Blue and White Decor: DIY Chinoiserie Decoupage Pitchers
In this post: Blue and white decor is one of the most popular color combos. This DIY chinoiserie paper craft is an easy affordable way to add some to your home.⇒
Did you ever try to buy a chinoiserie vase in a color other than blue and white?
It’s nearly impossible.
Trust me on this, because I’ve been looking for one in pink and white and it’s like searching for a needle in a haystack. Occasionally you can find something in green or even more rare, black or red.
But if you switch the search to blue and white there are countless variations in every size and shape and ranging through every single price point.
The truth is, blue and white is one of the most popular color combinations that people use to decorate their homes.
Blue and White Decor
This is ever more true when it comes to classic decor because there’s something so crisp and refreshing about blue and white. It can be interpreted across many design styles from English manor to cottage to farmhouse. And, of course, it works perfectly with my preferred style, a modern version of French Country.
I sometimes feel that using blue and white decor is a direction you have to commit to. It’s such a distinct look that it can seem intimidating if you’re not sure you want to live with it all the time.
But in reality there are ways to make a bold blue and white statement with accessory pieces that can easily be switched out.
The quintessential component in a blue and white room is without a doubt a chinoiserie vase or urn. Yet many of these items can be quite costly, so you may want to build your collection over time.
Or there’s another simple and affordable way to add chinoiserie to the decorative items in your home.
Today I’m joining with a few blogger friends to bring you a group of posts focused on spring DIYs and crafts. You can find all the other posts at the bottom of this one, so be sure to check them all out!
But first let’s look at a super simple and affordable way to bring blue and white chinoiserie into your home to accent your spring decor.
The secret is to buy inexpensive galvanized vessels and decoupage them with blue and white prints. This is infinitely less expensive than buying chinoiserie vases and there are endless patterns to choose from.
Let me start by saying I’m not much of a crafter so this really had to be a super easy project. As an example, I bought a glue gun maybe 15 years ago and I’ve never taken it out of the package!
So we’re talking SUPER easy…
The first step is to buy a few galvanized pieces and I opted for pitchers to use as flower vases. I already had the smaller one, so I found a taller one for compositional interest.
I also made sure I had Mod Podge and a couple of sponge brushes to apply the other components.
Next I selected the patterns that would be used for my decoupage and this is where I spent the most time. A much more efficient way to do this would be to order them online, but I didn’t leave enough time to do that and complete the post on time.
So instead I drove from store to store and discovered all the shops that have closed in my neighborhood!
What I was looking for was printed paper napkins and I’ve linked several below in the resource list.
SUBSCRIBE AND GET my free guide:
“20 Ways to Update Your Home for Your Changing Lifestyle”!
I also chose to paint the pitchers first to be sure the silver didn’t show through the pattern. For this, I used white chalk paint which I applied with a medium paint brush and I had to remind myself to skip perfection as this would just be an under layer. You need to make sure the paint dries before moving to the next step.
Separate the napkins into a single layer, apply the Mod Podge to sections of the pitcher with the sponge brush and apply the pattern in long vertical strips.
Now, I certainly didn’t invent this technique and I’ve seen it used on everything from pumpkins to flower pots, but everyone finds their own method of working.
Given the angles of the vessels and the curve of their bodies, I chose not to worry about matching the pattern. If I wound up with an overall toile look that would be good enough for me.
Some tips:
- It will rip. Just patch up the holes with more pattern.
- Don’t be afraid to overlap. It will all blend in later.
- Leave a little extra paper at the top and bottom edges and fold it over the end for a clean finish.
- Add more Mod Podge on top. It will dry clear. I promise.
This is a very forgiving project and no matter what you do, you should be able to complete it. I’m a total klutz and my fingers kept sticking to the pattern and ripping it. It doesn’t matter. Just carry on.
The finished result is about as uplifting as you can ask for and I was delighted when all was done. It seemed to be crying out for tulips and I was happy to oblige. I love the sunny centerpiece on my kitchen table.
Does this mean I’ll never buy porcelain chinoiserie again? Of course not.
But how nice it is to have an inexpensive option for additional pieces when I decide to decorate a room in blue and white decor!
Read on for 3 more chinoiserie decoupage projects to brighten your home…
What better place to start for spring than with pretty planter pots? These lovely DIY Mod Podge Terra Cotta Pots, below, are from Ann from On Sutton Place, and she shares her technique and answers your questions about the project in the post.
Another natural for a spring decoupage project, these beautiful chinoiserie eggs are from Yvonne at StoneGable. She shares her step by step tutorial along with tips for styling in this post.
My latest obsession is chinoiserie oyster shells. These charming little gems can be used as ring dishes or to hold any number of tiny treasures. You can buy the ones below HERE, or scroll down and give the DIY below it a shot!
Rhoda from Southern Hospitality shares her ideas in How to Decoupage Oyster Shells.
