How to Paint Glass Vases

Come up With a Design

First, figure out what you want your vase to look like, since this will determine the specific supplies that you will need. Maybe you want to spray paint several glass vases and use them as a festive party centerpiece, or perhaps you want to create one statement piece to style your mantel with. If you're going for a more understated, mid-century modern look, use matte spray paint; if you want to create a bolder vase, say to use as seasonal decor, try using glossy spray paint.

Clean the Vase

Before you begin, wash the glass vase with soapy hot water, making sure you get off any dirt or grime. Then, dry it well with a clean dish towel and see that there isn't any fuzz or other debris left on the vase.

Prep Your Workspace

Now that you are ready to start painting the vase, prep your work space. Work in a well-ventilated area, preferably outside. Cover the surface area under the vase with protective cloth or plastic so that it doesn't get damaged by the spray paint.

Start Painting

Turn the vase upside down so that the bottom is facing up, shake the can well, then evenly spray one coat on the entire vase, including the bottom. Make sure that you don't get too close to the vase and only spray a thin, even layer of paint on, so that you don't start getting paint drips all over it.

Let the first coat dry completely. Then, spray a second coat and let that dry. You may need to do several coats depending, on how opaque the paint is—just make sure that you let each coat fully dry before spraying the next.

Add Decorative Elements (Optional)

This is an optional step because you may be happy with your vase as it is, sprayed with one solid color. However, if you would like to add some decorative elements, a great way to do this is with paint markers. If your paint markers are brand new, test them out on a piece of paper first before using them on the vase (sometimes the paint can run a little bit, and you don't want it to ruin your brand new creation).

Once the spray paint is completely dry, use the markers to draw decorative patterns on the vase, then let the vase dry completely before use. This technique would work particularly well if you spray painted your vase a dark, glossy color and you used metallic paint markers to add some striking details.

Go Ombre (Optional)

Another decorative option that you can use is creating an ombre effect using different colored spray paint, either a lighter or darker color than the main color you used. If you want to use this method, start spraying the ombre effect on before the main color has fully dried. To create the effect, if you want it to start at the bottom of the vase, begin spraying the bottom of the vase with the second color, spraying until about halfway up the vase, gradually increasing your distance from it as you spray, so as to create that gradual, fading look. Let the paint dry completely, and your beautiful vase is ready to be used, styled, and filled with flowers!