Thrifted Pitcher Makeover | DIY Transformation

There’s something exciting about stumbling onto a piece knowing you can transform it into your style, and this $5 thrifted pitcher is the perfect example of that. What started as a bold red ceramic find turned into one of my favorite farmhouse accents after just a little paint and creativity.

I’ve walked past this pitcher several times, in fact I saw it there after 3 trips to the thrift store. The color was a deep red, glossy and dated, but the shape instantly caught my eye. The curved handle and delicate embossed details had so much potential. For $5, I couldn’t resist giving it a new life.

I’ve been on the hunt for white pitchers for a while. I’ve never had much luck finding them in the wild. So, with this, I was going to create one!

Prep

Once I got it home, I gave the pitcher a good wash with warm water and regular dish soap. I wanted to essentially degrease any oils or residue. At this point, I also found out that the bottom was cracked! That didn’t deter me. If anything, it just adds more character!

I opted not to sand this pitcher. I opted to forego as I knew it would be used as decor on a shelf that wouldn’t be moved around much. If you do decide to sand your project similar to this, I would recommend very fine sandpaper (180-220 grit at least) and to go very lightly.

I only had white matte spray paint available in my current supply, but if you have gloss spray paint that will work fine also. This project used 2 cans of spray paint total-the white matte & the clear gloss! Here is exactly what I used.

All opinions are my own. The products mentioned or used are not sponsored or endorsed by any brand. I only share items I personally use and recommend.

Here are the steps I followed: Spray the rim & inner edges of the pitcher. You don’t have to spray paint the entire inside. The inner edges will be the only thing that’s visible on a pitcher like this.

I sprayed one full coat with the pitcher upright. Then when dry, I flipped upside down & applied 2 coats, letting each coat dry before adding another. Then, I reflipped it back upright and did a very light final coat. I also did 2 full coats of clear gloss.

The crisp white finish gave the pitcher that perfect farmhouse charm I love. It now looks like something you’d find in a cozy cottage kitchen or a vintage market booth. It looks like it’s always been this way and am very pleased with the final look. I will definitely be on the hunt for more pitchers since they are so easy to update!