When we moved into our new house, it already had these two big, black metal planters alongside the porch steps. They were rusted everywhere and filled with deeply depressing dead plants. But I really loved the shape and scale of them, so I knew I wanted to give them a new life instead of scrapping them and starting from scratch.
Ever since I saw this mudcloth frame on Idle Hands Awake and this mudcloth pot on Francois et Moi last year, I’ve been a little bit in love with all things mudcloth, so I decided to take that beautiful idea to a whole new proportion and create my own giant DIY mudcloth planter.
Definitely check out Erin’s tutorial if you want to do something smaller scale, like a normal sized terra cotta pot, but read on for my tutorial and tips for refinishing and weather-proofing something large-scale on metal that’s going to live outdoors, subjected to the elements.
The History of Mudcloth
I started reading into it a bit and fell even more head-over-heels for mud cloth. Every pattern has a meaning, and bògòlanfini — that’s the word for it in Bambala, the language spoken in Mali — literally means cloth painted with mud. You can read more about the rich history of this unique textile on Design*Sponge if you’re as interested as I was!
You can really use any color combination you want, but mudcloth seems to rely traditionally on a lot of black and deep earth tones. By painting it hematite grey — much lighter than the original black — I still got the mudcloth “look,” but it will be able to withstand long, sunny days without getting scorching hot quite so fast.
Supplies
- Paint in two contrasting shades – I used Americana Decor Maxx Gloss in Hematite and White China.
- Wide foam brush – These are good to just keep a variety of sizes on-hand.
- Medium-thin paintbrush
- Lint-free rag
- Dish soap
- Fine grit sandpaper and sander OR sanding sponge
- Image of mudcloth for inspiration – I used this one.
- Plants
- Soil
1. If you’re upcyling an old planter like I did, start by sanding it thoroughly to get rid of any rust, old dirt, and bits of debris. This will also give the paint a better surface to adhere to.
2. When you’ve completely finished sanding, clean the whole thing up really thoroughly with a rag dipped in watered-down dish soap. Rinse it with clean water when you’re done.
Tip: Make sure you’re using a clean, lint-free cloth so you don’t end up painting over any rogue fuzzies!
3. Paint a medium coat of the dark base color of paint. The American Decor Maxx Gloss that I used (see this post also) is self-leveling, so if you paint a medium (but not too thick) coat, the brush strokes will settle out. A little paint goes a really long way — at least with the kind I used here, so don’t be afraid to start with a small amount and build up.
Tip: Use a foam brush to avoid brushstrokes altogether!
Let it dry for the amount of time recommended on the paint jar or can, and then apply a second coat.
Let it dry again completely. Patience will pay dividends in the long run!
4. Start painting your pattern!
I recommend painting out all the straight, horizontal lines first all the way around the planter. This will help you remain consistent from one side to the next and will give you a better guide when you start filling in the rest of your pattern.
5. Fill in the rest of the pattern — all the stuff happening between those horizontal lines.
You can refer back to your inspiration pattern as much as you need to, but don’t be afraid to go a little bit free form with this. The imperfections and natural, flowy look are part of the beauty of mudcloth!
6. If you need to, go back and add a second coat to the pattern to make it really pop.
7. Finish it off with a blast of Rustoleum clear. It will protect it from rusting, sun damage, and give it a final even finish!
This is beautiful, Lindsay!
Wow these turned out beautifully! What a great makeover. And I never take the time to sand things but I bet it’s totally worth it!
Thanks so much, Rachel! I’m usually terrible about sanding (and prep in general), but this one had some super rusty spots. Here’s hoping it holds together for a few years! 🙂
Love this! I just scored a few large pieces of mudcloth from a seller at a local flea market – he is from Mali and brings in piles and piles of it each month! I made a few pillows. I love the idea of using mudcloth-inspired patterns in other ways – I have an idea for an update in our bathroom!
Oh my gosh, Kira! That’s amazing! I’m so jealous that you’ve got a direct source for the real deal!
This is so beautiful! I need to get some bigger planters out front for sure. And I love how cost effective these are! <3
Thanks, Kriste! These were such a great bonus with the house, though I’m just hoping the bottoms don’t completely rust out because I’m super attached to them now! 🙂
Very pretty! I never knew the history behind that or even what it was called! My daughter has a plain chalkboard in her room…this would be cute around the edges!
Thanks, Amanda! You should check out the frame tutorial I linked from Idle Hands Awake in the first paragraph — perfect for the chalkboard!!
I love free hand art, whenever possible and this was a great solution for updating your front planters!
Thanks, Amy! I agree about freehand. It can get SO tedious trying to do everything with a perfect template.
This makes the entryway to the house look so much better, they stand out now! Love it (and love mud cloth look on everything)
Thanks so much, Laurel! It was that much-needed extra touch!
I love this planter! Plus thanks for the foam brush tip. I hate having streaks 🙂
Thanks, Paola! I’m with you on that — brush strokes are the worst!
Super cute! Im glad you could repurpose them. Adorable crib, BTW
Thanks, Erin, and thanks about the house — we love it! 🙂
Girl, you know I love mudcloth so obviously I love this!!
Thanks, Bre! And I totally LOVE that mudcloth fabric pattern you designed! 🙂
I love these! I’ve been wanting two tall planters for our front entry, too, and this is such a fun look. All about that mud cloth trend! <3
Thanks, Cyd! Big planters are like perfect bookends coming up to the porch!
What an awesome makeover! I have a couple similar large modern planters but I always thought they looked too plain. Adding a simple geometric pattern is genius!
Thanks, Sarah! I totally agree that they can be soooo plain as-is!
So cool! Thanks for linking to my mini version!!
Of course, Erin. They’re gorgeous!!! <3