Looking for a quick DIY decor project? Add some numbers or letters to everyday objects and they will instantly become a favorite decorating accessory. Let me show you some examples.
Decorating with numbers and letters is fun. There are many ways to use numbers in your home decor. There are lots of ways to play with your house numbers in your outdoor decorating. They can be painted on to front doors, mailboxes or garden containers. Numbers also add interest to everyday items and give those accessories an instant boost. I love using numbers and letters in my decorating and I have gathered a little collection of examples from my own home.
This first example of decorating with numbers is easily the simplest and most used little DIY that I ever did. I painted an old tray white and added some vinyl numbers. This tray instantly became the background to many little vignettes I made. Adding a numbered tray like this is the perfect way to quiet a background while at the same time adding some interest.
Speaking of much used accessories. I am sure you recognize that pitcher. It is one of my favorite vases because it always makes flowers shine and adds just that right bit of Farmhouse decorating flair.
It is no secret that baskets are great for organizing just about anything. I painted this shopping basket many years ago and added a number with black paint. This basket is still in use in my home as we speak. I first used it to organize my winter scarfs and gloves in the hallway. These days it stands in my bedroom to coral little doodads that I want to have near my bed.
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Soft furnishings are another example of perfect vessels for some numbers fun. This numbered pillow is also from the old days. It is sitting on my postal chair (a great example of using letters in my decor) and was made from some remnants of the postal bags I used for reupholstering the chair. The pillow case numbers are stamped and painted onto the rustic fabric. I remember that I made the two with authentic vintage crate stencils.
One of my favorite all-time DIY decor projects must be these numbered containers. It was by far one of the easiest craft projects I did and these little numbered pots have served me so well.
They started out as simple terracotta pots about 5 inches high. They all got a quick treatment with white paint and then I cut some numbers and letters from a sheet of black vinyl. So easy and yet so useful.
I used these little numbered containers in so many different ways in my home! Like in my craft room to hold pencils and brushes. With tea lights they were perfect little candle holders and of course as mini vases for a collection of flowers.
Some of my little numbered containers had letters on the other side. Lined up like this they were a perfect little Valentine message. Terra cotta pots have a hole in the bottom so if you want to use them as a flower vase or as a plant container than you have to use something inside to make them watertight. For the flowers I used small glasses that fit perfectly. When I used them for plants I lined them with a plastic bag.
Of course I uses the pots as a subtle reminder as well. If you choose your numbers carefully you can send a little message to someone. Like I did here:
The pots spell out my birthday (in Euro style). Now a certain someone has no excuse for forgetting to buy me a big birthday cake.
Another fun example of decorating with numbers. Can you see how well they work in seasonal decorating too? Place a collection of numbered pots on a white cake plate. Fill the pots with mini-hyacinth grapes and some moss (remember the plastic lining). Scatter some mini Easter eggs around. And there you have a quick and easy and fun little Spring and Easter decoration.
Mini succulents in numbered containers
My last example of decorating with numbers for the day is the time I lined them all up on the edge of my hutch and filled them with mini succulents. Gosh I love remembering these little pots and how easy it was to decorate with them.
The pots have since gotten a little metamorphosis and I love them in their new look too. See my ‘new’ old little pots shining in this Spring decoration
Do you have a favorite Number? (mine is 17)
A lucky Number perhaps?
When you decorate with numbers you can use your birthdays, anniversaries, address numbers, initials, or special characters in your decor and make it all the more meaningful to you.
Miss Marple says
Niet te geloven! Wat denken die daar in de USA? Ik geloof dat jij toch de veel betere ideeen hebt als zij! Die potjes zijn hartstikke leuk geworden!
Prettig weekend – Irma
Jeanne says
Well done! They look great. So simple and so much fun.
Jeanne 🙂
::cottage instincts:: says
Looking marvelous….truly PB isn't all it's cracked up to be. Overpriced stuff that bloggers can make, as you've shown us! They are good for inspiration, and I like their accessories, but I don't want anyone to mistake my house for a PB look-alike. 🙂
Claudia B. says
ik heb even gegoogled. Je kunt wel op de pagina van PB Canada komen maar die heeft geen webshop dus daar heb je niet veel aan.
Je kunt wel bij de spullen van PB kijken op de site van shopstyle.com (mmmm… ga nu twijfelen maar dacht wel dat dat de goede was. Zo niet.. dan hoor je nog van me. Ik hoor Oprah altijd over PB maar ondanks dat ik diverse malen in de USA en CA ben geweest ben ik nooit bij een winkel gaan kijken…
Ik zal nog eens verder zoeken voor je, potjes vind ik trouwens super. Ik hou wel van die simpele eenvoudige stijlvolle stijl 🙂
groetjes Claudia B.
