Plaster Techniques and Textures

Plain Venetien Plaster

• One color of venetian plaster creates a subdued, tone-on-tone texture on the walls. It is simply the application of several layers of plaster in the same color. Use it in a room that requires a peaceful atmosphere, such as an office or a bathroom. Another appropriate place is a room that you want to feel luxurious, like a bedroom. Once complete, the walls will be silky smooth to the touch.

Multi-Color Venetian Plaster

• You can layer Venetian plaster using several different colors of the same product. This technique appears in places where more action occurs, such as a living room or a kitchen. Depending on the number of colors and the degree of contrast between the colors, the effect can be anywhere from simple to very dramatic. Layering lighter colors on dark creates depth and gives a whitewashed or sun-drenched effect.

Leather

• If you are decorating an office or a den and want a masculine look, faux leather using Venetian plaster is a good option. You achive a leather look by smoothly layering plaster on the wall and then embedding sheets of cheesecloth in the still-wet plaster. Remove the cheesecloth and let dry and then put another layer of plaster over it in either a shade up or down from the base color.

Frescoes

• If you want your walls to look centuries old, you'll find a fresco a perfect choice. Using plaster gesso, create texture with a metal scraper. Once you are satisfied with that, use colored gesso to paint a figure or a simple pattern such as a fleur-de-lis. It does not have to be perfect, as the next step is covering it with several layers of glaze to create depth. An old world appearance is the result.