Recently, instead of the usual wallpaper, decorative plaster is increasingly found in the kitchen. But this beautiful, spectacular and durable apparel for walls will cost much more than the familiar paper, vinyl or non-woven fabrics. And not everyone can cope with self-application of plaster. But before repairing, it is worth knowing about some of the features of the coating.
Features:
There are many ways to decorate walls with decorative plaster. Variety is ensured by a rich color range and numerous types of filler, the size and shape of which allows you to create a unique design. In addition to stone chips, the composition traditionally contains fibers from cellulose or nylon, granules from synthetic materials, acrylic resins. All components affect the appearance of the finished coating. It also depends on the technique of applying the composition.
You can apply the solution in circles, use large strokes, move in a horizontal or vertical direction. The relief is created on the base layer using special ironers, applicators, sponges. The same solution can be used to decorate kitchen walls in absolutely different ways by creating different textures. Decorating with decorative plaster is perfect for kitchens.
Advantages and disadvantages
The material has a large number of advantages:
- the ability to apply to any type of base: concrete, brick, wood;
- the absence of seams, providing an excellent view of the coating, moreover, neither dirt nor grease is stuffed into the cracks;
- waterproofing and soundproofing properties;
- excellent ability to retain heat;
- the possibility of wet cleaning;
- environmental friendliness of the product;
- fire resistance;
- antiseptic;
- the ability to hide any defects in the wall, for example, curvature.
Having decided to plaster the walls, you need to consider the following nuance. If the apartment is new, then it is better to create a relief using wallpaper. Shrinkage, natural for the first years of life at home, can cause cracking of the decorative plaster, which will then have to be restored.
When deciding in favor of finishing the walls with modern and fashionable plaster, it is necessary to provide for its dismantling in case of interior renovation. For cutting, you need a grinder or a perforator. Another way is to paint the walls a different color. The textured surface can be sanded, then wallpaper can be glued.
In addition to the complexity of dismantling, the disadvantages of the material include the difficulty of applying it to the walls in the event that a person does not have the appropriate experience. There is a risk of spoiling the coating, and the mixture will have to be bought again. The cost of decorative plaster is also its disadvantage, although this issue is very controversial. It is worth considering its long service life, during which you will not need to spend money on cosmetic repairs.
Designers advise against completely covering the kitchen walls with decorative plaster. If you apply it, for example, only to the dining area, it will become the main accent of the room. The presence of other finishing materials will favorably emphasize its beauty and uniqueness.
Kinds
Having conceived to make repairs in the kitchen, it is worth taking a closer look at the variety of wall decoration options using decorative plaster.
Buyers are offered a choice of 4 types, differing in the type of base:
- acrylic;
- silicone;
- silicate;
- mineral.
The acrylic resin in acrylic plaster allows it to be applied to any substrate, even without a primer. It is sold ready-made in plastic containers. The peculiarity of acrylic decor is that it attracts dust and can burn out when exposed to direct sunlight.
But the masters advise acrylic plaster for the kitchen. Given the difficult conditions in which finishing materials are forced to exist in this area, it is worth considering buying an acrylic coating.
It is easy to give it any shade, it does not require a long time to dry, it is not afraid of moisture. A washable surface is ideal for kitchen walls, as this room needs to be damp cleaned more often than any other. It is the most practical, because it is easy to wash off fat from it, it does not absorb persistent odors that inevitably arise during cooking.
The basis of mineral mixtures is cement, to which special substances are added , necessary to give plasticity and relief. Dry mixes are packaged in paper bags. Before starting work, add water to the powder in the proportion indicated on the package and mix thoroughly. This type of coverage can be attributed to the budget.
Silicone plaster is made using synthetic resin, due to which the finished mortar becomes very plastic. Buyers purchase a ready-to-use mixture. The silicone finish is very durable, it is not afraid of ultraviolet light, steam, temperature extremes. The specific smell of the mortar is very unstable, when the walls dry, it will no longer be noticeable.
Silicate plaster is made on the basis of liquid glass, which ensures its wear resistance. The universal composition is suitable for interior decoration of any premises.
Various designs and application techniques allow you to choose wall decoration options that are optimal for the kitchen:
- Stone-like plaster is suitable for kitchens of different styles: from classic to modern. Very fine chips of several types of stones are added to Venetian plaster: marble, quartz, granite, jasper. Due to this, characteristic play of shades is obtained, veins, as in real stones, light that seems to be pouring from the inside. The surface of Venetian plaster can be perfectly smooth, silky to the touch, you can make it embossed.
The walls for the "Venetian" must be perfectly flat. It is applied gradually. Each layer needs time to dry (about 12 hours). The number of layers depends on the desired effect, sometimes there are no less than 10. The last layer hardens within a quarter of an hour, then it is sanded and left for a week to dry completely. Waxing and polishing with suede is required for the walls to shine.
