How To Make A Plastic Planter Look Like Aged Concrete

2 Materials
$2
3 Hours
Medium

Mix your favorite paint color and sand together. It produces a textured finish on anything you paint. I mixed gray paint and sand together to achieve an aged concrete look on a plastic planter.

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Plastic pieces are great for experimenting with new paint techniques!

This is how the plastic pot looked when I found it at the junk shop. I liked the lines on the pot. Kind of art deco looking.

This was definitely a trial and error project. But that’s the way I work most of the time.

I started the project with this small sample of Behr paint in off white.

Next I have my bag of beach sound for projects just like this one.

I mixed the sand and paint together without measuring anything because that’s how I roll.

Right after painting the plastic pot I decided the color was too white.

I found a gray color in my stash and mixed up more sand and paint and brushed that mixture over the white paint.

It was still too light for me. I found a dark gray paint and added black to the paint to make it darker. Then I added the sand to the paint. I brushed the dark gray mix on and let it dry. Then I mixed more black paint with the dark gray mixture and just brushed it over a few areas on the pot.


Don't be afraid to experiment or change the original plan on a project if it isn't working. See my water dipper flower pot here..... Upcycled and Recycle Flower Pot Ideas.

Then I dry brushed the original light color paint over the dark gray pot.

The pot looks great! Find more of my unique planter ideas here.... Upcycled Flower Pot Ideas.

Resources for this project:
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Kathy Owen
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
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3 of 6 questions
  • Mara Vsn Mara Vsn on Jun 12, 2023

    What are Funky ideas?

  • Joan Vargo Joan Vargo on May 15, 2025

    How to clean it when dirt/mud gets on surface?

  • Gig69451122 Gig69451122 on May 15, 2025

    I painted 3 using regular kids play sand. 5lb.bag 3.99. Leftover plenty projects 😉 Mixed, but, added some school glue ( for weathered tight & water tight ) help. As painting a specific color anyhow? After rock hard drying. Then applied paint. Not @ all heavy, just l👀k it! They haveheld up great! 😉 I'm glad to see I'm not the only busy 🐝 out there 🤗

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3 of 18 comments
  • Daisy@TX Daisy@TX on May 18, 2024

    I have a few real concrete pots that look similar like the ones you finished. I'm going to try this. Absolutely beautiful.

  • Sharleen Sharleen on May 19, 2024

    Looks beautiful but won’t it wash off if it gets wet

    • Gig69451122 Gig69451122 on May 15, 2025

      I made painted 3. Using cheap kids play sand from, Home Depot. Also added some school glue to the mix. I figured I was going to paint them anyhow. So the sand color didn't matter 🤷‍♀️ It didn't. It dried like concrete! Lasted all season! Messy craft, but well worth it 😉

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