MamaTink says
Great job! I like yours better than PB!
Hootin' Anni says
This is just too good!! If you want my opinion these are MUCH BETTER than Pottery Barn any ol' day…YOU made them!!!!
My Show n Tell is just Springtime Flowers in our Yard A nice treat after a long, cold winter!! Stop over and 'smell the roses' with me if you can! I'd love your company!!
Esther@fleurcottage says
i was wanting some as well…thank you for sharing this simple, easy idea!
Claudia says
You did a fabulous job with these! I can't believe you are unable to even look at the site – that seems a bit ridiculous to me. I like PB, but to tell you the truth they are overpriced and I think they are reading blogs to get a lot of their 'new' ideas!
xo
Claudia
Blondie's Journal says
Your pots are very cool, Marianne!! What a clever idea. Though you may miss Having a Pottery Barn, you are not missing the prices. Many bloggers here get inspiration and make their own as you have done. If I come across anything, I will let you know!
xoxo
Jane
One Cheap B*tch says
Good for you! They came out great! But I can't believe you can't even access the PB site there. That's just crazy! Aren't we in 2010????? =)
marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says
They look just fabulous. I love them in all the ways you are using them. We do have about a million of those, so I guess I need to make some too. Great idea. Hugs, Marty
katie says
Oh I like everything you did. Perfect little pots.
Who know PB wouldn't let their website overseas.
If I had a catalog I would mail it to you. I live 100 miles from the nearest store and have never gotten their catalogs.
gail@myrepurposedlife.blogspot.com says
those pots are just too cute! I love flowers, particularly bulb flowers early in the spring! We all are waiting on spring, aren't we?
Have a great weekend!
gail
Caroline says
Wow, these are unbelievably cute! Good job!
That's so unfortunate that you can't even see the website…oh well. You showed them!
Pat@BPM says
These are wonderful, Marianne!
Evy says
Marianne, I can feel your pain!
I live in Bulgaria and many times all the places where fellow blogger seek inspiration are out of touch for me. Websites, stores that won't deliver internationally, and so on – you know what I mean. I, too, feel it's very unfair.
However, I LOVE what you've done with the pots – they are adorable!
Dragonfly Treasure says
Beautiful!! You did an awesome job! Way to go…never say die! LOL
*hugs*deb
fairmaiden says
That really is a great idea…I've been painting those terra cotta pots white or an occational pastel for years. But they are definetly right in style with the blk numbers on them. I'll have to make some!
Sandy @ My Shabby Streamside Studio says
Dearest Marianne,
Great post (as usual) – and necessity is really the mother of invention.
I guess we always want what we can't have, there's a PB outlet 20 minutes from me and I never go because it's an overpriced bore. I actually sold all my PB stuff at a yard sale! I'd rather follow your creative lead.
This leads me to an offer of a gift of reproduction ledger paper for you. If you want the ones from this old notebook I posted
http://myshabbystreamsidestudio.blogspot.com/2010/03/eighteenth-century-ephemera.html
you're welcome to them.
Email your mailing address to me privately.
zuzu.foster@gmail.com
Ciao ba,
Sandy @ My Shabby Streamside Studio
http://myshabbystreamsidestudio.blogspot.com/
PS –
I was an English major – sorry – you've got a typo below – it's Show and Tell, not Tall!!
Marianne says
Nu weet ik in ieder geval dat het niet aan mijn verbinding ligt als ik deze melding krijg. Jammer dat PB zo parnoïde is. We mogen zelfs de site niet bekijken.
Je knock of is ontzettend leuk! PB eat your heart out!
Prettig weekend!
Jennifer Juniper says
You'll show that darn Pottery Barn for blocking you! Yours are cuter anyway 🙂
alice says
Super duper! They really are darling! Clever bird you are!
smiles, alice
Alisa says
You are just brilliant, Marianne! They look fabulous!
A Cottage Muse says
Great job…can't wait to see your next project!!
Anne Marie says
i absolutely have been so inspired by this blog! thank you!!
Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage says
I love your little pots! Clay pots are one of the coolest things around to transform into something special, and you accomplished that here. Good job!
Molly @ A Bit O' Shine says
I can't believe you can't even visit their website! That is just incredible. Well I'm glad you were able to find your inspiration anyway! They all turned out beautifully! And I just love them with those little grape hyacinths.
