Rethinking Plaster: How to Incorporate the Textured Material at Home
From side tables to mirrors, try these textured pieces to add depth at home.
Perigold
Plaster is one of the oldest building materials. Beginning around 7500 B.C., this ancient architectural compound was used to patch walls and construct massive buildings all over the world. Now designers like Kathy Kuo and HGTV’s Leanne Ford are utilizing plaster in a new way to create sculptural pieces, tables, lighting, and more. Retailers are also in on the trend.
Meant to look similar to cement or stone, plaster gained popularity due to its malleability. We typically use it to protect our walls and ceilings; we build on it to create layered designs like crown moldings. But if you’re looking to add a chic stone look to your home, consider bringing in plaster in unexpected ways.
Home decor designers are constructing items made of plaster or fiber concrete, a more lightweight material that resembles plaster while being more durable. Plaster mixes for walls have a lighter, smoother consistency than plaster used for sculpture, allowing thicker mixes to create heavy-set, textured pieces.
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Ford released a collaborative line with Crate and Barrel lats year that included two plaster side tables with rounded, soft features contrasted by the signature coarse look that plaster produces. Kuo’s home design company Kathy Kuo Home focuses on decorative plaster pieces such as vases and sculptural heads.
To incorporate plaster in your home, experiment with consistency and the type of finish that matches your decor. If you’re feeling extra productive, try a DIY and add plaster to pieces you already own.
Check out some of our favorite plaster pieces to spruce up your home. Whether your decor is modern, Scandinavian, or rustic, plaster decor can fit almost any style.
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Willy Pedestal Side Table
Leanne Ford’s concrete-plaster table is the ideal piece that showcases how to have a plaster look without the added density.
Plaster Arch
Arches and rounded pieces consistently make a comeback in home decor, so add this plaster arch to either a retro or modern room. West Elm also offers the arches in terracotta, yellow, and gray colors.
Bisque Side Table
The CB2 Bisque Plaster Table by Studio Anansi adds a rough but refined look to any room. With a hint of ivory color, this side table has a stony, plaster look that can be balanced by smooth, dark pieces to create contrast. Made from a mix of cement, sand, and fiberglass mesh, the table resembles plaster and is more durable.
Handcrafted Table Vase
Our favorite plaster piece from Perigold is this textured vase that fits both antique and modern decor. Be sure to only put in dried flowers, as plaster is not water resistant and could deteriorate with extensive water exposure.
