DIY Stone-Look Vase Upcycle

Thrifted glass vases are one of those finds that can be easy to overlook, but with a little paint and texture, they can look completely different.

For this project, I upcycled a matching pair of glass vases from Goodwill into stone-look pottery using a simple mix of paint and baking soda. I also tested coffee grounds for an aged look, then ended up using brown furniture wax to add depth and make the texture look more realistic.

This is a beginner-friendly DIY that uses affordable materials and can be finished in an afternoon.

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What You’ll Need

• Glass vase or vases
• Acrylic or latex paint
• Baking soda
• Paintbrush
• Dish soap and towel for cleaning
• Coffee grounds, optional
• Brown furniture wax

I used a Lowe’s paint sample in Sherwin-Williams SW9087 Smoky Beige, mixed with Arm & Hammer baking soda. Paint samples are quickly becoming one of my favorite supplies for small art and home decor projects because they are inexpensive, easy to grab, and already mixed in the color you want.

For the brush, I used my Zibra round paintbrush, but any brush you already have should work.

The Best Paint and Baking Soda Ratio

The basic recipe for this faux pottery finish is a 50/50 mix of baking soda and acrylic or latex paint.

This formula is very forgiving, so you do not need to overthink it. Mix a little at a time, and if you need more, you can always make another batch as you go.

I do think glass is a great base for this project, especially because it helps the finished piece still feel delicate and breakable like real pottery. That said, you could try this technique on other materials too. If you are covering a darker color or a busier pattern, you may just need a few extra coats.

Step 1: Clean the Vases

Before painting, I gave the vases a good clean with regular dish soap, then towel dried them.

This helps remove any dust, sticker residue, or grime from the thrift store so the paint mixture has a clean surface to grip.

Step 2: Apply the First Coat

Once the vases were clean and dry, I started painting on the first coat of the baking soda and paint mixture.

The texture of this paint is really satisfying to work with. I used horizontal brush strokes around the vase to mimic the look of real pottery, and I definitely suggest doing the same if you want that handmade ceramic feel.

I wanted a smoother, cleaner look, but you can add as much or as little texture as you like. A rougher application will give you a more rustic finish, while smoother brush strokes will make the vase feel a little more refined.

I painted the body of each vase, the bottom side, and eventually the inside rim. Since these vases were fluted, painting inside the rim helped make the transformation more convincing.

If you are short on time, you can skip painting the underneath or inside the rim. But if you have the extra time, it is worth doing because it helps sell the illusion.

Step 3: Let the First Coat Dry

After the first coat, I let the vases dry for about 30 minutes before gently flipping them over to finish the top area.

Then I let everything dry for a good two hours before coming back for the second coat.

Step 4: Add the Second Coat

For the second coat, I mixed up more paint and baking soda directly in the cup as I needed it.

This coat went on really easily, and as I worked, I realized the vases only needed two coats total. One helpful trick was to peek through the top of the vase and look for spots where light was still coming through. That showed me where the paint was still too thin.

For such simple and inexpensive ingredients, the texture really is amazing. At this point, you could leave the vases as-is and they would already look beautiful.

Step 5: Test Coffee Grounds for an Aged Look

I had seen another creator use coffee grounds to dirty up a vase, so I decided to give that a try.

The idea is to rub the coffee grounds into the surface with your hand so they settle into the texture. It did work somewhat. The grounds helped deepen the texture, added warmth, and honestly smelled great.

But they were also messy, rough on the hands, and I ended up wiping most of them away while trying to brush off the loose clumps.

The look was nice, but I had an idea for something more controllable.

Step 6: Add Brown Furniture Wax

The real game changer for this project was brown furniture wax.

Furniture wax is meant to protect wood furniture, but it is also often used to deepen texture and bring out details on painted pieces. That is basically what we are trying to do here too.

I used the same round brush and started by wiping a small amount of wax onto a discreet area of the vase to test the look. Once I saw that I liked it, I kept going.

This was definitely a better option than the coffee grounds. The wax was more controllable and blendable, but the final effect was deeper and more realistic.

If I applied too much, I could blend it out. I could also choose where I wanted the vase to look darker, like around the base and shoulder. Stippling the brush added even more texture in certain spots.

What Did Not Work as Well

I also tried using white wax to add highlights and contrast, but it did not work as well as the brown wax.

That is just part of DIY. You win some, you lose some, and then you keep going with what is working.

If you do not have furniture wax, you could experiment with something similar, like shoe polish, leather polish, or even a thicker oil tinted with coffee grounds. There are a lot of possible options here, so you can get creative with what you already have.

Step 7: Compare and Finish the Set

Once both vases were waxed, I placed them side by side to compare the finish.

Since I planned to use them as a set, I wanted the texture and color depth to feel fairly even between the two pieces. They do not need to be identical, but they should feel like they belong together.

The Finished Stone-Look Vase Upcycle

This was a bit of an impulsive DIY for me, and I absolutely love how it turned out.

I picked up the vases on a whim, pulled the ingredients from my pantry and art closet when I got home, and finished the project in an afternoon. For just a few dollars per vase, the difference is huge.

These really do look like the real deal, especially once the brown wax settles into the texture. If you are new to home decor DIYs or just want to give something you already own a fresh look, this is a simple project to try.

Final Thoughts

A paint and baking soda mixture is such an easy way to turn plain glass into something that looks like handmade pottery. The brown furniture wax adds the extra depth that makes the finish feel more aged, warm, and realistic.

You can shop more home decor and creative goods from Kathartic Studios, and if you try this project, let me know how it turns out.

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