27 Decorative Terra Cotta Crafts To Beautify Your Outdoor Spaces

I’ve always loved terra cotta; the clay has such a distinctive natural reddish-orange color that really does make it look like it’s from the earth. In fact, the words ‘terra cotta’ literally translate to ‘baked earth’ in Italian. How fitting!

Apart from being used in bricks or roofing, terra cotta is the major medium not only for plant pots but also for ancient sculptures (think ancient Greek figurines and the most famous of all, ancient China’s Terra Cotta Army). This is why I started looking for projects that encompass both of those elements: I wanted something that celebrates the earthiness and visual appeal of terra cotta as a material.

Luckily, I managed to find quite a few good ones to share. Now I just need to decide which to make myself…

Jump to:

• Chandelier Planter
• Pencil Pot
• Mini Garden
• Lighthouse
• Sisal Rope Planters
• Crooked Tower
• Bird Feeder
• Tranquil Water Fountain
• Plant Pot-Meets-Lantern
• Bird Bath
• Clay Pot People
• Saucer Welcome Sign
• Mini Pot Wreath
• Rain Chain
• Plant Stand Candelabrum
• Herb Marker
• Clay Pot Christmas Soldier
• Christmas Trees
• Outdoor Table
• Clay Pot Smoker
• Clay Pot Critters
• Mini Fountain
• Outside Lantern
• Chalkboard Pot
• Bell Tower Chime
• Pot Tower
• Flower Tower

Chandelier Planter

This is one of my absolute favorite terra cotta projects of all time! It’s retro, it’s eye-catching, and it’s inventive. You can find a second-hand, worse-for-wear chandelier from a thrift store and completely transform it with small terra cotta pots and a good paint job that will really make the plants pop.

Pencil Pot

If you have a terra cotta pot that isn’t quite as good as new anymore, you can hide the imperfections with paint and some pencils! Or you could, of course, get out a new pot to use so that you can make the ultimate teacher’s gift.

Mini Garden

I’ve broken a few terra cotta pots in my day, and I’ve always felt a hint of heartbreak every time. But in this case, a broken pot is a necessity in order to make this cute fairy-like mini garden-in-a-pot. There’s no step-by-step tutorial for this one because it all depends on how your broken pot looks and what your vision is; just start placing a few things and see where you end up!

Lighthouse

These quaint little lighthouses are so adorable and so very easy to make just by stacking the pots upside-down. Add a tea light on top to get the real lighthouse effect. These would look so beautiful outside when having people over for an evening barbecue – you can light their way around!

Sisal Rope Planters

You can embellish your pots very simply by wrapping them with sisal rope. You can keep it plain with just regular lines around, or you can play around a bit to make shapes and let the natural terra cotta peep through. Super easy, super effective!

Crooked Tower

If you like the idea of a tower but don’t want it to be quite as neat and tidy, then you can opt for the slightly more complicated crooked tower. It looks like something out of Alice in Wonderland! I just love the quirky effect of the leaning pots and the brilliant paint job.

Bird Feeder

With just one terra cotta pot and two saucers, you can make your own birdfeeder and invite nature closer to your home. This project is so simple and quick to make that you can hang quite a few of them all over the garden if you wish.

Tranquil Water Fountain

I absolutely love fountains – the visual element is a lovely addition to any home, and the sound of streaming water I just so relaxing and calming, especially when you’re already outdoors. If you can find yourself the perfect terra cotta planters, you can build your very own unique water fountain without too much effort.

Plant Pot-Meets-Lantern

Who says a regular terra cotta pot can only have one function at a time? With the addition of a smaller pot hidden within a larger one, you can get the best of both worlds with a pretty flower display as well as the beautiful soft glow of a candle lantern to light up those nights that you’ll be spending outside.

Bird Bath

I love the idea of having something in your garden that’s specifically there so that little birdies can come over and enjoy a bath. These usually big and solid features can get pretty pricey, though, so someone came up with the genius idea to stack some terra cotta pots, top it off with a saucer, and paint it. At first glance, I would never have guessed how this was made!

Clay Pot People

Forget garden gnomes; these adorable little figures made from a collection of terra cotta pots are moving in! This whimsical little garden feature is just so charming, and with the basics in mind, you can make a unique figure with his or her own little quirks like clothing, faces, and, of course, platy hair. You might want to get the kids involved in this one.