Kim says
Well, you're too smart for PB! These are darling!
LiLi M. says
Ik natuurlijk gelijk ook ff proberen, want mij staat toch echt bij dat ik in een ver verleden daar toch wel eens gekeken heb…en totaal niet onder de indruk was…Tuurlijk heb jij gelijk, ik kom er ook niet op, maar wat geeft dat als wij hier bij jou die mooie potjes zien! Ook leuk om cadeau te geven, met zo'n datum, ga ik onthouden! Fijn weekend!
Elly says
Pûh, wij hebben die hele PB niet nodig! We hebben jou toch! Superleuke potjes! Kom er maar weer eens op!
Bedankt weer voor deze keileuke tip en een héél fijn weekend!
The Decorating Diaries says
Love that you showed so many ways to use those. Great project!
Janet
Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage says
I'm not sure if I should tell you this or not….the numbered spice jars aren't from Pottery Barn. They are from Anthropologie. Sorry!
I really love your version. Especially with the beautiful Spring bulbs planted inside. Just lovely!!
Wendy says
So cute! I love how they turned out! That is just crazy that you can't even view via the internet! Crazy..
Wendy
Beth@The Stories of A to Z says
Okay, first I love your little pots but what really makes them is all the hard work that went into that photo styling! Gorgeous!!! What greenery did you use with your carnations? Second, I'm not sure if you really want to get onto PB or if it's just fun to include in your post but here are some thoughts: Have you visited knockoffwood yet? You can get a TON of PB inspiration there. Have you tried pretending you are from another country by searching for PB under say "google.ca" (Google Canada)? Or just doing an image search for PB stuff? I have no idea if that would work but that's what I would do for my PB, West Elm, and Williams Sonoma fix!
Carrie says
Good for you, you took a simple PB idea and really ran with it! Your vignettes are fabulous…
Thanks for visiting my blog and for your lovely comment.
Carrie – Oak Rise Cottage
Natasha says
I think that yours look incredible – Well done!
That is really odd that you can't access the site. I can access it from here in Australia and we are in the middle of nowhere! Maybe try on internet explorer because I have issues like this when I use Mozilla…worth a go I guess.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend and thanks for visiting. See you again soon!
Best wishes,
Natasha.
Katie@LeBeauPaonVictorien says
Great job!!! I love how yours turned out; so creative and so versatile! I'll have to 'borrow' your idea and make some for myself I think!
Confessions of a Plate Addict says
Wow! Amazing! I think yours look better than theirs! Happy week!…Debbie
Rosie@Journey to Charm says
That's just wrong. I wish we had a Cath Kidston store here. Oh, sigh. Anyway, your pots look better than PB's, and certainly better priced. You showed them.
Sherry says
That looks fantastic. Especially when you put the grape hyacinths in them!
Carmie, the Single Nester says
Just terrific. And yes, PB better watch out!
Lady Dragonfly says
Thank you for your visit!I love your blog!
Cozy Little House says
I love your PB knock-off! And soon you will be getting a box with a certain wallpaper you've been longing for. Can't wait to see what you're going to do with it!
Brenda
Kolein says
I just LOVE them. They have such a bright punch to them!
I'm so confused about the date? Your birthday? I sat there and stared at the numbers
1 4 8 6 9
Help. My brain must be mush!
Carolyn says
Great post! I love the little pots.
Carolyn
Amy Hodges says
They're beautiful…love it. You did such a good job, I actually like yours better.
Amy Kinser says
You did a great job on these! I love all of your creative ideas for them.
Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend says
Love this project…..GREAT job…love it
Irene says
Hello,
What a lovely blog! Do you know what they say :"Need is the mother of invention". I feel the frustration with the companies that do not ship to Europe. But you did a good job. Have a lovely weekend.
Ginger@cottageonrosewood says
Great job. Maybe we could look into shipping you on of our copies of the PB catalog. After all, PB can't possibly monitor that!
this blessed nest says
ms. songbird…
can i be your neighbor?
or your assistant?
or just bring you lemonaide?
everything you do i love & adore.
i know the word "inspiration" is highly used in blogland, but you really are. beautiful work as always.
have a lovely weekend.
kellie
TidyMom says
Oh Marianne I love this!! So simple!! GREAT job!
LDH says
Good morning, Marianne,
How wonderful this project turned out ~ so full of possibilities for use! You do have a lovely place here!
