Antiquing Plaster Walls

Place drop cloths on the floor to protect the surface from the paint. Stick painters tape along the trim, doors and windows.

Inspect the walls for necessary repairs. Fix any cracks in the plaster with wall repair patches. You can find these at home improvement stores.

Sand the plaster walls lightly with 180-grit sandpaper. Roughening the walls prepares the surface to accept the primer and paint. Be careful not to press too hard on the uneven spots in the plaster.

Apply the alkaline resistant or masonry primer to the walls. Use sheepskin-covered paint rollers on the large sections of the walls and the nylon and polyester bristle paintbrushes for the edges and corners of the walls. Let the primer dry overnight.

Paint the walls with the water-based paint. Choose a deep, earth tone for this base coat. Use a paint roller for the flat part of the walls and the paintbrush for the perimeters.

Apply the limewash with a paintbrush. Create the antique look by dragging the paintbrush in uneven strokes, in an up and down direction, overlapping the paint lines. Continue painting the short up and down strokes until you use all the limewash on the brush. Press the brush down slightly harder on the plaster peaks to lighten edges.

Blot away any heavy or runny limewash spots from the walls with the cheesecloth.