How to make decorative plaster with your own hands for interior wall decoration from ordinary putty

Ordinary walls can be transformed into gorgeous features in your home with decorative plaster. Using simple supplies like putty, you can create stunning, one-of-a-kind finishes yourself without paying a professional. It’s an excellent way to add personality to your room without going over budget.

You can create a range of textures and patterns that give your walls depth and personality with regular putty. Using a do-it-yourself approach allows you to have creative control over the final design while also saving money. The options are endless, whether you’re more into a rustic, textured look or a sleek, elegant finish.

This tutorial will help you create decorative plaster using only your hands. Every step is broken down into easy to understand steps, from choosing the proper supplies to applying the finishing coat. All you need is a little patience and an openness to trying new things; no particular knowledge or equipment is required.

Are you prepared to update your walls with a chic new look? Let’s begin transforming ordinary putty into exquisite decorative plaster that will elevate any space in your house.

Step	Description
1. Prepare the Surface	Clean the wall and repair any cracks or holes. Apply a primer for better adhesion.
2. Mix the Putty	Combine the putty with water according to the instructions until you get a smooth consistency.
3. Apply the Base Coat	Spread a thin layer of the putty mix on the wall using a trowel or a wide spatula.
4. Create the Texture	While the base coat is still wet, use various tools like brushes, sponges, or combs to create the desired texture.
5. Let it Dry	Allow the textured base coat to dry completely, usually for about 24 hours.
6. Sand the Surface	Lightly sand the surface to remove any sharp edges or imperfections, creating a smooth finish.
7. Apply the Final Coat	Apply a second, thinner layer of putty if needed to refine the texture.
8. Paint or Seal	Once the plaster is dry, paint or seal it to protect the surface and enhance its appearance.

Decorative mixture from putty. Composition and varieties

How can putty be used to create decorative plaster while saving a tonne of money? As a foundation for ornamental plaster compositions, putty is a material that you should first learn about and the various varieties that are available. Like plaster mortar, putty is used to level walls and is composed of a binder, filler, and additives to enhance its working and operational properties. These elements could change. Putties can be identified by the components of their binding:

• mineral gypsum,
• mineral cement,
• polymer acrylic,
• polymer silicone,
• polymer silicate-silicone,
• based on organic glue (rare).

Fillers for putties include talc, chalk, lime, gypsum, and mica. Additives for pigment can be applied. Putty, also known as putty, can be used as the foundation for a decorative mixture because of this. You can use the putty mixture in place of the plaster mixture, or you can just add the necessary ingredients to the putty and mix well.

Putties are available in two grinding sizes: fine (finishing) and coarse (starting). Starting gypsum plaster is another term for gypsum putty. It is equivalent to this.

Any kind of regular putty can be used to make decorative plaster at home by hand (except oil, which has properties that don’t meet plastering requirements). It is more accurate to do this while considering the putty’s adhesive and other characteristics, as well as whether it is meant to be a starting, finishing, or universal putty. Therefore, the final putty works best for the Venetian.

Operating conditions are a guide when selecting a putty for plaster mix manufacturing (extreme street or sparing indoors). Thus, the Knauf Uniflot finish is limited to use as interior décor. As a result, it works well as the foundation for writing the internal goal. Cerezit ST127 and Knauf Rotband—both of which work well in damp spaces—share similar qualities. Facade finishes can be successfully completed with cement putties.

The completed putty-based plaster compositions can be:

• textured,
• structural,
• Venetian.

Textured mixtures from putty

Textured mixtures are created through unique application techniques and methods, resulting in decorative effects. Decorative plaster, appropriate for textured coatings, can be easily made by hand using regular putty. You can use the recipes listed below to prepare the composition.