So nice visiting with you!
Kindly, ldh
Candace@craftysisters-nc says
Very nice! We should ship our old copies onto you! I would even grab them out of the PB store in the mall to send… just to see what you would come up with. Yours is better!
lifeincategories says
Wow! Love the XOXO!!!
Sylvia (at) Lily's Pad and Petals says
BEAUTIFUL – like your version so much better and more practical.
Thanks for visiting my blog and the nice comments.
Sylvia
Funky Junk Interiors says
I've come to the conclusion I just love everything you do. And glad you found a way to trump PB. WTG! Once again, you're up on SNS's sidebar for the weekend. 🙂
Thanks for linking up!
FJ Donna
Kim @ Starshine Chic says
I love it!!! I may have to give this one a try.
The Pleasures of Homemaking says
Very cute! I can't believe you can't even look at the site! That's just crazy!
Manuela
Ali@Honey and Maple Syrup says
Very very cute!
Lamp Tramp says
I love your PB pots and your beautiful flowers that planted in them. That's just not fair that you can't access PB, do other big online decorating sites do this also? Guess you can't get on their mailing list either. I'll gladly mail you my copies!
debbie says
DEAR MARIANNE,
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL JOB YOU DID. AWESOME…
WHO NEEDS POTTERY BARN…THEY ARE VERY HIGH ON MOST THINGS AND WHEN YOU CAN PRODUCE THAT….I WOULD SAY POTTERY BARN NEEDS YOUR TALENT MORE THAN POTTERY BARN REFUSING YOU THE RIGHT TO LOOK AT THEIR THINGS.
BRAVO FOR YOU…CLAP…CLAP
HUGS
SIMPLY DEBBIE
tales from an oc cottage says
Now this is awesome!
m ^..^
BailiwickStudio says
Those little pots look wonderful! Is your birthday August 14? That's my husbands birthday, too, and a friends. There are a lot of nice people born on that day!
I have a spare Pottery Barn catalogue if you'd like it – just let me know! There's a lot of inspiration in it.
::Jill
Charlene says
LOVE the pots you clever girl! Do you need us to put a catalog in the post for you? That would serve them right. Do they think you wouldn't pay???? CRAZY they call it "WORLD WIDE WEB" for a reason… world wide! Charlene
pam q says
Well, I have never seen a Pottery Barn catalog, website or store and I live right here in the US! LOL
I saw those numbered pots on Dreamy Whites also….you did a wonderful job! And probably for much, much less $$ also! Hurray!
They look wonderful with the flowers!!! Cute!!!
Susan {Florali} says
A fantastic idea…I notice that amazon sells chalkboard contact paper. I might have to borrow your idea. Thanks!
Megandvd@Beauty in the Attempt says
Oh my…my my my! I love these! In fact…I might just have to make a few to go along with my pillows. 🙂 Great job my dear!!! Oh..and if you ever want me to send you catalogs..just send me the word and a care package is on its way to you. *wink*wink*
Cheers~
e
Stephanie Lynn says
These are simply stunning – Love everything about them! You did a fabulous job!
Wendy @ The Shabby Nest says
They're just darling!! Love me some numbers!!
Sarah says
I'm in love with your work!
God's blessings,
Sarah 😀
R. says
Very Cute!! You have a really fun style and many beautiful projects on your blog!! I will most definitely be checking back!!
Sarah @ Thrifty Decor Chick says
Absolutley beautiful!! I cannot believe you can't even get to the PB web site!! That's crazy! You did a fab job on these, just gorgeous. 🙂
Emily A. Clark says
Love this idea! And, I cannot believe you can't even access the PB site. Crazy!
Anonymous says
I live in Athens Greece and can get the potterybarn site from here. Come on over and we can have some coffee while checking out the site!!! Wonder why you can't get it. Europe is Europe, right? Funny!
Anonymous says
What a wonderful project! I love it. I am wondering, though, what kind of paint did you use that wouldn't be toxic for your plants? I want to paint some pots like this for growing herbs for cooking, but I am concerned about what the herbs would pick up in the soil from the paint inside the pot.
Thanks!
Misti @ Living on Cypress Hill says
The whole Pottery Barn thing is crazy! But at least you’re smarter than them! 😉
The pots look great!
Marianne@Songbird says
Thank you!
Fonda Rush says
My favorite number is 8. It was also the number of a house I lived in for a few years when I was very young.
Marianne@Songbird says
Oh 8 is a beautiful number. My favorite is 17 but maybe you guessed that already.