Plastering Styles
Plaster is a very versatile medium that can be used to give a prominent wall in the house or the entire home a stunning look. People often misconstrue plaster to be just a base used before painting; that is just one of the uses for plaster; so let's look at the various innovative and creative ways in which you can use this medium to give your home a spectacular look:Contemporary Plastering Effects
Rough Plastering: If you would like to shift from the run of the mill smooth wall finish and experiment with a new trend that has taken the world of interior decoration by storm; think about rough plastering. You don't have to enlist the help of a professional painter to try out plaster painting; you can do it at home for as little as £25 to £ 150. However, you need to remember that like all works of art, plaster painting is time consuming but the final effect is worth every minute that you invest in turning your wall into a master piece. Au contraire to regular, smooth plastering; in this technique, you are trying to achieve the exact opposite effect by making the wall look rustic and rough. Experiment with different objects such as a trowel with large teeth; you can use this to create a surface with deep ridges. Alternatively, try using a dry brush to create striations or even an aluminium foil so the plaster is pulled into peaks. You are trying to create tactile textures which can then be accentuated with the help of paint. The best part of incorporating rough plastering in your home decor is that, it is very hard to go wrong with this technique. You can get as experimental as you like because you don't need the traditional perfection that is normally required to accomplish the smother texture. If you would like to include tinting, add it to the mixed plaster before applying it on the wall.
The Beeswax technique: This technique can be used on a traditionally finished wall, use it after the plaster work has been completed. To incorporate this technique, you will need to mix base paint with the plaster and create a fairly smooth finish with it, allow the wall to dry for 24 hours before using beeswax on it. Now, add metallic powder t beeswax and apply it on the wall with a putty knife. You will get an effect which has the same sheen like glossy paint but the texture will be quite unique.
Suede and Strie: This effect can be created on an un-plastered accent wall you can match a wall done in suede and strie with other walls done in a different texture; however, try not to put too many wall textures in one room. For the strie technique, you will need a dry brush with a flat base coat, run the brush along the wall in up and down or side by side strokes. Through this technique, you can get the effect of a striped texture wall paper. For the suede effect, use rag rolling; this will make the wall look like it has been upholstered in suede.
Textured Plastering: You could use a simple drywall texture compound for the purpose or you could get experimental and create a texture of your choice; the best part when using this technique is that you can let your imagination run wild. Use a rough towel on wet plaster to get an artisan look or you could choose one of the several textured rollers that are easily available in the market today. This technique is ideal for hiding any flaws that you may have in the wall; all cracks and imperfections can be effectively hidden with a little bit of priming and painting once the plaster is dry.
The Traditional Plastering Effects:
The Venetian Plaster: This is an extremely popular and traditional way to finish your walls, in the last few years this style of plastering has garnered quite a fan following and is being used widely as a decorating option. Of course, you could get the real thing installed; but not only will you need to call in a seasoned professional for the job but also the bill for such a job is bound to be steep. The good news is that with a little bit of patience and the myriad of new techniques, you will be able to create our very own Venetian plaster wall at home without spending a small fortune for it. It is as simple as combining sharp quartz sand with regular drywall plaster compound, apply the mixture to the wall and use a trowel on the surface. Make sure you apply a few practice swipes before you work on the whole wall. Once the plaster is dry, just use a coat of primer followed by paint.
The Stucco: Instead of calling in the experts use the faux stucco technique to emulate the look of authentic stucco. Before you start, ensure that all the necessary repairs have been made; this include filling in any cracks etc; the wall should be dry, dust free and clean. Start by applying a quarter of an inch layer of all purpose drywall plastering compound and use a dry trowel in a semi circular motion. This stroke will give you the signature stucco look. However, you will need to practice the swirl on wood first and once you are confident, you can try it out on the wall. If you want a more durable and prominent finish, apply a second layer after the first one is completely dry and swirl it again. If you are not sure about the drying time, let it stay for a while longer. Once the second layer is dry, you can prime and paint.
You don't have to try these effects on all the walls in your home, start by using one of the techniques on a single wall and couple it with other walls of regular smooth plaster finish. There is a lot of potential for creativity here, you could also go for a textured look on all the walls and compliment it with smooth finish, monotone drapes. The possibilities are simply staggering, so the next time, you want to spruce the look of your home, do something different, try one of these eye catching plaster techniques.