Clay Plaster and Paint in Modern Houses?

We often think of clay plaster as something only to be used on a mud hut on a remote mountain. I find that people are afraid of using it in a modern context, and most definitely look alarmed halfway through the application process:) But clay is very versatile. Depending on how you finish it, it can look rustic or smooth, boho or contemporary, farmhouse or Bauhaus.
This spring I was tested a little, as I had a flat in a town to redecorate. But I still managed to do it using clay paints and plasters, and I’m thrilled with the result. Render, sculpture, and clay paint— it’s all here.

Brushed clay render.

I really enjoyed turning what was a clumsy jutting separation wall into a feature. Even the internet engineer felt compelled to stroke it! “Are those bits of real straw?” he asked. “Wow, so cool!” And, you guessed it, this feature cost almost nothing to make. The only thing I bought was a bag of sand. The key to getting clay plaster to work in modern homes is a decent finishing trowel, and some equally decent trowelling skills.

Sponging brings the straw out.

Using both a Japanese trowel and a sponge is the key to creating a tight, sleek finish that even suits an apartment. If you’re coming to my special clay plaster course in Romania this summer, you’ll learn how to use both to create the look you want.

Japanese trowels.

But it doesn’t end there. Clay plaster sculptures can look absolutely stunning on mainstream walls. I’m just loving the way my mud birds sit (or fly) on this surface. The contrast in texture between the smooth clay paint and the earthen sculpture really gives the wall a stylish look. Who would’ve imagined some mud and horse manure could work in this context?

Clay plaster sculpture and clay paint background.

Did I say clay paint? Now, normally I mix my own clay paint from the clays around me (the bird sculptures have been coated in a homemade clay paint), but I also wanted to try some ready-made clay paint from a sustainable eco company I’ve happily used for pigments. I’m pretty sceptical about bought so-called eco products, as I mostly find it’s a bunch of greenwashed crap. But Earthborne do a good job of keeping the chemicals out of their clay paint while also creating a paint that you can slap on the wall easily and smoothly. The finish is gorgeous with a smooth, rich texture that contrasts perfectly with the clay plaster sculptures. It felt like applying double cream.

Pigments.

Did I mention pigments? I’m a picky devil when it comes to colour, and I couldn’t find the exact colours I wanted on the colour chart. So guess what? I bought some Earthborne pigments (which are excellent and surprisingly inexpensive) and mixed them into a white clay paint. I just loved the results.

Sky blue.

More Earth Tone Decor for Modern Houses

I was recently named an expert in RentBlog, and gave my own ideas for bringing natural materials into a modern home. There are some great tips from a variety of interior designers in this post, so take a look.

I am able to offer genuine recommendations for products thanks to the support of everyone chipping in to run The Mud Home on Patreon. All suggestions are from the heart.

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Related links:

• Live Clay Plaster Workshop in Romania this summer
• The Mud Home online fully downloadable Perfect Earth Plaster Course
• Celtic Sustainables