A variety of ceiling plaster techniques hide imperfect drywall.
Ceilings are the fifth wall and are often left undecorated. However, stamping and wall textures add a visual surprise to the area in a subtle or bold way. Left painted white, textures look earthy and organic. Painted metallic or other bold colors, ceilings grab your attention unexpectedly. Besides pattern and color, texture also provides a sound barrier and disguises imperfect drywall installation.
Orange Peel
Orange peel texture is sprayed and and really does appear similar to the outer surface of the citrus fruit. Slightly rough, with small bumps, the texture is one of the lighter surface textures available. It is commonly made from gypsum drywall mud watered down with water. Orange peel will hide some but not all drywall textures. it is applied with a texturizing machine and lightly spraying the plaster on the wall. The more pressure you apply to the trigger of the machine, the larger and heavier the texture will be. A light, even coat is the most professional looking.
Crowe's Feet and Swirls
Crowe's feet and swirls are created by stamping into plaster with a drywall brush. The plaster is applied with a spray, is rolled on or wiped on with a drywall trowel. Once a layer of plaster is on the wall, use the brush to stamp into the surface. You can simply remove the brush or swirl it to create additional texture. Brushes from the drywall section are often used, but don't limit yourself. Use other brushes found in the cleaning and car parts department. Each will make a unique impression on your ceiling.
Skip Trowel
Use a drywall trowel to swipe joint compound onto ceilings and walls. Once the surface has an area covered with drywall, stamp the edge of the drywall trowel into plaster. Take the plaster out and use the edge of the trowel to lightly knock down the high points. A rough texture will appear. Move the plaster around slightly until the area resembles the roughness you prefer.
Plaster
Most artists use plaster such as drywall compound, often known as joint compound or drywall mud. This is a soft, gypsum-based plaster. To harden the plaster, mix a tube of caulk or a 32-oz. bottle of white glue into 5 gallons of plaster. Stir the ingredients together by blending with a hand drill with plaster mixer attachment. For very rough textures, such as skip trowel, around 1 gallon covers 75 square ft. of wall or ceiling surface. Lighter textures require about 1 gal. per 100 to 150 sq. ft.
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