How to Create a Plaster Finish on the Walls

Surface Cleaning and Room Prep

• 1

  Remove all furniture and accent pieces from the room, or at least 3 feet from the wall surface. Place dropcloths onto all flooring for additional protection. Unscrew outlet covers and place tape over remaining outlets to protect from plaster and paint. Wash the walls with water and a soft cleaning sponge. Vacuum up cobwebs in your wall's ceiling corners.

• 2

  Open a 5-gallon bucket of joint compound. Inspect the plaster -- if it appears dry, add a small amount of distilled water. Mix with a hand drill with attached mixing tool. Dip a putty knife into the plaster and smear a small amount on your trowel's blade.

• 3

  Hold the trowel firmly against the wall at a 60-degree angle. Smear the plaster onto the wall, but do not completely cover. Leave some area unplastered by skipping over the wall. Do not apply the plaster more than 1/4 inch thick. Replicate the technique over the entire wall. Allow to dry four to six hours.

• 4

  Touch the plaster surface; if it is cold, the plaster is still wet and needs to dry longer. If the plaster is room temperature and appears dry, sand lightly with a medium-grit sanding block. Knock off any rough edges or bumps in the plaster finish. Wipe down the sanded walls with a damp sponge to remove all drywall dust.

• 5

  Paint your plastered walls in your desired latex paint color. Dark colors require a deep gray primer. Use a long-nap roller to ensure paint falls in all the plaster finish's nooks and crannies. Add second and third layers of paint until the final wall finish is painted a solid color.