The Secret To This Beautiful, Budget-Friendly Wall Plaster Comes From The Bathroom

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A plaster wall adds a textural accent and rustic aesthetic to any room, but it can be a pricey change. A few ways to get the look include wallpaper, textured Venetian-style paint, limewash, and drywall compound. This could run you anywhere from $60 to $300 per wall, depending on your choice of medium. One way to beat the price tag is to make it yourself. Create an all-natural mortar for your wall design using clay, water, sand, and a bathroom staple — toilet paper.

The ingredients are blended, and once the texture is just right, it's applied with a trowel, scraped level, smoothed with a damp sponge, and left to dry. The finished look is something straight out of a Mediterranean architectural magazine. If you're looking to leave wallpaper in the past and try a sleek alternative for a stunning accent wall, this budget-friendly DIY could be right up your alley. 

Before getting started, you'll need to gather some supplies. This recipe calls for 1 cup of clay, 1 cup of lime sand, 1 cup of water, about 10 sheets of toilet paper, and 1 to 2 grams of deflocculant like Darvan 7 from The Ceramic Shop to keep the plaster workable. You can make this recipe using any other p sand (plastering sand with a particle size of less than 2.36 millimeters) or clay you prefer, like Lincoln fire or ball clay. The materials are then mixed into a thick paste using an electric mixer. You'll also need a hawk and trowel, like the Lasnten Drywall Finishing Tool Kit, and a sponge to achieve this plaster wall art. With everything assembled, it's time to apply.

Before scraping the product on with the trowel, prep the wall with either glue (for drywall or wood surfaces) or water (for unsealed masonry, concrete, or clay surfaces). Apply the mixture at an angle in two or more thin coats, allowing each to fully dry before the next goes on. After the last coat has dried, smooth it out with a damp sponge and revel in the budget-friendly masterpiece you created with your own two hands. Now comes the fun part — customization. 

One of the major reasons to choose plaster over other mediums is the rustic look it offers. Oil paint is a great way to add personality without modifying the finish. As these materials tend to be more prone to water damage, it's smart to prep them with an oil-based primer. After this, the sky is the limit for color and style. Mix warm tones and roll them together in a crisscross method for a Terracotta design, or give your trowel a second purpose by scraping on a gold metallic paint over a dark base. You can even mix a little glitter into your chosen color to give the accent wall some extra razzle dazzle.

While there are plenty of savvy ways to make a plaster wall effect in your home, this budget-friendly recipe offers a chance for the real thing. Customize further with art, hanging plants, or a shelf of featured knick-knacks. Give this method a try if you're looking for a way to embrace texture and add a Mediterranean vibe to your home without breaking the bank.