1. For the manufacture of Versailles textured decoration, it is best to mix 1: 1 finish and starting dry mixtures with each other. Such a composition has a long period of work, which gives time to apply the desired texture to the surface of the layer before the solution grabs. To prepare it in a bucket with the desired amount of water, and alternately, the same portions are poured with the starting or finish mixture. If necessary, a kner is added. All this is mixed with a mixer and then, after 5 minutes, the mixture is mixed again.
2. With PVA. 2 liters of water temperature water are poured into a clean container, 6 kg of putty powder (gypsum mixture) is poured into it, mix and add a glass (200 g) of glue, mix again. Instead of glue, you can add a grout mixture designed for drywall. Proportion 1: 1.
3. With a primer. Dry putty powder (6 kg) is diluted with liquid white primer to the desired consistency, after which grout is added to the resulting thick (you can use colored or add dyes).
4. Acrylic primer capable of deep penetration is diluted with water in an amount of 1/2 of its volume. Gradually pour in, stirring, the Satengips putty until a paste-like thickness is formed.
5. To obtain a textured mixture, you can add clean fine sand, stone flour to the putty. The proportion of the additive should be no more than 15% of the volume of the composition. Otherwise, the mixture will be crumbly. Such compositions are used to create travertine plaster, small fur coat, decorative plaster under a tree.

There are several ways to add texture to these compositions.

Structural mixtures from putty

The role of filler particles is significant in structural solutions. These are the grains or fibers—mineral, organic, or synthetic—that give the plaster coating its distinct, original texture. Lamb plaster and bark beetle patterns are primarily formed by rounded stone chips, while long-fiber inclusions help to create more noticeable air reliefs. The putty can also have the following ingredients added to it to create structural plaster:

• flocks;
• shell fragments;
• quartz or river sand (for example, decorative plaster sand);
• balls;
• metal powders (example, magnetic plaster);
• various fibers;
• chopped foil;
• crushed mica;
• ceramic or polymer granules;
• sawdust.

Polymer-based putties are suitable for structural compositions. Equal distribution is achieved among the fillers added to the mixture.

Structural solution components can be purchased or found in nature (large sand, shell fragments, etc.). It is essential to set up a "bath" for stone, shell inclusions, and sand; that is, these materials must be sorted (sifted), cleaned, and dried to prevent dust from weakening the ensuing coating. To get rid of unwanted inclusions, clay and lime additives are soaked beforehand and then rubbed through a sieve (a nylon stocking).

Composition of the decorative plaster budget:

• With marble chips for interior work.In a container, mix 4 parts of dry simple putty with 1 part of fractionated marble chips. Then add water to obtain the desired consistency of the solution. The solution is not painted, because it is better to paint the applied coating.
• Travertine, Versailles, fur coatand other effects. Take 1 part of gypsum mixture with mineral additives (for example, Satengips) and gypsum mixture with polymer additives (Fugenfüller), add 3 parts of coarse sand. Everything is mixed in a dry state, then diluted to the desired consistency with water.
• Bark beetle. To obtain a mixture, add to the putty rounded marble or granite chips of the required fraction. The volume of the additive should also not be more than 10-15% of the composition.

Venetian plaster from putty

The rough texture of gypsum putty makes it impossible to apply a smooth Venetian coating. When applying acrylic varnish for interior water-based work, it is leveled.

What you’ll need to make Venetian plaster from finishing putty is:

• finishing acrylic varnish;
• gypsum or polymer finishing mixture, which contains microcalcite or marble flour (you can also use putty on white cement);
• universal colorant for water-dispersed paints.

How to prepare a mixture from Venice:

• in a clean container, dilute 1 liter of varnish with 100-150 ml of water;
• pour in about 2.5 kg of dry putty;
• mix well;
• add colorant (usually the additive is less than 10% of the volume of the mixture);
• mix again.

The mixture has a yield of about 3.5 kg. Utilization: 0.4–0.5 kg/m^2. Plasticizer is added in small amounts to extend the service life. For the gypsum composition, PVA (1% of the volume), lime, or special liquids are appropriate.

To ensure that you have enough coloring (which you will need to mix in batches) for the entire volume of Venetian plaster, it is advisable to add the coloring to the varnish in advance. Before doing this, it is best to experiment with a trial mix to figure out how much coloring is right.

Interior work is typically completed with Venetian plaster. On facades, however, putty finishing of this kind is also appropriate. The resulting gypsum plaster is coated with a waterproofing polymer mastic, such as "Plitonit hydroelast," to strengthen its resistance to atmospheric loads. Using a brush or roller, the protective coating is applied in multiple layers, each of which must be allowed to dry.

