Decorative Plaster Techniques

Move all furniture and accessories away from the wall to be plastered. Take off all outlet covers, using a screwdriver. Remove all nails and screws from the wall. Place plastic or cloth drops on the floor to protect the surface from paint and plaster.

Clean the wall, and dust off adjoining surfaces such as baseboards and window frames with a clean towel. Remove cobwebs and dirt from corners with a vacuum cleaner.

Stick painter's tape on all adjoining surfaces. Surfaces include adjoining walls, baseboards, doorways and window frames. Burnish the tape well to ensure that no paint or plaster leaks under the tape. Use a plastic putty knife, and firmly rub the tape.

Roll on a bonding primer. Use long vertical strokes and do not apply heavy pressure. Cover the entire surface. Use an angled paintbrush to cover areas around the perimeter of the wall where the roller cannot apply paint. Allow the bonding primer to dry about four hours.

Attach a mixing tool to a hand drill and stir lightweight joint compound. Mix the plaster until it is smooth. Add a small amount of distilled water to the plaster if the mixture appears dry and crumbly. Rinse plaster off the mixing tool.

Apply the plaster to the wall. A variety of application methods and plaster tools create different looks. Roll on the plaster in different directions with a mini roller and smooth down peeks with a drywall trowel. Trowel the plaster directly onto the wall as an alternative method. Place plaster onto the trowel with a putty knife. Place one edge of the trowel on the wall and hold the trowel at a 30-degree angle. Apply the plaster in circular, random strokes to create texture. Sponge the plaster directly on the surface with a large, damp sea sponge. The third method adds the least amount of texture and is a very light finish. Continue the chosen technique over the entire surface. Allow plaster to dry 24 hours.

Paint the surface with a bonding primer. The primer seals the plaster and allows an even coat of paint to be applied over the plaster. Use a rough-nap roller for rough surfaces to cover all crevices. More than one coat of paint is most likely required. Finish the project with a solid coat of latex paint. Choose a satin or eggshell sheen paint for added dimension.