Decorative Plasters in 8 Modern Editions

Modern decorative plasters are increasingly sought after by investors. Standard architectural concrete has become boring for Poles. More and more people hire interior decorators because they want to finish walls in a modern way. In this article, I will present 8 decorative plasters that have evolved over the years to earn the title of modern decorative plasters.

I will focus on interior plasters. Exterior plasters will be described in a separate article.

1. Structural Plaster for Interiors

Structural plaster is a broad term for decorative plasters. It mainly refers to creating a rough texture on the wall. It can be applied manually or using a Venetian trowel and a texture roller to achieve interesting textures and patterns.

Its advantage is the variety of textures that can be achieved, such as the imitation of stone, wood, or brush stroke effects.

The most popular structural plaster is, of course, concrete, but I will skip it here as I have given it a separate point in my article. Next on the list of popular structural plasters is imitation plaster.

As stated by building stores specializing in interior decorations, the most commonly sold was the black Creativo plaster in the "Black Hole" version. It is a black decorative structural plaster that contains shimmering 5mm flakes. Interior decorators most frequently used it in bathroom projects.

2. Venetian Plaster with Marble Veins Effect

For a long time, Venetian plaster was associated with wall linoleum, a material used in the 1970s for hospital floors in government institutions. Today, Venetian plaster is back in an elegant version. This is all thanks to the fashion for marble tiles installed on bathroom walls. The limitations brought by ceramics are now overcome thanks to Venetian plaster.

Let me explain what barriers I am referring to...

Ceramic tiles with a marble texture are limited in size. The maximum width of a tile is 160 cm, which means that every 160 cm, you will have a repeat pattern that does not blend into a beautiful, aesthetic whole. The original ceramic slab has a completely chaotic vein pattern, which is part of its charm.

This problem is solved by a good craftsman and Venetian plaster with a marble veins effect. With this decorative plaster, we can create the effect of a single large marble slab, and the veins will perfectly blend even over a length of 40 running meters.

In conclusion, Venetian plaster does not only mean a marble effect. A well-trained craftsman can mix materials on the wall, including Venetian plaster and structural plasters, to create beautiful effects such as onyx or opal. The entire finish can be polished to a high gloss, creating a so-called "mirror effect."

I encourage you to browse our product offerings because each product will have a video showing example realizations, such as this white marble effect with glossy veins.

3. Architectural Concrete

Architectural concrete is a very fashionable solution. Until the end of 2024, it was considered a must-have in every modern home or apartment. After sales reports for concrete plasters, it is evident that the standard concrete look has lost popularity. It is still sold thanks to interior decorators, who skillfully mix it with gold or silver stripes, LED lighting strips, and even rust, patina, peeling paint, rock effect, or realistic gold veins.

It is a high-level interior decoration technique, suitable only for professionals after workshops, and those not constrained by traditional building habits. As there are few specialists capable of working with modern decorative plasters, we are happy to collaborate with skilled professionals and promote their work in product comments they leave.

In 2024, microcement also became popular and remains so. It can be colored in any shade and is highly resistant to wear and tear from daily use, making it suitable for walls, floors, and even shower areas.

4. Rust Effect (Metallic Plaster)

Decorative plasters with a rust effect are a modern way to create an industrial style with a touch of avant-garde. The rust effect imitates the natural oxidation of metal. Such finishes are ideal for lofts and industrial-style interiors.

Rust is not new, as it has been available on the Polish market for five years. However, like other products, it evolves. Today, instead of calling it "rust effect," it should be called "corrosion effect." This is because there are plasters that perfectly imitate the corrosion of copper (turquoise color), aluminum (silver finish with a white patina), patinated wood, and rusted wood. How many of these effects have you seen?

I personally knew about copper corrosion, but I learned about the others from interior decoration store staff. Their knowledge comes from training and workshops conducted by leading manufacturers located in Italy.

5. Travertine Plaster

Travertine plaster imitates natural travertine stone, characterized by its irregular texture and distinctive pits. It is easy to apply even for a novice. It comes in a natural dry version in beige color or a ready-to-use version based on resins. The natural version requires varnishing, which can also be used to tint the pits to make them more pronounced.

In its modern version, travertine is combined with metallic pigments in any color, primarily silver and gold. Decorators often use it in the rock effect, where gold veins are present, which are made using polymer plasters, often called glitter plasters due to the effect they create on a smooth wall.

6. Pearl and Metallic Plaster

Pearl and metallic plasters give surfaces a subtle shine, adding an exclusive look to interiors. They can be used on entire walls or as accent elements to highlight specific areas in a room. Metallic plaster can come in various colors, such as silver, gold, copper, or bronze, making it easy to match with the interior style.

The latest versions of pearl and metallic plasters are not limited to the six basic colors and allow blending to create very intense shades. In 2023, a leading news portal attempted to classify them as synthetic stucco, but this incorrect term did not catch on.

These plasters rarely appear alone; they are usually combined with architectural concrete in the form of stripes or to discolor rock effects. I learned that they are one of the most creative materials that adhere to almost any load-bearing surface, including glass, tiles, furniture, and plastic.

7. Raw Plaster Effect - Rock Effect

The rock effect is gaining popularity day by day. More and more videos of professional work are appearing on social media. Of course, to create the rock effect, plaster alone is not enough. You need polystyrene, preferably XPS or very hard EPS, at least EPS 150, fiberglass mesh, and universal adhesive with resins as the first layer.

The final finish of such a rock effect can vary greatly. I recommend seeking inspiration from professionals in Italy, preferably on Instagram.

8. Mosaic Plaster in a New Version

Mosaic plaster might seem outdated, and I agree with you. So why include it here?

Mosaic plaster has been undergoing a transformation for the past six years, slowly gaining traction in the form of quartz plaster, which perfectly imitates granite or sandstone. This is another version of the basic material used for finishing house foundations and stairwells in apartment blocks.

It is also a core material for fashionable quartz panels that are used on facades and interiors. If you use tools like stencil stickers, you can easily create a brick or slate effect.

A Few Words in Conclusion

I will try to include a link for each proposal. Some require assembling sets, which may be quite challenging since different products in the set, such as those for the rock effect, have varying yields, making it impossible to put together a 10 m2 set that uses all components fully. It's a small issue, but many people are annoyed by wasted materials. On the other hand, it's quite common for us Poles; after all, we have optimization in our blood.