Using regular putty to create decorative plaster for interior walls is an easy and affordable way to give your house a distinctive and fashionable touch. Simple walls can be transformed into elegant, textured surfaces that improve any room’s visual appeal by following a few easy steps. With the flexibility to be creative and customized, this do-it-yourself method eliminates the need for costly supplies or expert assistance while still enabling the achievement of a polished finish.

Variety of tools

There are several methods for applying homemade decorative plaster to the wall surface. And there are plenty of tools available for this.

Main instruments required for the majority of plaster finishes are:

• spatulas (narrow or wide, plastic or steel, with a straight blade or a curved one);
• trowels and graters (also of various configurations and materials);
• rollers (textured – for creating textures, regular – for applying various compositions);
• brushes (maklovichny, flute, sweeping, etc.);
• electric tool for mixing solutions (drills with attachments and mixers);
• spray guns and pistols (for mechanical work);
• sponges (soft, dense and abrasive);
• sandpaper,
• level;
• masking tape;
• rule, ruler/tape measure.

The subsequent methods are employed as backups:

• stencils,
• stamps,
• matrices,
• various household items (crumpled plastic bags, construction film, nylon nets, etc.d.),
• capacities,
• rags.

Decorative plaster applied and processed by hand using standard tools is a do-it-yourself project made from putty.

Preparation of walls and other surfaces

How demanding decorative plaster from putty is on the degree of wall preparation depends on the kind of coating. The greatest standards apply to imitation Venetian finishing, which has a thickness of no more than 2 mm. Venetian plaster wall:

1. perfectly leveled (remnants of the previous coating must be removed, cracks and potholes must be “treated”, greasy, moldy and other dirty stains, dust, etc. must be eliminated.);
2. primed with a composition corresponding to the base material;
3. smoothed with sandpaper and cleaned from dust;
4. dried.

The specifications are less stringent for finishes like bark beetle or Versailles that have a strong relief texture. It is acceptable to have minor flaws that the volumetric coating will cover up.

The preparation requirements are also determined by the material used to construct the walls. For instance, a high-quality coating won’t work on gas silicate blocks because of their numerous open pores, which, if left unprepared, will immediately absorb all of the moisture from the putty composition. Using a spray gun, apply three layers of primer to create the densest possible film, which will "seal" the pores.

Methods of applying prepared mixtures

Putty decorating is essentially done in the same manner as applying and processing decorative plaster in one or more finishing options. This is a quick guide explaining how to create decorative plaster out of regular putty using different tools and devices.

Application with a roller

Initially, a 3 mm thick base layer of the composition is applied. Using a trowel or spatula, apply it. Unlike a layer of regular plaster, the surface of the layer applied with a figured roller does not need to be applied exceptionally smooth to achieve the desired effect. The layer is given time to start setting after application. The layer’s surface relief is then formed using a figured roller. In order to reduce the amount of putty composition that sticks to the roller, water is sprayed onto the layer’s surface.

Any flaws that appear are fixed right away if needed. Sandpaper is used to remove any sharp growths from the layer after it has dried, and a broom is used to remove any remaining dust.

Using a stencil

A three-dimensional convex image is produced by the stencil technique, as opposed to a roller, which uses indentations to create a pattern. It is applied to a level base layer (or one that has a fine-relief surface to create the appearance of a sandy bottom, for example).

Materials for stencils:

• plastic (reusable, can be made by yourself or bought, thickness up to 5 mm),
• paper (disposable, there are restrictions on the height of the resulting relief),
• silicone (made from silicone glue, you can buy ready-made or make it yourself).

The locations on the wall where the drawings will be applied are indicated. Using special glue or masking tape (a paper template), the stencil is affixed to the wall. Using a spatula and some minimal pressure, the putty is applied to the stencil contour. The putty area’s surface is then textured. Once the mixture starts to solidify, the stencil is meticulously taken off. Sandpaper is used to smooth out irregularities on the edges once the composition has dried. Brick walls can sometimes be embellished with this technology.

