How to Make Your Own Concrete Bowls

Today I’m sharing how to make your own concrete bowls. And guess what? You only need two key ingredients: concrete mix and water! It really is that simple. 

Sarah and Dan, from Joinery & Design Co., are the original creators of this DIY project. Once I saw their tutorial, I knew it was only a matter of time before I started mixing up some concrete. I don’t even know what I’m going to do with more bowls, but these are just too fun‑ you have to give them a try. 

THE SUPPLIES

• Mixing Bowls
• Oil Spray 
• Concrete Mix 
• Water

PREPPING THE MOLDS

I’ll be using mixing bowls as the molds for my concrete bowls. You can get really creative here and use any shape or form that you would like. 

To start, I prepped my mixing bowls (aka the molds) by adding four screws around the top rims of the bowls. This will keep the inside bowls in place and keep them from sinking to the bottom of your outside bowls. 

You’ll want to spray the insides of the bowls with oil spray to prevent the concrete from sticking. Don’t forget to also spray the bottom of the bowl you are placing on the inside. 

MIXING THE CONCRETE

Start by adding some dry concrete mix into a large bucket. I filled half of a 5-gallon bucket, and it was more than enough for my three bowls. Next, you’ll want to slowly add some water to your dry concrete mix. Just add in a little bit of water at a time because your mix can get too wet fairly quickly. I recommend using a corded drill with a paddle/mixer drill attachment to mix your concrete. If you don’t have either of those tools, you can simply mix by hand with a trowel as well. Your concrete mix should be similar to a cake batter consistency.

You don’t want it to be too thick and you don’t want it to be too thin. My mix was thick enough that it could not be poured easily if that helps! I used a trowel to transfer my concrete mix into the molds. It’s really just trial and error.

POURING THE BOWLS

Once your concrete is mixed to the correct consistency, it’s time to transfer it to the molds. As I mentioned, I used a trowel to do this. And, once again, it’s just trial and error to know how much concrete mix to use in each different size mold. I would say, start with less than you think. It’s easier to add more concrete than it is to remove the concrete once it’s already poured into the mold. 

I ended up stacking my bowls inside each other and it worked pretty well. You could also set them up individually. Just be sure to weigh down the top/inside mold to keep it in place. 

After 24 hours, it’s time to remove the top/inside molds to help the concrete cure. And then after another 24 hours (48 hours total), You can remove the bowls from the mold completely. 

These are just too fun! Are you ready to try making your own concrete bowls?

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