French Country Painted Planter

We’re sharing a super easy French Country Painted Planter today!

I was hoping I’d be able to share the console table transformation we’ve been working on for the living room. 

But we’ve had a lot of wet weather lately, and the makeover is a bit behind schedule now.

Recently I shared how I’ve vowed not to work on any new big projects until I finish up all the little ones currently on our to-do list. 

It’s been SO hard to stay on track because I love a good makeover. But I know it’s going to be worth it in the end.  

Besides, after assessing the “piles of procrastination” building up for months in the garage, I knew something definitely had to change.

Talk about a “line in the sand” kind of moment ?‍♀️

Little by little I’ve been making a concerted effort to knock out those small projects and I can finally see things starting to take shape. 

One of the projects I kept putting off was painting the French Country planter my Mom and I picked up at a thrift store several years ago.

The color was already a pretty one and as you can see, we used it throughout the year including the holidays.

But the planter was almost the same color as most of our tabletops, so I finally decided to paint it a pale shade of gray.

Here’s a look at our super easy French Country painted planter…

French Country Painted Planter Supplies:

• French Country planter or container with appliques
• Spray paint (We used Krylon spray paint in Matte Glacier Gray)
• White paint (We used Valspar’s, Bistro White)
• Fine detail art brush, optional
• Fine grit sandpaper or sanding block
• Dark furniture paste wax, optional
• Clear furniture paste wax, optional
• Lint-free cloth or wax brush
• Tarp to protect work surfaces

French Country Painted Planter Steps:

Gather your supplies and lay a tarp down to protect your work surfaces.  

I used Krylon spray paint in Matte Glacier Gray for this French Country painted planter but feel free to use whatever brand of paint or paint color you like best. 

Just a heads up, you’ll need to make sure your paint has been specially formulated and will properly adhere to your specific planter or container.

If you plan to use spray paint, you’ll need to paint outside in a well-ventilated area and use safety precautions and care.

Matte Glacier Gray is one of those colors that can read pale gray with lots of light and a gray-blue once the afternoon sun has gone down so keep that in mind if you decide to use the same color.

This is after 2 coats of spray paint.

Highlighting the Appliques…

In an effort to bring out more of the details of the French Country painted planter, I used a fine detail art brush to paint Valspar’s Bistro White on the appliques.

This is how the painted planter would look if you just wanted to change the color of the planter and highlight the applique details.

We’re talking about a 2 step process here!

If you want to age your planter even further though, you can lightly sand the appliques and the rim with fine-grit sandpaper once the paint has dried.

 It’s a really subtle change but a pretty one if you like the chippy look.

If you’re new to sanding pieces like this French Country painted planter, just remember it’s easier to create a chippy look by *lightly* taking layers off than it is to have to repaint everything and add layers back on.

It definitely takes extra patience, but the effort is worth it.

Adding an Easy Layer of Patina…

To add yet another layer of patina to your French Country painted planter, consider rubbing a tiny amount of dark furniture paste wax using a lint-free cloth or wax brush.

Rub or brush the wax directly on the appliques to highlight them even further.

Again, the change will be subtle

 but beautiful.

Styling a French Country Painted Planter…

My ultimate goal is to be able to use this French Country painted planter on the top of the console table sitting just behind the couch.

It’s one of the first things you see as you walk through the front door!

While the size of this planter is fairly large, it could easily be filled with greenery like Boxwood or Maidenhair Fern…

everyday flowers,

seasonal flowers,

or even moss balls, pinecones, or topiaries.

I still have a table leg (or maybe 2) that needs to be painted and attached to the console table, so fingers crossed we’ll be able to wrap that makeover up soon.

For now, I’ll be mulling over the best planter filler options.

Just a quick heads up before I forget, we’ll be using this planter inside. So, if you have something similar you want to use outside make sure it has been properly sealed and protected from weather elements. 

Let us know if you have any French Country painted planters or if you’ve painted anything fun lately! Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

Other French Country Posts to Enjoy:

• French Gray Painted Books 
• DIY French Country Mantel Art 
• French Country Bookends 
• French Country Headboard Makeover 
• Adding Gold Accents to a French Farmhouse Dresser

Many blessings,

CoCo