How to apply Venetian Plaster to Walls

Use modern techniques to recreate an ancient look in your contemporary home. Venetian plaster adds layers of color and textures that bring a richness and timeless style to your rooms. While Roman builders labored to create plaster from slaked lime and marble dust mixed with color pigment, modern technology does that work for us. Practice and perfect the application techniques to add Venetian plaster walls to your home.

Things You'll Need

• Painter's tape
• Waterproof drop cloth
• Paint
• 4-inch trowel
• Venetian plaster
• 400-grit sandpaper
• Topcoat

Instructions

1. Prepare your room by covering furniture and taping wood trim. Use waterproof drop cloths to protect your flooring.

2. Apply a base coat of medium-tone satin-latex paint to the walls and allow them to dry. Choose a bold color for a Venetian plaster project. If you are afraid to go bold, choose muted versions of your favorite colors on the walls.

3. Apply a thin layer of tinted Venetian plaster to the wall with a 4- or 6-inch steel trowel. Spread the plaster in a crisscross pattern. Choose a tone that is deep and complements the base coat. Allow the plaster to dry completely for several hours before applying the next coat.

4. Apply a second layer of plaster to fill in gaps and missed spots from the first application. Work in a crisscross pattern again, holding the trowel at a 60 to 90 degree angle during application. Allow the plaster to dry completely.

5. Burnish the plaster to complete the look. Lightly sand the wall in a circular motion with 400-grit sandpaper. Polish the plaster further by rubbing over the surface with the flat side of the trowel. Wipe the surface with a damp cloth. Consider finishing with a topcoat formulated for Venetian plaster in bathrooms and kitchens where humidity is high.

References

• BWC Company: Venetian Plaster
• HGTV: Paint Techniques: Venetian Plaster Instructions