Why Venetian Plaster Is a Good Choice For Your Bathroom

Venetian plaster has wonderful qualities of durability, aesthetic charm and a timeless quality that ensures it is one of those styles that never really goes out of fashion. But can you use it in every room of the home, including the bathroom?

There is no doubt that it suits rooms like a hallway, a living room or a bedroom, providing charm and glamour. But the nature of those rooms is to be warm and dry, providing sanctuary from the cold and wet outdoors for much of the year, while still reflecting light and giving a sense of spaciousness and quality at any time.

Bathrooms are certainly in a different category in terms of usage. It is not a place one lingers much (unless luxuriating in a long, hot bath) and functionality is essential, not least in its capacity to deal not only with there being a lot of water flowing into a sink, bath, toilet, or shower, but also high levels of humidity.

Here is where the question is raised: does Venetian plaster suit a bathroom? The answer is an emphatic yes.

There are several reasons for this. First and foremost, it handles the humid atmosphere very well, as it is fully moisture resistant. You can also bolster this by adding a water sealant in wetter areas to protect against water damage.

A second vital quality is one you can enjoy in any part of the house: the robustness of Venetian plaster. Because it is hard to damage, it is useful anywhere in the home, when anything from over-excited children to the moving of furniture could damage a weak wall, but not so Venetian plaster.

This quality is needed in a high-traffic room like a bathroom, not least because while you don’t want to have to redecorate and repair any walls in the house, the last place you will want to do this is in the bathroom, as it needs to be available for use all the time.

A bonus element of this robustness is that it tallies with the water-resistance. Nobody wants a wall surface that chips and cracks easily for aesthetic reasons, but in a wet room this becomes even more important because of where that water might go if it gets in the cracks, causing it to seep deeper into the walls and cause damp and mould.

The one caveat when it comes to the water resistance of Venetian plaster is when it comes to using it in a shower, as these are the walls where waterproofing is the most important.

It is true to say there are more waterproof forms of plaster than Venetian, such as Tadelakt, so it is not the very best option for this specific location. However, you can treat it with a waterproof layer, in which case it will be fine to use.  

Overall, therefore, there is no reason at all not to use Venetian plaster in your bathroom. It adds style, lasts for years, withstands lots of water and, if used in very water-intensive locations like a shower, an extra coating can make it as waterproof as any other plaster. Start planning today and make your bathroom both beautiful and practical.

Showroom
Sky House Design Centre
Raans Road
Amersham
HP6 6FT