Learning to Plaster Your First Feature Wall

You turn course skills into your first Venetian plaster feature wall by choosing a modest, well prepared wall, testing your colour on a panel first, and working one stage at a time. A feature wall is the right first project because it shows the finish at its best while keeping the risk small.

This guide is for homeowners and decorators who have been on a course, or are about to book one. It follows the project from picking the wall to the final protective layer.

Which wall should you choose first?

Choose a plain, flat wall that people see as they walk into the room, such as the wall behind a bed, a sofa or a dining table. Start with one wall, not a whole room.

Look for these qualities in a first wall.

• A reasonably clear surface, without lots of sockets, switches, pipes or awkward corners.
• A wall of a manageable size, so you can keep working across it without long breaks.
• A wall that is dry and sound, with no damp, flaking or loose areas.
• A room you are not in a hurry to finish, so you can leave time between coats.

Leave ceilings, bathrooms and large open walls for later. Our guide to the Venetian plaster feature wall shows how the finish looks in a room, and the feature walls page has more ideas.

How do you prepare the wall?

Preparation decides how the finish turns out, so give it the most time. Repair, fill, sand and prime the wall so the plaster has a sound, even surface to grip.

1. Check the wall for damp, cracks, loose paint and old wallpaper, and deal with any real problems first.
2. Fill holes and cracks, and sand the repairs smooth.
3. Clean off dust and grease.
4. Mask the edges, sockets and skirting with care.
5. Apply the primer and base coats your chosen system calls for.

The Beginner Course teaches surface preparation and base coats as one of its core parts, so you will have done this on panels first. For the specifics, see the guide to preparing walls for Venetian plaster.

How do you choose the colour and finish?

Pick the finish first, then the colour, and test both on a sample board before you commit. A colour can look different on a screen, in a shop and in the room itself.

Your course gives you a range of finishes to choose from. The following table helps match a finish to a feature wall.

Order a sample board and view it at different times of day. The colour library shows what is available, and testing colour with sample boards explains how to judge a sample properly.

How do you handle the edges and corners?

Edges are where a feature wall looks professional or rushed. Mask carefully, work in a consistent direction, and try to finish a wall in one continuous session so the surface does not show a join.

These habits help.

• Run masking tape in a straight line at the ceiling, the skirting and the adjoining walls, and press it down firmly.
• Take the plaster right up to the tape, working lightly near corners.
• Plan to work across the whole wall without stopping part way through a coat, because stopping can leave a visible line.
• Remove the tape carefully, following the product's advice on timing.

Practice makes edges easy. Use your course panels to rehearse the movements before you pick up a trowel on the real wall, and remember the helpline if something looks unfamiliar.

How do you finish and protect the wall?

Finish with the protective layer your system needs, whether that is wax, sealer or burnishing. This is what turns a good looking wall into a durable one.

The course covers the systems, meaning how many coats each product needs and how to protect the finish. Stay close to what you learned and the manufacturer's instructions. Our guide to waxes for Venetian plaster explains the final layer, and how to maintain Venetian plaster covers life afterwards.

Which course gets you ready?

For a first feature wall, the Beginner Course gives you everything you need, with the finishes Marmorino, polished plaster and metallics all covered.

• Beginner Course, 3 days, £750. No experience needed.
• Advanced Course, 4 days, £1,200. For artificial rock, stencil work and high gloss.
• 1 to 1 Training, 3 days, £1,500. Shaped around the wall or design you have in mind.

If you are a decorator, adding Venetian plaster to a decorating business explains how to sell the first wall. Homeowners should be realistic. If the wall is large, tricky or very important to you, a Zavoré installer can do it, and you can use the course for smaller projects.

Questions about your first Venetian plaster feature wall

Can a beginner plaster a feature wall after a course?

It is sensible to start with a small, simple wall after the Beginner Course. Take your time, practise on panels first, and use the helpline for questions.

Which wall should I choose for a first feature wall?

Choose a flat, dry, sound wall of manageable size with few obstacles, such as the wall behind a bed or sofa.

Do I need to test the colour first?

Yes. Order a sample board and judge the real material in your room at different times of day before you commit.

How do I stop visible joins in the plaster?

Plan to work across the whole wall in one session where you can, and mask the edges cleanly. The course teaches the movements that help the finish blend.

Should I hire an installer instead?

That depends on the size of the wall and how much it matters to you. Zavoré installs Venetian plaster across the UK with its own applicators.

To book, call 07592 929191 or email sales@zavore.co.uk, or see dates on the training page. You can hold a bench with half the price and pay the rest on the day.