And there you have it! I hope you were inspired to get creative for spring. If so, there are a few more spring craft projects to try your hand at below. Enjoy!!
Resource Guide
To get the look, click on the items below for direct links to the products. Where actual items were no longer available, I’ve provided similar options. If an item is out of stock but may be restocked, I left it on the list.
(This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.)
More Spring Decorating Ideas
Stay Connected!
subscribe to our newsletter and RECEIVE OUR FREE GUIDE “20 WAYS TO UPDATE YOUR HOME”
Please enjoy all the other creative posts below!
On Sutton Place | Designthusiasm | Shabbyfufu
Craftberry Bush | Town n Country Living | StoneGable
Great idea and pretty outcome! We recently moved and a couple of the rooms have a blue theme, so this is very timely for me. Do you have a source for the blue & white outdoor rug?
Thank you! I did have a source but they seem to be out of it. Let me see if I can find it elsewhere or at another link. If I do, will come back and post it.
Fabulous project! Thanks so much.
Thanks, Eileen!!
I love blue and white, I have a little in every room of my house not over done but you can say that I love it….thanks for the great tips,I’ll try the craft for sure..
I love your blog…
Thank you so much!! Hope it comes out the way you want it… 🙂
Really cute project Lory…and you know how I love blue and white!
Thanks, my friend! Now that I tackled Mod Podge, can the glue gun be far behind? LOL!
What a fun project! Blue and white is so classic and elegant. I also like pink and white and put delicate antique cranberry glass with pink Spode. Makes such a feminine sweet mix for a lady’s morning brunch or a fun day playing Bridge. I love your back patio!
Wow – beautiful! so many things you can do with Mod Podge! 🙂 Thanks!
I love the blue and white but the pink is beautiful too. I have two problems. First I can’t pin the instructions to put the napkins on the galvanized pieces and I can’t find the napkins you used. Out of all I have seen I like that best. Please tell me where you got them because the place your sight sent me to doesn’t show them. Thank you for showing me how to make a romantic home.
You did an amazing job on these! I’m not a “blue person,” but do have some plain metal containers and a variety of napkins I may use to decoupage onto them. I got tired of decoupaging right after our stay-at-home order, but am thinking it looks fun again thanks to your inspiration.
That sounds great! It certainly doesn’t have to be blue… 🙂
Beautiful Blue on the walls in bedroom. What color and brand is that?
Thank you! It’s Benjamin Moore Sweet Bluette 813.
I’ve found a good selection of these napkins In different color combinations at Tuesday Morning and Party City! I’m going to do this with a friend.
I always get inspiration from you!
Thanks and stay safe❤️
Thank you and I’m so glad!! You stay safe too!
Lovely!
Thank you!
Love these photos and this project. I have a set of chargers that were decoupaged this way. Are you able.to tell me.where I can find the blue and white bedspread in the first photo?
Thanks for the kind words! The one I have does not seem to be available right now, but here is the link: https://rstyle.me/+9Y_CCpTyx0rqnOXBQwFEVA
I did find a very similar one here: https://rstyle.me/+79yp7HtySE41H54dUTrmOg
Hope that helps!!
Beautiful job! Can’t go wrong with blue and white.
Thank you so much! And yes, I agree about blue and white… 🙂
I find the best place to grab those paper napkins in an amazing selection is Tuesday Morning stores. They are discounted and have a great selection to choose from. I love napkin art – lots to do with them. Thanks for the post.
Thanks for the suggestion! I’m not familiar with that store but I bet other readers are… 🙂
Beautiful and easy. You can make your own Mod Podge by mixing cheap school glue with water 50/50
Where did you find the silver plate chargers? Look beautiful in your Spring table settings!
Thank you! They were from the Enchanted Home. Not sure if she still has them.
Oh my goodness! This is so pretty. I love blue and white chinoiserie!
Thank you so much!!
Neat project. Might you have a source for the beautifully fringed pillow on the benches in the kitchen and bedroom?
You have a lovely home.
Thank you, Pat! Here is a similar pillow: https://rstyle.me/+PijnmRHTS27toD8yGAMrtQ
WOW Nice information
I love all your rooms! I’ve been a blue and white fan forever and modpodge things to match. So, I love love your DIY. I really like the napkins in your pics, pitchers and diy/napkins shot. But I couldn’t figure out how to find resource links. I may be half asleep…
Thank you for a lovely post.
Thank you so much, Christine! The resource links are at the bottom of the post, right under the heading “Resource Guide”. Sometimes it takes a couple of minutes for the products to load. If you continue to have trouble, try looking on another device – like your phone vs your computer. I just checked the post and they are definitely there. There are quite a few different napkins to choose from, as well as lots of other blue and white decor.
Lori, You are so fun to read in your DIY posts….. from painting that beautiful chest, right there in it’s spot in the house to today’s favorite sentence in decoupaging : “…that would be good enough for me”. (I hear it in my head all of the time)
Thank you for sharing
Susan