Elegant Plastic Pitcher Makeover

Here's how to paint old plastic pitcher with paint and give it a makeover that turns it into a stunning home decor accessory.

For a few bucks you can upcycle your trash into treasure. 

THE STORY 

Last Christmas we bought my daughter a Kitchen Aid mixer.

She'd started baking over the summer and we thought it'd be a nice gift. Allowing her to take her fledgling skills to the next level.

And we weren't wrong.

She quickly moved from sugar cookies to some very extravagant creations, whipping up decadent treats several times a week.

Every week, for almost a year.

In the beginning it was great.

But then it took a dark turn.

The kid became a prolific baker, producing the most amazing muffins, cakes and cookie bars at an alarming rate. The stuff was everywhere.


And somewhere around March, I took to eating dessert before my dinner.

I know, I know, it's terrible. I'm a middle aged woman, I should know better and have more control.

It's just that that mixer has gotten everything all turned around.

Upside down.

So why am I sharing this now, and what exactly does eating dessert before dinner have to do with home decor?

Well, I'll tell you. Tomorrow, for Fun Find Fridays, I'll be sharing my latest and greatest yard sale finds.

It was a banner summer and I scooped up a bunch of very cool treasures.

{You can see them in that link ^}

However, normally, I share my finds first and then a little while later, I come back with a big reveal.

The makeover. 

Makes sense, right? Before...then after.

Well, not today. Today, it's after...tomorrow will be before. 

See, dessert, then dinner.

THE DIY

Besides. You've already seen it today's project.

It was hiding in plain sight behind my decoupaged pig. You probably didn't even notice it. 

It was just another one of my pretty, white, ceramic pitchers, holding a dozen roses. 

Except it wasn't. Not even close.


It was a $2, clear acrylic pitcher in disguise. A bargain I found at a yard sale in July.

Very unassuming, very ordinary and very plastic. 

Yet I was very excited about it.

You see, I'm a huge fan of white pitchers. I have a tons of them. I'm obsessed.

However, I use them. They're not just for display, and sometimes, while they're being washed or moved...

They chip.

And look terrible.


But plastic doesn't chip. It's indestructible.

It'll bounce if you drop it and make a noise if it slips out of your wet hands and hits the porcelain sink.

But it won't chip. And that was the big draw.

Of course, clear plastic anything doesn't really fall into the category of cozy, cottage style decor. 

So this girl needed a way to fix that...and we all know the ultimate fix for most things is paint.

How To Paint A Plastic Pitcher

Supplies For The Project:

• Denatured alcohol 
• Rag
• White spray paint

Step 1. Prep

How do you get paint to stick to plastic? 

The process began by cleaning the plastic well with an old sock and some denatured alcohol to remove any debris or grease. 

Plastic is slick and if you want the paint to adhere well, the surface has to be properly prepped.

2. Choose The Correct Paint

What kind of paint will stick to plastic? 

Choosing the correct paint is equally as important. We used a paint/ primer combo spray that was made for plastic. Krylon and Rustoleum both make excellent products.

Luckily, we always have cans in the garage, leftovers from other plastic painting projects.

3. Spray It

So we set up an old box in the backyard and gave it a few coats. 


We waited for each one to dry completely before adding another and we only sprayed the outside.

A little overspray did make its way into the top of the pitcher, which was fine.

However, we intentionally didn't paint the entire inside, since I knew I wanted to use it to display fresh flowers and I wasn't sure if the paint would make them wilt faster. 

I already have a tenuous relationship with plants, I didn't need any outside interference.

Even if I was only dealing with cut blooms.


Now, the trick to this project, much like my faux milk glass DIY, is to choose a high gloss paint so that the finish mimics a translucent glass.

Trust me, there's nothing charming about a painted plastic pitcher that looks like a painted plastic pitcher. 

Thankfully, that wasn't an issue with my fabulous summer find.


Two bucks and two hours later, the makeover was complete and I had a brand new addition to my white pitcher collection. 

Super shiny.

A total showstopper filled with my signature color.


And absolutely no chips.

Now if I could just make the chocolate ones in my house disappear.

For a little while, anyway.

Or maybe just until after supper. 

😉

MORE THRIFTED TRASH TO TREASURE:

• Wooden Magazine Rack
• Bundt Pan Bird Feeder
• Thrifted Tray Makeover