Simple DIY Aged Vase Hack with 3 Ingredients

A hack so simple that my toddler helped do it!

Do you have an old vase sitting around that needs an upgrade? This super simple DIY aged vase hack can give vases, planters, and even lamps new life. The best part? You only need a few simple ingredients to do it, including paint, baking soda, and mud (as in dirt – for real!).

Stoneware vases and vessels are super on trend right now. However, the price tags are often more than I can justify. So, after searching around for some ideas on how I could dupe the look, I decided to try a combination of methods I’d seen online.

With drying time included, this hack only took a few hours, and since I already had the supplies at home, it was technically free too! I love how it turned out, and I love that I was able to upcycle an old vase that wasn’t getting much use.

If you’re looking to create your own DIY aged vase, here’s a step by step guide of how to do it.

Choose and Prep Your Vase

Vases made from glass, ceramic, or terracotta will all work well for this aged stone vase DIY. Whichever you choose, make sure you clean and dry the vase thoroughly before you begin.

Add a Coat of Primer (optional)

If you are using glass like me, you may want to add a coat of primer to help the paint adhere well. Ceramic and terracotta vessels will also benefit from primer, but it’s not as important as with glass. Without primer, you risk the paint peeling over time. That said, this step is completely optional.

You can use any primer you like as long as it is approved for the material you are painting on. My personal favourite is the Zinsser Bulls Eye 1•2•3 primer. I use it for a variety of DIY projects so I usually always have some on hand.

Let the coat of primer dry thoroughly before moving on to the next step.

Add Texture with Paint and Baking Soda

Paint and baking soda is the magic concoction that makes this DIY work. Adding baking soda to paint makes it thicker and gives it a gritty texture, which translates into a rustic, stone-like look when applied.

There is no golden rule when it comes to the amount of baking soda to use here. Start by pouring some of your paint out and mix in small amounts of baking soda until you achieve the desired texture. The mixture should be easily spreadable. Avoid adding so much baking soda that the paint becomes dry and difficult to work with.

Spread the paint/baking soda mixture on your vase using a paintbrush. I used a combination of horizontal and vertical brushstrokes for an ultra textured and natural look.

Once you are happy with the look of your vase, set it aside for a couple of hours to let the paint fully dry.

Use Mud for an Aged Finish

Now comes the fun part. I’ve seen a variety of different methods used to give faux stoneware vases an aged and weathered look, but using mud from your garden is undoubtedly the easiest (and cheapest one). That said, if you don’t want to get your hands dirty, an antiquing wax is a great way to get a similar result.

Use your hands to rub the mud into the vase. You can use gloves if you want! I ended up doing two coats of mud to achieve the look I was going for. As you can imagine, my toddler had a blast helping out with this part.

A word of caution if you actually grab dirt from your garden beds — watch out for rocks and pebbles! I had a few small ones sneak into the mix and I accidentally rubbed them on my vase, which caused the paint to chip a bit!

Protect with a Sealer (optional)

Once you’re happy with how your vase looks, you can add a coat of sealer to protect it and ensure its longevity. This is an especially good idea if you are using the mud method, since an accident spill could easily ruin the finish of your vase. A matte, water resistant sealer fits with the rustic, earthy vibes of this DIY.

Lastly, don’t forget to style your creation and display it for all to see! I guarantee your guests will never guess that your stoneware vase is actually a dupe!