How to Paint Dutch Wooden Clogs: $5 Roadside Finds Turned Eclectic Treasures

Driving back from Maine to Vermont, I couldn’t resist stopping at a roadside sale that felt more like an estate clean-out than a yard sale. In the “everything $5” section, I scooped up a bright blue embroidered rug and a pair of Dutch wooden clogs, finds too good to pass by.

The clogs were lovely in their natural wood, but I knew a coat of paint and a simple stencil design would give them new life. With a colorful DIY makeover, they’ve become eclectic accents in our home and even tie into our cozy ski lodge style for winter decorating.

Dutch Wooden Clogs: A Little History and Why I Picked Them Up

When I spotted these Dutch wooden clogs at a Vermont roadside sale for just $5, I immediately scooped them up. The natural wood grain, simple shape, and even the bright green ribbon holding them together gave me instant ski lodge vibes.

Inside the shoe is a stamp that reads “Topprestatie van 5 generaties vakmanschap” — Dutch for “Top performance of five generations of craftsmanship.” These aren’t true antiques, but rather decorative clogs, most likely sold as souvenirs. The little hooks attached to the backs of each clog are another clue; they were designed to hang on a wall instead of being worn.

Other Wooden Shoes in My Collection

This little $5 pair isn’t the only set of wooden shoes I’ve brought home over the years. I’ve collected everything from antique cobbler’s shoes to a sweet baby Adidas shoe and even a Nordic-inspired pair I hang at Christmas. Some are true antiques, others are quirky finds, but each one adds a layer of story and charm to our home. Here are a few of my favorites and how I’ve styled them in the past:

If you enjoy decorating with old shoes as much as I do, you might also love these projects I’ve shared on the blog. Each one shows a different way I’ve thrifted, styled, or DIY’d with unique pairs:

While authentic antique clogs can be highly collectible, this pair felt like the perfect blank canvas for a little DIY project. And at just $5, how could I resist?

How to Paint Dutch Wooden Clogs with a Stencil Design

Transforming plain wooden clogs into eclectic accents doesn’t take much, just a little paint, a stencil, and a touch of imagination. I wanted mine to feel both clean and decorative, yet worn as if they had actually been used, so I kept the process simple with blue paint, white for stencil work, and light sanding for a vintage finish. Shop Dutch wooden clogs on Etsy.

Materials You’ll Need

I was first inspired to try this project after coming across Miss Mustard Seed’s beautiful collection of painted Klompen shoes and her tutorial on painting them. I stumbled on her post while searching Pinterest for clog decorating ideas, and it gave me the push to pick up this $5 pair and make them my own.

Step 1 – Prepping the Dutch Wooden Clogs

There wasn’t much prep needed for this project, which makes it an easy beginner DIY. I left the clogs exactly as they were and went straight in with paint. To keep a little contrast, I only painted the outside surfaces and left the inside natural wood for a clean, finished look.

Step 2 – Painting the Base Color on Dutch Wooden Clogs

For the base, I brushed on a smooth coat of blue paint over the outside of each clog. I chose to leave the insides unpainted so the original wood (and the stamped label) would still be visible, creating a nice contrast once finished. After the first coat dried, I added a second for a richer, more even color.

Step 3 – Sanding the Clogs for a Weathered Look

Once the blue paint was completely dry, I grabbed some sandpaper I already had on hand and lightly worked around the sides, the toe, and along the natural wood grain. This brought out bits of the original wood and created a nice contrast, so the clogs didn’t look freshly painted. The subtle sanding gave them the worn, weathered character of old clogs that have been loved and used over time.

Step 4 – Using Antiquing Glaze for a Weathered Finish

To give the clogs even more character, I pulled out a jar of antiquing glaze I had on hand, a chalk finish paint in brown by Smith Verma. Using a simple rag, I rubbed the glaze into the grooves where the sandpaper had worn down the blue paint. The glaze settled into those spots beautifully, adding depth and darkening the color so the clogs no longer looked freshly painted. It was the perfect way to create a naturally aged, weathered finish without a lot of extra work.

Step 5 – Stenciling White Flowers for a Fresh Contrast

For the final step, I decided to stencil simple white flowers across the Dutch wooden clogs. Once I chose to hang them in our master bedroom, where the walls are covered in a floral wallpaper in soft pastels, the direction became clear. The blue paint pulled out the greens and blues in the wallpaper, and the white flowers added just the right contrast.

I started by placing both clogs side by side so the flowers would feel balanced, even if they weren’t perfectly identical. One flower at a time, I stenciled a design, let it dry, and then added the next until I had a pattern I loved. The plan is to lightly weather them again at the end, so I’m not worried about crisp perfection, just a charming, eclectic finish that feels at home with the room’s vintage floral wallpaper.

Step 6 – Finishing Dutch Wooden Clogs with Sanding and Furniture Wax

To wrap up the project, I lightly sanded over the white stenciled flowers to create small imperfections and soften the designs. Since I’m not a professional painter (and certainly not Miss Mustard Seed!), this step gave the clogs a naturally weathered charm instead of striving for perfection. Once I was happy with the worn look, I sealed the clogs with clear furniture wax. The sealer protects the paint while keeping the surface soft and muted, so the clogs look like they’ve aged gracefully over time.

What started as a simple $5 roadside find turned into one of my favorite little projects. These Dutch wooden clogs, once plain and overlooked, now carry a fresh blue-and-white finish with just enough weathering to feel like they’ve lived a story or two. Whether styled in our master bedroom against floral wallpaper or tucked into a seasonal vignette, they bring a touch of eclectic charm that feels right at home.

Before and After: Dutch Wooden Clogs Makeover

It’s always my favorite part of any project—the before and after. These Dutch wooden clogs began as simple, natural wood decor pieces, and with a little paint, stenciling, sanding, and antiquing glaze, they’ve been transformed into eclectic accents that now feel perfectly at home in our space.

Here’s a look at the transformation. What do you think? Do you prefer the plain natural wood clogs or the painted blue-and-white version with its weathered charm?

If you love unique ways to dress up your walls, here are a few more decorating ideas you might enjoy:

Have you ever decorated with wooden shoes or found a quirky piece at a yard sale or roadside stop? I’d love to hear how you styled it! Share your ideas in the comments below, or tag me on Instagram so I can see your own eclectic treasures. And if you’d like to try painting a pair yourself, don’t forget to pin this post for later inspiration!

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