Venetian Plaster Design Ideas for the Bathroom

If you have ever seen a “stucco finish” then you have seen Venetian plaster in action. Venetian plaster is actually a term to define a style or technique and not an actual product. Venetian plaster is a technique that is used to create an illusion of texture as well as depth. It is applied with various methods with the most prevalent being a trowel or spatula. The misconception with Venetian plaster is that it actually uses plaster which is not the case except with the Scagliola finishing technique. Plaster is made out of gypsum and any finish using plaster uses that as its main ingredient. The Venetian plaster technique uses a combination of lime, cement and sand. Adding Venetian plaster to your bathroom can create a very distinguished look and the article below will share several design ideas with you.

Sponged Finish with Design

After the Venetian plaster has been applied and is dry you can begin to paint it with any type of acrylic paint that you see fit. There are many techniques which you can employ but sponging is not only fun but can give your bathroom walls a lot of depth. This can be a welcomed decoration decision since the bathroom is typically the smallest useable area of the home. Begin with a solid base coast of acrylic paint and then choose another paint color that is nearly identical to the base. It can be slightly warmer or cooler but should be close. Use a sponge and apply it to the wall. When that has dried use a stencil and paint on designs using the base coat.

Color Washing

This technique of painting Venetian plaster is very popular in bathrooms because it gives a look of antiqued wallpaper. This is best done using colors that are warm and inviting like light oranges, yellows and browns as an offset color. This is also a great place to start out if you’re just beginning to work Venetian plaster designs. Paint the wall a solid color and then thin a top coat of paint out with glaze. Apply it to the walls using a paintbrush making sweeping long strokes. The design will be subtle and inviting to the eye.

Ragging and Stencils

This design style can be used to open a space up and create a look of a grand hotel. The paint is mixed with glaze and is applied with old rags. This technique is fast and simple but with many possible outcomes. You can paint the wall with glaze and then wipe it off with rags but you can also apply the glaze with the rag. You can paint solid patterns over the finish to add depth.

Fabric Texture

This is along the same lines as ragging but differs slightly. After the base coat is applied to the wall and is dry you then apply the glaze. Take a rag and roll it tight and then roll it down the wet glaze. The texture of the rag will be transferred to the glaze. You can use any type of fabric for this technique.