thanks for the invite!
Michelle,
How long did you wait between the primer and lacquer?
Love them!
Joanne
Hi Joanne,
Thank you- I’m glad you like them! 🙂 I waited overnight, but I don’t think that’s necessary… it was just what worked best of me at the time I was working on them. As long as it’s not real cold where you are painting, a couple of hours should be enough dry time between the primer and lacquer.
You sure are lucky to find two pitchers for $2 each? I am loving these and for little time and spray paint they look like new, have lovely shapes. I love white pitchers, hard to find where we live (western CO, we live few miles west of Grand Junction), every thing is so much more expensive here. Prices at our Habitat and Goodwill are like retail store prices. Enjoy your wonderful pitchers, love your sideboard/buffet also. Happy weekend
Thank you so much! 🙂 Sorry to hear things are so expensive in your area- and here I thought things were expensive in California! I hope you are able to find some pitchers that are reasonably priced to paint!
How clever. I often see pitchers in odd colours and here’s the way to get what I want.
Thank you Annabellouise! 🙂
What a clever way to get white pitchers. They look great on your buffet.
BEv
Thank you Beverly! 🙂
What a genius idea! It’s funny how easy it is to overlook the most simple fixes! Thanks for sharing on the Small Victories Sunday Linkup!
You’re very welcome; and thank you for hosting! 🙂
Wonderful transformations. I have a fondness for white pitchers ( I have a few). Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop. Watch for your feature tomorrow xo
Thank you so much Katherine! 🙂 I really appreciate you choosing me as one of your featured posts! These two are my first white pitchers, but I plan on collecting more!
Great upcycle, Michelle– would have never known they were painted! Thanks so much for sharing them @Vintage Charm! Blessings, Cecilia
You’re welcome Cecilia, and thank you for hosting Vintage Charm!
Such a neat idea! 🙂
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
You’re welcome Jess, and thank you for hosting the link party!
I would never have thought to do that. Nice job! Thanks for sharing at My Flagstaff Home!
Jennifer
Thank you Jennifer! 🙂 And thank you for hosting the link party!
What a fabulous idea!
Thank you Annie! 🙂
Don’t you just love a great thrift store find that you know you can transform to fit your decor? The pitchers look great!
I know, right? 🙂 Thank you Beverly!
They are adorable and you are one sharp DIY’er…..:)
Well thank you very much BJ! 🙂
It is so true that you come across so many pitchers, sugar bowls, etc that have a gorgeous shape but very, very outdated designs on them. This breathes new life into them, makes incredible flower vases for gifts or yourself and upcycles in the process! What more could we ask for. Thanks for sharing this with all of us!!!!
You’re very welcome Deb! 🙂 Thank you for letting me know how much you enjoyed this!
What a wonderful idea. I keep saving those clear glass pitchers but I rarely use them. I plan on doing them over.
Thanks so much for sharing your instructions on how to redo them. I can’t wait to try to replicate what you have done.
I just bought my first pitcher as well as a wooden tray to try this on. Thanks for the instructions and helpful hints!
Great idea!! The pitchers look lovely on your mantelpiece and sideboard. Can you now paint over these pieces??? I’m thinking that maybe a stenciled design – or for the TRULY creative – freehand art ??
Hi Chris! I don’t see why you couldn’t paint over these, though I’ve never tried to do it myself. As long as the method of painting was a light touch, I think it would work out fine (and I love your idea of stenciling!). 🙂
Love your craft ideas and projects. I’m retired now and finally have time to try crafting. You have such good ideas! Thanks for sharing them.
Thank you so much Ruth! 🙂
You just showed us that plain and simple can be beautiful to, because your simple white pitchers and gravy dish arranged in a group are gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much Ivory! Since this fireplace is in our bedroom, I wanted a look that would be relaxing and soothing. Every time I look at it, I just go “ahhhhh.” 🙂
I absolutely love this idea! I love your arrangement on the sideboard. Have you ever thought of spraying the glass in the window payne with the mercury glass/mirror effect spray? I am dying to find one of these windows and making it into a mirror for my entrance way. Just an idea. You have great taste!!
Thank you Jenny! 🙂 That’s a great idea for the window- I adore mercury glass! I’d love to see a pic if you ever find a mirror and do it for your front entryway!
You are one smart cookie!! I would never have thought of this one!! Looks like they turned out great! You could also have painted that gravy bowl and maybe a cup abd saucer etc. Right?? The. Possibilities are endless! Just can’t use them for eating or drinking? I like the way you think/create!!❤
Thanks so much Regina! And yeah, I wouldn’t use these for eating or drinking… just for pretties! 🙂
Great job! Thrifty, yet very pretty. I have spent the last hour or so looking online for vases to use in my brother’s apartment. What I like costs way too much. These will be perfect. Thank you for sharing this tip.
You’re very welcome Mary! I’m happy this was of help to you! 🙂
Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your article. Besides the helpful information, I love looking at your arrangement. You have a lovely touch with the style and placement of of everything on the table. Very aesthetically pleasing to the eye! A wonderful talent!
