How to Add Gold Glam to Your Existing Planters

If you love to add your own personal touch to decor, you'll adore this clever craft by HGTV’s Design Star: Next Gen winner Carmeon Hamilton. Follow along as she transforms her bar with modern DIYs that look like something you'd buy at the store but can actually be done in the time it takes to mix and drink one cocktail — and she'll be doing that too!

Start by mixing up your cocktail. Carmeon chose a garden mojito. To make yours, start by muddling 2 sprigs of mint, 2 sprigs of basil, 3 lime wedges and 2 teaspoons of sugar. Add 2 ounces of mezcal and shake. Add a splash of club soda and pour over ice, garnishing with mint and lime.

Create Your Design

For her first planter, Carmeon chose a small black pot to allow the gold leafing to really pop. "I think a lot of people are intimidated by gold leaf, but I promise you it's one of the easiest things you can do," says Carmeon. If you want a more modern look like Carmeon's, choose a simple geometric shape and mark it off using masking tape. Next, using the adhesive from the gold leafing kit, brush glue all over the shape being careful not to go outside the area marked with tape. Allow the adhesive a few minutes to get tacky before adding your gold leaf.

Add Gold Leafing

“Gold foil can be super delicate," explains Carmeon. "The tip is to let the packaging do the work for you." Apply the full sheet while still attached to the plastic backing, then pull the plastic off (Image 1). Use the plastic sheet to press the foil into the adhesive, and just tap it down. You can then brush away excess foil. If needed, add more adhesive and foil later. Once you've achieved your desired look, peel the tape back to see your finished product (Image 2).

Paint Second Planter

For her second planter, Carmeon opted for a more organic, hand-painted look using liquid gold leaf. “Gilding medium is an oil-based material, so you want to make sure you’ve got some supplies nearby for cleanup, like alcohol or paint thinner,” says Carmeon. "It’s a lot like paint, but it’s a lot more pigmented, and it’s going to be nice and shiny. It’s like liquid gold.”

Start by wrapping a piece of masking tape all the way around your pot in order to create a sharp line the paint will not cross (Image 1). Next, use gold leaf paint to create small arches all the way around the pot (Image 2). Don't worry if each arch is slightly different from the last. Those differences are what make the planter feel handmade and elevated. Let the paint dry for a few minutes before removing the tape, and enjoy your new glam planters!