Saucer Welcome Sign

A broken terra cotta saucer doesn’t have to be a disaster – you just need to think on your feet and find a way to give it a whole new function. Like a welcome sign, perhaps? With the help of a permanent marker or even some paint, you can display just about anything and hide the broken part in the ground.

Mini Pot Wreath

I know there are some people who love to make and display wreaths for all seasons and holidays of the year, and oh, how I envy them! To me, this little clay pot wreath is the perfect project for spring; I may just hop on the bandwagon and take my wreath-making more seriously!

Rain Chain

Rain chains are the Japanese alternatives to downspouts; these lovely creations are not only meant to catch and harness rainwater, but they also have a decorative function as a water feature. Mini terra cotta pots are absolutely perfect for this stunning and dainty DIY project.

Plant Stand Candelabrum

Keep your eyes open in the thrift shops or second-hand stores (or in your grandma’s attic) for any old plant stands that you can give a new life to. It’s amazing to see how a simple addition of a series of tea lights in small clay pots can make such a difference. Don’t worry if the stand is rusty – it’ll match the color of the terra cotta. Or if you’re not so much into that rustic look, just give it a good clean and paint makeover.

Herb Marker

If you’re planning on starting your own herb garden, here’s a great way to give it that little something extra (and make use of any broken pots!). The cracked pot pieces not only help you quickly identify each plant, but they also help to keep the herbs separate and organized.

Clay Pot Christmas Soldier

We may still be quite far away from Christmas, but this adorable (and rather sizeable) soldier simply has to be included for its sheer brilliant creativity. All you really need is five pots of the same size, some paint, and some glue, and you can have your very own little guards manning your home.

Christmas Trees

Yes, yes, I know it’s nowhere near Christmastime yet, so you’ll just have to make a note to save these for December. I just love the simplicity of these stacked pots-turned Christmas trees. They’re easy, charming, rustic, and not so in-your-face. They’d look great just sitting on your porch or along the entrance to your home.

Outdoor Table

If you’re planning on soaking up the sun outside, then you’ll obviously need a place to rest the drinks or snacks while you lounge and enjoy your surroundings. Enter the ridiculously easy-to-make terra cotta table. You also know that the material is good and sturdy, so it won’t topple over when a breeze comes past.

Clay Pot Smoker

Smoking your meat brings a whole new element of deliciousness and bold flavor to your food that you simply can’t achieve from regular grilling. But have you seen the price of smokers? Those things can cost a couple hundred dollars! Here are two great tutorials that show you how to make your own from a terra cotta pot.

Clay Pot Critters

You can make all sorts of little critters with clay pots of varying sizes, paint, and some great imagination. A frog, butterfly, bumble bee, and ladybug can all adorn your garden as if they were in their natural habitat. The kids are sure to love these!

Mini Fountain

Water fountains don’t always have to be bold and massive; a smaller decorative fountain can actually give you the same effect, and you’ll save on water consumption, too. I love the simplicity of this little pot-and-saucer fountain – it would make a fantastic feature on an outdoor table in the garden or on the porch.

Outside Lantern

I am in love with this! It’s so simple and easy (and cheap!), but actually looks so elegant. And you don’t need any electric wiring or anything like that – just a battery-operated LED light. Any type of terra cotta pot will do for this project, and you can even add some paint or decoration to the pot if you want.

Chalkboard Pot

I really love chalkboard paint at the moment (I think all crafters are), so I really love how easy it is to transform these plain terra cotta flower pots with just a little bit of paint here and there. Now, you can name your herbs or flowers and keep reusing the pots when it’s time for a new plant.

Bell Tower Chime

If you thread some small pots and beads onto a wire, you can make a cute tower chime thing to brighten up the garden. I like the playfulness of the colors, but if you’re looking for something more classic, you could just stick with one color. The tripod frame is made from wrought iron and can be found at any garden center.

Pot Tower

It really is amazing to see just how many things you can make simply by stacking these pots on one another! And everything comes out looking so pretty! This is a fun craft to get the kids involved in since it isn’t too complicated or messy. I love the play on the function of the pot – you’re using the pot to hold flowers, just not in the conventional way.

Flower Tower

Flower pots are pretty, sure, but why not take it up a notch by creating a tall tower of flowers with some terra cotta pots stacked on top of each other in descending sizes? Just make sure to pick your location carefully – once placed, the tower won’t be easy to move.