Awe, thanks so much Sandy! 🙂 I’m happy you enjoyed it!
You did a great job! My question is this: IF you don’t paint the inside (tape it off) can you then use it for beverages?
Thanks!
Christy
Hi Christy! You would have to tape off the top part of the pitcher as well so when you poured out the beverage, it wouldn’t come in contact with any of the paint. If you do that, technically you should be able to use it for beverages, but personally, I wouldn’t do it… I’d still be afraid that I’d get some of the paint into the beverage somehow, and since you can’t really wash the outside of the pitcher a lot once it’s painted like this, it would be hard to wash just the inside afterwards. I hope that helps! 🙂
A “Rae Dunn” style decal would be a cute addition.
Good idea! Thanks Nancy! 🙂
Anyone have issues with the primer bubbling when you added the lacquer? I just did 4 pieces and all of them had spots that raised up almost in a waffle pattern when I sprayed with the lacquer:(
Hi Amber! I’m sorry this happened with your pieces 🙁 I did have one piece do this one time (not the ones I used in this post) that had a very poreous finish – I think it caused air to collect under the first coat that bubbled up when I hit it with the lacquer. Other than that, the only things I can guess is that the spray coats are too heavy or not enough drying time between coats. Not saying that’s what you’re doing; those are just my guesses to what the problem could be.
Could you bake these like when painting glasses? I think it would make it more durable then not baking. If they are ceramic i cant see not being able to bake.
Hi TJ! That’s a good question, and I don’t have an answer for it as I have no experience in baking ceramics. But if I had to make an educated guess, I don’t think it would work using spray paint as I did here, but it might work if you were to use the paint/glaze typically used on ceramics. This is a question you will have to ask someone who has experience with baking ceramics. If you do find out, I’d appreciate it so much if you could share it here for my readers. 🙂 Sorry I couldn’t be of more help!
I have milk and chalk paint on hand. I’m guessing one of those would do well too?
I don’t know – I’ve never tried it. If you try it, let me know how it turns out – I’m curious now! 🙂
Wow love it!! They came out sooo good. Awesome job.
XO, Katie | http://www.meshkomoments.com
Thanks Kati! Love your blog! 🙂
One day decades from now, you or your heirs will decide to donate your pitchers. Someone will buy them and put them in the dishwasher. When they pull them out, imagine their surprise when they find something that is then considered valuable and beautiful again! Like a masterpiece that had been painted over, hidden for years waiting to be rediscovered! Love repurposing. Beautiful pitchers.
Did you have to use sandpaper discuss at the picture before the first primer to get it to stick to the picture
I didn’t, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to do so 🙂 I probably would have if I’d thought of it!
Hi I am sooo new to this & I LOVE your pieces!!! I still have a few questions:
1. Do I paint the inside too???
2. Once it’s flipped do I try to do I complete coat again???
Again I’m super new to this but I’m ready to try
Thanks for any advice
Hi Trish! I’m happy you like this project! 🙂 Here’s my answers:
1. No – I just painted the inside of the lip a couple of inches down so I could still put water in it for flowers.
2. Only if the paint didn’t cover everything. Otherwise, just paint the inside of the lip a couple of inches down.
I hope this helps! 🙂
I did the same exact thing but used matte white. I also wrapped rope around the handle to add texture.
Thank you so much for sharing. I can’t wait to do this myself! Thrift shopping tomorrow!!!
Those pitchers look very pretty…and yes the prices y the goodwill have gone up tremendously…however, Im an artist as well and wonder how not to get drips when spray painting or what to do once or happens???
Thank you, Copper
Hi Copper! As long as you keep your spray coats thin, you shouldn’t have too much trouble with drips. If you do get a drip, just gently absorb it using a paint brush and cover it with the next spray coat. I hope this helps!
I have 2 white pitchers I got aftr my mom passed years ago. One of them has a chip on the rim/lip area do you know of some way to either file it out so it’s not a sharp edge or maybe sand it out? And the other one has a crack going down the side of it about 1/4 of the way that my mom must of glued it to seal it up so it wouldn’t keep cracking. But the glue has turned yellowish color due to age. Do you think it painted white again so it wouldn’t look dirty. That one has a bowl to match it. It’s old because it’s what was used to wash your face with. And I saw your milk glass gravy boat I think that’s what it is. Because I have an ash tray, 4 goblets, candle holder that holds 4 small candles but can’t find the size anywhere & salt & pepper set. You’ve given me some ideas of what I can do with so other odd ball items I have that aren’t in colors or the art work isn’t in my taste. Thank you for the ideas., Laura
Hi Laura! I’m happy my post inspired you! I have never attempted to repair chips on a pitcher, but I imagine you could sand it out using a emery board or sand paper. And yes, if you paint the picture with the yellow glued crack in it, it should cover the yellowing, but it may not match the bowl anymore so that’s something to think about. I hope this helps!