Plum Noir is everywhere right now. This sultry purple that looks like it fell into a vat of mulled wine has been filling my Pinterest feed, and I’m all for it. I knew I wanted to add a hint of it to our moody boho décor, and this little DIY “ceramic” vase definitely qualifies, don’t you think?
It proves that you don’t need fancy supplies to create trending décor on a budget. The best part is how beginner‑friendly it is. If you can sand, paint, and wait for things to dry, you’re in.
Here’s the thing – it’s not ceramic at all, and I bet you’ll never guess what it’s made from.
One of the main “ingredients” is hiding in the electrical aisle, and the other is the same thing I used for my little textured ball bird.
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What you need
The main “ingredients” for this upcycled vase are a polystyrene (Styrofoam) ball and a PVC pipe or tube. You can use any kind of pipe.
You’ll also need:
- Spackle (Polyfilla) or texture paste (homemade recipe here)
- Paint Brush
- Craft Paint
- Alizarin Crimson
- Phthalo Blue
- Titanium White
- Burnt Umber
- Twine and beads to decorate (optional)
How to make a dark and moody plum noir vase
Grab your polystyrene ball and use the tube or pipe to create a shallow, circular indent. Twist and push as you go to compress the polystyrene. I did something similar when I made this easy moss vase.
Using the indent as a guide, cut a hole in the ball with a sharp craft knife. Hollow the hole out as deep as you can.
Place the pipe in the hole and mark how long you’d like the neck to be.
My pipe is a leftover piece of PVC electrical conduit, so I used a hand saw to cut it to the right length. If your pipe is made from something else, pick the appropriate tool for the job. Sand any rough edges until smooth and level.
Pop the cut pipe back in the ball and double check that you’re happy.
Sand the bottom of the ball (on the opposite side of the neck), so the vase doesn’t roll around.
I took quite a bit off the bottom of mine to make sure it’s stable.
Apply a generous layer of Polyfilla, Spackle, or texture paste to the outside of the vase.
You should end up with something like this.
Leave to dry completely before painting or sanding smooth. I decided to keep that rough texture. It adds a little drama and makes the vase more tactile.
Painting the plum noir vase
My décor style leans towards moody, eclectic boho, with a healthy dose of chaos thrown in for fun. If you prefer something more neutral, you can leave the vase as is or use this amazing food coloring hack. It all depends on your style and what colors you have. I love my oil paints so that’s what I used. Acrylic or water-based paints work too. To mix a dark and decadent plum color you’ll need four basic colors:
- 4 parts Alizarin Crimson
- 2 parts Phthalo Blue
- 1 part Burnt Umber
- 1 part Titanium White
Squeeze the colors onto a palette and mix a berry color.
Because paints vary by brand, treat the ratios as a guide and tweak:
- Too red → add a teeny touch more Phthalo Blue.
- Too purple → add a bit more Alizarin Crimson.
- Too dark → add a bit more Titanium White.
To mix plum, use berry as a base and add a teeny bit of Burnt Umber.
If you look at the finished vase, the colors melt from a deep inky plum at the base, into softer berry tones, and then back to plum around the neck. To achieve this effect, I mixed my oils paints with turpentine first. It thins the paint and makes it dry quickly. Always a bonus when it comes to oils. If you’re using water based paint, thin it down with water.
Brush the berry color over the whole vase.
Wait for the paint to dry. 5 minutes should do it. Starting at the neck apply the plum and brush it downwards into the berry.
Do the same at the bottom of the vase blending the plum upwards into the berry color.
Add a little more turps to the plum and blend the colors so they gently fade into each other. Leave the paint to dry. If you’ll be using your vase for dried flowers, you can call it a day. Me, I wanted some options and in hindsight I should have done this bit before painting the vase.
Making the DIY vase “waterproof”
Polystyrene (Styrofoam) is water-resistant but it is not entirely waterproof. Over time it can become waterlogged, and all kinds of nasty things will start growing in the vase. To create a barrier of sorts, I used a 2-part epoxy clay.
Mix equal portion of the clay and roll it into a ball.
Drop the ball inside the neck of the vase and use the back of a paint brush to smoosh it down.
Let the epoxy clay cure overnight before popping in a few of your favorite stems.
Isn’t it just perfect? I added a frayed rope and bead detail around the neck.
I love the contrast between the warm orange and that moody plum colour.
It’s little projects like this that make me choose the upcycling bin before the décor aisle. Every.Single.Time. Who would have guessed that a polystyrene ball and a pipe off‑cut could pass for boho‑luxe décor?
I hope this tutorial sparks new ideas for mixing unexpected, budget‑friendly materials with bold colors to create décor that feels uniquely yours.
If this little upcycled moody plum vase inspired you, I’d love it if you’d share or pin it.
Sharing is caring.
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Or if you prefer to buy rather than DIY.
And as always, wishing you a wonderful, crafty week filled with lots of love and laughter. Thank you for popping in for a visit and for giving us the gift of your time.
Last update on 2026-08-16 / Source Amazon Affiliates