Decorative Plasterwork, Plaster Mouldings, Cornice and Ceiling Roses

Decorative plasterwork is the ornamental side of plastering: cornices, coving, ceiling roses, panel mouldings, corbels and ceiling decoration. It gives British rooms much of their character, from Georgian townhouses to Victorian terraces. This guide explains the main types of ornamental plaster, how they are made, and how to choose, fit and restore them.

Types of plaster mouldings

• Cornice and coving. Runs where the wall meets the ceiling. See Victorian, Georgian and Edwardian coving.
• Ceiling roses. Centrepieces around a light fitting. See how to choose a ceiling rose.
• Panel mouldings, dado and picture rails. Add structure to walls. See wall panelling ideas and picture and dado rails.
• Corbels and brackets. Supporting or decorative pieces under shelves and arches. See plaster corbels.
• Ceiling decoration. Enriched ceilings with borders, panels and ornament.

How decorative plaster mouldings are made

Fibrous plaster is the main method for ornamental pieces. Fine plaster is cast in a mould and reinforced with hessian scrim and timber laths, which makes it lighter and stronger than solid plaster. Most ready made cornices and ceiling roses are fibrous plaster.

Run in situ mouldings are formed on the wall by pulling a profiled template through wet plaster. This is how long cornice runs were traditionally made, and how damaged runs are matched today.

New moulds can be made to copy an existing profile or a new design. See CNC moulds and mouldings.

Choosing the right moulding

1. Match the period of the house.
2. Scale the size to the ceiling height. Tall rooms take deeper cornices.
3. Keep one style through connected rooms.
4. Decide whether it will be painted, left white or gilded.

Fitting and restoring

Fibrous cornice and roses are fixed with adhesive and mechanical fixings, then the joints are filled. Read how to fit plaster coving and how to paint coving. Damaged period plasterwork can often be repaired or matched rather than replaced.

Buy or have it fitted

See our cornice, coving and mouldings service and installation.

Questions

What is fibrous plaster?

Plaster cast in a mould and reinforced with hessian and timber, used for cornices, ceiling roses and ornamental pieces.

Can you match an existing cornice?

Often yes, by taking the profile and running or casting a match. Send photos and a measured profile.

Can I fit plaster mouldings myself?

Smaller pieces such as ceiling roses and short coving runs are manageable for a confident DIYer. Large or heavy cornice is safer fitted by a specialist.