DIY Brushed Charcoal Vase

Anyone else loving the trend of weathered pottery? Well, here's an easy step-by-step tutorial on how to make your own!

This post may contain affiliate links where we earn a small commission on your purchases at no additional cost to you.

I'm the first to admit, I LOVE anything Mcgee and Co. comes out with. So when I saw this Brushed Charcoal Vase, I knew I had to have it... or make it! I just couldn't convince myself to spend $248 on a vase!

With that preface, let's get started!

Step 1: Thrift Shopping

I hit up my local goodwill and St. Vincent De Paul and came across this ceramic vase for $6. If they don't have anything that suits your fancy, give it a few days and check back.

Step 2: Spray Paint

Next, pick up some spray with primer. I used this matte black spray paint which is technically a combination of primer and paint.

Before spray painting, make sure the surface is clean and dry. Spray in a well ventilated area. You will need a few coat — make sure the vase is completely dry before additional coats.

Step 3: Collect Mud

Go outside with a cup or bowl and collect some dirt. Yes, you read that right! Try and collect different textures including some sandy dirt. If you live in the city or don't have access to dirt, potting soil will work just fine. Add some water and mix it well.

Step 4: Time to get Muddy!

Start slapping mud all over the lamp and rubbing it in. The more dirt you use the more texture you get and staining. This is a great task for your kids to help with as there's no rule book on how to apply the mud! My daughter insisted on wearing gloves.

Don’t worry if your masterpiece doesn't look like a masterpiece quite yet... it’s supposed to look messy! Here's what our vase looked like after applying the mud. You can also use a bristled brush when applying the mud to achieve different textures! I love this technique as the earthy and weathered look adds texture and character to your home decor!

Step 4: Rub it Off!

Once the vase has completely dried, use a dry paper towel or cloth, to start rubbing off the excess mud. Continue wiping until you start to achieve the desired look. Grab your clean and dry bristled brush and brush the pot lightly. You can also dampen the paper towel to remove more mud if needed — it all depends on how "weathered" you'd like it to look.

The great thing about this DIY project is that you can easily add more mud on or take more off if you don't like how it turned out.

Step 5: Decorate and Enjoy!

Grab some stems to fill it and put it on display for everyone to see! I love using these faux olive stems I purchased from Amazon. What do you think? I love how it turned out and am happy with the money I saved by DIY-ing it!