You can also treat our samples simply as starting points, using more or fewer and brighter or darker colors than we show. Whatever you do, don’t let all those choices overwhelm and discourage you. This is one of those rare projects that are easier to do well than
badly—have fun!
Rough Plaster
A seamless finishes texture with a rough plaster surface. The image represents a physical area of 2000 x 1635 mm (78.7 x 64.4 inches) in total.
Dating back to at least 7500BC to Indian temples, Egyptian tombs and extensive use in Roman architecture, plaster is a protective coating applied to walls and ceilings to protect the surfaces from damage, add a decorative coating to a feature wall, or provide a smooth finish to an otherwise rough structure such as concrete blockwork, stock bricks or timber sheeting. Cement plaster is a relatively modern material and is renowned for its fast setting, hard and durable characteristics. A cool, neutral blue-grey finish for walls and ceilings, this cement plaster can be used to cost effectively simulate the appearance of thick concrete walls; smooth over rough textured walls such as blockwork and stock brick; or to create cool, calm, open atmospheres, while providing a neutral backdrop to man-made and synthetic materials, colours and textures. The mottled, slightly riven, generally smooth textured finish is achieved by applying the plaster on the chosen surface with a trowel, before smoothing and texturing with a sponge, giving a smooth, swirling, cloud like finish. The cement based nature allows it to be utilised internally as a decorative finish, or in some external cases as a durable, weather resistant protective coating for masonry and panelling in exposed, rough climatic conditions. While render and plaster coatings are both usually similar in terms of constituent ingredients and properties, render is the term given when it it is applied externally, while plaster normally denotes indoor use. Plaster is a mixture of plaster powder, sand and Portland cement with water, which in this case is a deep, rich, blue tinted grey tone although can be pigmented before application with paints, dyes or the use of different aggregates, or painted after installation to the desired colour, while it can be treated differently to achieve a coarse, utilitarian appearance; a smooth, uniform finish; or a more decorative, textured coating to highlight or mimic concrete or natural stone. Due this plaster being aggregate based however, the entire wall or element to which it is applied must be coated in one go to avoid differences in tone, thickness and consistency. Cement based plasters are also more prone to scrapes, scratches and light damage, often necessitating a complete re-plastering of the area to blend out blemishes.
This image is seamless, meaning it can be tiled repeatedly for use in architectural drawings and 3D models. It can be used as a SketchUp texture, Revit material or imported into Photoshop for use in 2D illustrations. You can download a high resolution version of this texture and a matching bump map or CAD hatch (compatible with AutoCAD and Revit) using Architextures Create with a Pro Subscription.
Architextures (ARTX), is a library of high quality seamless textures for use in architectural drawings and 3D models. All textures on the site are procedural meaning the dimensions, patterns, colours and more can be edited using Architextures Create, our custom-built web app for creating seamless textures. All textures can be downloaded free of charge for educational and personal use. Textures can be used in commercial work by users with a Pro subscription subject to the Terms of Use. By using the Architextures website you agree to the comply with these Terms of Use. Architextures uses cookies for core functions and analytics. By using the website you agree to the use these cookies. Further details about how we use cookies can be found here.
Introduction
Sponge painting is a quick, simple way to make dull interior walls dramatic. With just a sponge, a can of glaze and a few paint colors you can transform your house.
- Paint roller
- Paint tray
- Paintbrush
- Rags
- Stepladder
Materials Required
- Extender
- Latex glaze
- Latex paints for sponge accents
- Low gloss paint for base
- Painter’s tape
Of all the techniques for creating special effects with paint, none is easier or yields more attractive results than sponge painting. You don’t need a precise hand, expensive tools or exotic potions. You don’t even have to put up with smelly, messy, oil-based paint. And, unlike other painting techniques, sponge painting is forgiving. If one part of your wall turns out too light, for example, you don’t have to start over—you can just go back and dab on some darker paint.
The process we show is about as complex as sponge painting gets. We used five colors in addition to the base coat and at one point scoured the walls to create a distressed look. But depending on the effect you want, you can use fewer colors, and do little or no scouring. You may even decide to sponge on just one color.
Generally, using only one or two colors results in a bold, heavily contrasted finish, and using more colors creates a subtle, cloudy effect.
Sponge painting isn’t any faster than other special techniques. You still have to protect trim with masking tape, roll on a base color and add other colors. The time the project takes will depend on how many sponge-on colors you use, but expect to spend at least one full weekend on a medium-sized living room or bedroom. Latex paint dries fast, so even in a small room you probably won’t have to wait long for one coat to dry before starting the next.
What You’ll Need
You can pick up everything you’ll need for this project at paint stores and most home centers.
- You’ll get the best results with a natural sea sponge. Natural sponges are more expensive than standard sponges, but they leave a more varied, random pattern than manufactured sponges. Latex paint washes easily out of natural sponges, so you need only one sponge.
- Latex glaze thins latex paint and gives it a translucent look. Oil-based glazes are also available, but we don’t recommend them for this project.
- We used a glaze extender, a liquid additive that thins the glaze/paint mix slightly and slows drying.
- You’ll also need a paint tray, a large plastic measuring cup, masking tape and if you want to rub the paint, a few scouring pads.
