We may earn a commission on purchases made through links.
Whether you want to display artificial or real cut flowers around your home, the vase you place them in will have a significant impact on the aesthetic appeal of your arrangement. Given their importance, you naturally want to choose beautiful holders for your blooms. However, if yours is old and looking old, you don’t need to spend money on a new one. Nor do you have to settle for the basics you get from your local Dollar Tree or thrift store. You just need to decoupage a few decorative napkins on the surface Turn your old vase into a beautiful decor piece in minutes.
This way, you can give your boring or colorful vase a new lease on life and get a new decor item without spending too much. Talk about a win-win! Plus, you’ll be free to customize it however you like, so you can make sure it matches or, at the very least, complements your overall design scheme. For example, it might look like this Modern Chinoiserie If you want something elegant and fancy. Then again, it can look rustic or minimalist, depending on the napkin’s pattern.
Bonus benefit: You can easily get most of the supplies at home. In addition to an old vase, you’ll need about two or three decorative napkins (depending on how big or small the holder is), some acrylic paint in the color of your choice, a foam paint brush (a clean sponge works too). Mod PodgeA brush to apply the glue and your craft scissors to get started. But before you begin, don’t forget to give your vase a soapy water bath to remove any stuck-on debris and dust. Alternatively, clean it with an all-purpose cleaner.
How to decoupage an old vase
After washing your vase, dry it with a clean microfiber cloth and paint it in your chosen shade. If you want to coat the inside as well, you can also spray paint it. This will help hide the previous design (if any) and give you a primed base for your napkins, so your holder won’t be seen later. When it’s cured, start peeling the backing off your napkins. If it is two-ply, you only have to remove one layer to get the decorative layer. If they are three, you have to peel back two. Take your time and be patient with this step, or you may end up with small torn pieces that are difficult to piece together or separate from the backing.
Now, decide if you want to stick to the whole decorative side or just stick to pretty designs, like flowers, leaves and fruits. If you choose the first option, apply Mod Podge to a small part of your vase, then cut large strips of your napkin and gently press them into place. If you see creases forming, use your brush to smooth them out. If that doesn’t work, plastic wrap may prove useful. However, if you choose the second option, carefully cut out the design you want to glue on your vase. Glue them however you like, or use individual elements to tell a story, such as wildflowers growing in the forest or juicy fruits tumbling. Either way, let your decoupaged decor piece dry completely before applying a thin layer of Mod Podge on top to seal it. Finally, try a few Flower Arrangement Hacks To make your flowers and newly transformed vases pop.