- Plaster imitating old walls. Kitchens in the style of Provence, shabby chic, country, loft and even classics are ideally suited to the options "bark beetle" and "craquelure".
In the first case, characteristic grooves are formed due to the addition of marble or granite chips to the mixture. When the ready-made mixture is spread on the wall, it leaves traces that resemble the moves that the bark beetle makes in the tree. You can make grooves of any depth.
- Craquelure looks like plaster covered with many small cracks. For structural plaster, you should not carefully level the walls; it can hide even significant errors and defects. The waterproof layer can be washed safely even with cleaning agents.
Structural finishes can be painted in any color by gradually adding pigment to the mixture and mixing it thoroughly. The relief depends on the number of layers. Most often there are no more than three of them, the thickest of them is the base, the thinnest is the top layer.
- Owners of high-tech kitchens, minimalism, techno often choose plaster that looks like concrete . The dark gray and light gray colors are diluted in places with white and black strokes, sometimes rust spots are drawn. The surface can be made smooth or rough, matte or slightly shiny. Tinted art concrete looks unusual. In appearance, it is very similar to concrete, painted with bright colors.
- Sgraffito. There is an interesting way to apply decorative plaster. On an already finished layer, a certain pattern is scratched using a stencil, or a new layer is applied over the stencil. And in fact, and in another case, a relief pattern appears. If desired, it can be made multi-colored.
Colors
The color palette of decorative plaster really boggles the imagination: customers are offered at least 2000 different shades. If you are not satisfied with the choice from the catalog, you can bring to the store a sample of those interior details with which the wall covering should be combined and entrust the selection of colors to specialists.
The base is sold in the form of a dry mix, to which the color chosen by the buyer is added. Before starting work, it will be necessary to prepare a solution of the appropriate consistency. The topcoat is often in the form of a paste.
Plaster shades are often chosen based on the color of the furniture or flooring. When choosing a color, it is important to remember that after drying, the walls will look a couple of tones lighter.
Decorative plaster is also used for ceiling decoration. In this case, a simple rule applies to the color scheme: you cannot use dark tones, as they visually reduce the space. Light colors, on the contrary, increase the volume, fill the room with light, and make it more comfortable. This does not mean that dark colors are not used in decoration, they are good as an accent, they are actively used for zoning.
Design
Decorative plaster can be applied to almost any room, from the living room to the kitchen.
The following design tips are relevant:
- On a large area, embossed plaster looks better, and for a small kitchen a smooth surface is more suitable.
- The apron covered with plaster will be perfectly protected by a special panel made of tempered glass.
- A beautiful texture cannot be obtained on poorly prepared walls, so it is worth spending time and money to perfectly align them.
- When preparing walls, it is better to use a deep penetration primer. In this case, less expensive finishing will be needed. In addition, it is able to prevent the appearance of mold due to the presence of antiseptics in its composition. When choosing a primer, you need to be extremely careful, since not all types of it are equally good for different types of work. A mistake can be costly, sometimes even having to start over again.
- It should be noted that the work of the masters applying decorative plaster is quite expensive. Traditionally, its cost is equal to the price of the material. It increases in proportion to the complexity of the finishing technique.
- To get deep relief, you will have to buy more dry mix. It is worth starting from the average consumption rate - 3 kg per 1 sq. m.
- One person cannot cope with applying fashionable decor, since the solution hardens rather quickly. A competent distribution of responsibilities will allow you to achieve the best result. While one person applies the composition to the wall, the second one behind him creates a relief pattern.
- The material on the wall will dry out only after half a month, during this period it is important not to touch the walls in order to avoid damage.
- Lines of special waxes and varnishes designed to protect against cracks and moisture penetration will help to extend the life of the plaster. With their help, beautiful and unusual optical effects are created.
Reviews
Buyers unanimously note the practicality of decorative plaster, the originality of the coating, and the ease of maintenance. For many, the environmental friendliness of the product is important.
Of course, users are not happy with the high price and the complexity of applying some types of plaster , because of which they have to pay very dearly for the work of professionals. But the unique design and long life of the material will certainly justify the investment.
Beautiful examples in the interior
The sgraffito technique allows you to apply a relief drawing of any scale. At the request of the customer, floral ornaments, landscapes or even a whole map of the world can appear on the walls.
Textured plaster resembles water, on which waves rise, then ripples are formed, then some kind of breakers and whirlpools appear.
With the help of special textured rollers on the plaster, it is easy to depict any pattern that will become a real decoration of the room.
You can clearly see the whole process of decorating walls with plaster in the video below.