How to Install Venetian Plaster Paint

Completely clear the room and throw drop cloths down on the floors for protection. Remove switch plates from the wall, or cover them with painters' tape.

Use patching compound to patch any holes or severe cracks on the wall. Allow the patching compound to dry, and then sand the patch nice and smooth.

Attach 100-grit sandpaper to a sanding head. Screw the sanding head onto an extension pole, and completely sand the wall from top to bottom, for a nice, smooth wall surface.

Attach blue painters' tape to molding, baseboard and trim. Insert painters' tape into the wall and ceiling corners, if you want to keep the adjacent walls clean.

Scoop out the venetian plaster from the container and mix it in a metal or plastic mud pan. Use a 4-inch drywall taping knife to mix it into a fine consistency. Wear gloves to keep your hands clean and wear eye protection if you're applying venetian plaster to the ceiling.

Apply a thin layer of venetian plaster with either a 4-inch drywall taping knife or a flexible steel trowel. If you're using a steel trowel, spread the venetian plaster at a 30-degree angle. Apply the venetian plaster in random strokes at varying angles. Keep the plaster thin and smooth. Allow the first coat of plaster to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions before applying the second coat.

Hold the trowel at a 90-degree angle, and apply the same color of venetian plaster for the second coat. Use overlapping strokes to cover the surface thoroughly, filling any left-over voids and high spots from the first coat. Allow the second coat of venetian plaster to completely dry.

Rub 400-grit sandpaper across the venetian plaster to burnish the surface. You can also drag the flat end of your steel trowel over the surface for burnishing. Wipe off the surface with a damp rag or cloth.

Apply a final top coat of venetian plaster to the burnished surface. Use your steel trowel to apply the top coat. The top coat adds durability to the venetian plaster.