Texture using a trowel

With this kind of tool, you can produce a variety of effects. While the Versailles finish is achieved by meandering the tip of a trowel into raised, adhered mortar, the popular bark beetle finish is achieved by rolling mineral granules. Using the trowel’s whole working surface, the freshly laid compound is trimmed to create the fur coat. You can apply "fish scales" and the Venetian "hidden" depth with a trowel. Various trowel stroke applications can serve as the foundation for a variety of textures.

Decorative plaster can be made by mixing regular putty with it to create a range of textures. Of course, since plaster made from gypsum putty does not contain these granules, the effect of an antique finish produced by crushing polymer capsules cannot be achieved. However, there are sufficient methods to age the putty finish without using it.

Cheap Venetian

See how to create Venetian plaster using basic gypsum putty by watching the tutorial video. In summary, there are various ways to create an imitation of a real Venetian, which is compared to scattered rose petals not only for its beauty, depth, and trepidation but also for the size of the strokes. The most important thing is to adhere to the fundamental ideas and methods. The example talks about a Venetian made with facade putty made of acrylic. During preparation, the base’s surface is puttied smoothly.

1. The first layer is applied with a trowel with strokes in different directions. Layer thickness 1-2 mm. The peculiarity is that the strokes do not join each other smoothly. Gaps are left between them of various shapes and areas.
2. Wait 1.5-2 hours, using the same composition, continue to refine the same layer, only applying strokes where they were not there.
3. After the layer has dried, “nozzles” and excess protrusions are cut off with the edge of a spatula.
4. In the same way, apply a second layer of the same color in two steps. Thickness 0.5-1mm. After drying, excess protrusions are removed.
5. The third layer is applied with strokes, but without waiting for the layer to dry, the surface becomes iron on the wet surface. That is, strokes are applied to the scrape, and after the intended small area is processed, it is ironed. At the same time, the shine appears immediately.
6. The entire coating is thoroughly dried.

Invoice by any means

This is the point at which creativity shouldn’t be constrained and should ultimately take off owing to the ability of particular available means to form textures. You can apply the texture by "blotting" with different nets, brush bristles, or rolled plastic bags. You can obtain the look of a wild stone and a fur coat in this way. In addition to using rollers, one can create decorative prints using organic materials like pebbles, pine branches, and shells.

Applying a regular crumpled film to a newly formed layer and gently pressing it against the surface can create an intriguing and distinctive texture by creating imprinted folds with numerous corners and edges. As soon as the solution dries, the film should be taken off to prevent it from coming off. Wetting the film is advised prior to application.

With various brushes, one can obtain a variety of patterns on the layer. They can have hard or tight bristles. Brushing involves holding the bristle brush at a straight or acute angle to the wall surface. It can be moved along a straight line or on various trajectories. A fine fur coat, a ripped stone surface, and other effects can be achieved by trimming or sticking the bristle ends.

Wood-like surfaces can be achieved by using deeply brushed boards. By drawing diagonal parallel lines along the mixture’s surface in an endless figure-eight pattern, even a basic stick can produce an intriguing effect. Lots of space for imagination.

Using regular putty and your hands to create decorative plaster is a doable and satisfying project. You can create one-of-a-kind artworks on your walls that express your own style with the correct supplies and methods.

Make sure the wall surface is smooth and clean before beginning any preparations. To get the desired texture, putty must be mixed to the proper consistency. Before applying it to the entire wall, take your time practicing on a small area of the wall.

Try out different application methods to produce a range of textures and patterns, such as utilizing different tools and brushes. Never be afraid to experiment and use your imagination to create a look that works for your room.

To protect the surface and improve its appearance, think about applying a coat of paint or sealant after your decorative plaster has been applied and dried. This last detail will guarantee that all of your hard work endures and looks stunning.

By following these guidelines, you can create something distinctive and personalized for your home that looks professional and gives you the satisfaction of creating something special. Not only is decorative plastering a technique, but it’s also a chance for you to express your individuality and personalize your living area.

Video on the topic

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CEMENT + PVA = Venetian facade plaster. CEMENT + PVA = Venetian facade plaster.