Painting Ceiling Roses and Medallions

Why go the trouble of painting them in in fine detail ?

Some home owners paint their plaster ceiling decorations in the same colour as the main ceiling.  This seems such a pity when a painted accessory can highlight the other furnishings in the room.  The colours of carpets, lounge suites and other furniture should be reflected in the colours of the ceiling rose.  By doing this the ceiling rose becomes a work of art in itself.  A bland white ceiling rose on a bland white ceiling is not only boring but it is an opportunity wasted.

How to paint a plaster rose

Firstly, before you even buy your rose or medallion check it out for physical blemishes.  Whilst in the hardware shop look all around the edges of the rose for parts which have broken off.  Plaster is a very soft material and chunks will break off easily if the roses are not handled carefully.  Similarly look out for defects in the face of the rose.  Reject each rose until you find one that is undamaged.  Some areas of the ceiling rose may need very fine sanding to make them smooth.  Do this job very lightly as it is easy to sand back too far and create a further problem.  After the rose is sanded take it outdoors and dust it off well.  Alternatively use an old vacuum cleaner to remove the fine plaster dust.  Wipe the rose over with a damp cloth to pick up any remaining plaster dust.  Allow to dry for half an hour.

Paint the rose with a good quality sealer.  Sealer is generally a creamy white color so it can be helpful to ask the hardware shop to add a very tiny amount of tint to the sealer so that you can see which parts of the rose are sealed and which are not.  Use a brush with a width of about one inch for this job.  Choose the best quality brushes you can afford so that you are not continually picking off hairs from your beautiful paint job.  Be careful not to get puddles of sealer in the recesses of the pattern.  This is hard to remove when it finally dries.  Check for the appropriate drying time on the can of sealer.  If it is an oil based sealer then generally you will need to wait at least 16 hours for it to dry.  Water based sealers take less time to dry.  If the weather is cold and/or damp then the drying time will increase.

Water-based or acrylic paints are generally used on plaster ceiling ornamentation.  Flat paints may be used on the ceiling itself but  paints with a slight sheen to them are recommended for ceiling roses.  They are then easier to wipe over if dust or fly specks accumulate over the years.  Don't use a gloss paint.  Satin finish is sufficiently shiny.

Paint the background color of the rose with a brush the same size as the one used for the sealer. A second coat will be needed.  Acrylic paints dry very quickly.  Follow the instructions on the can when re-coating. 

Buy the smallest pots of paint available for the various colours you wish to use on the rose.  Paint does not keep well so it is false economy to buy large tins.  Remember that paint dries to a darker colour than it appears when wet. When painting the fine details you will need much smaller brushes.  Use artist brushes, sizes 6 and 4 to start with and progress from there.  Always try to be consistent in the way you paint.  For example, always paint your leaves with brush strokes  in one direction only.  Have a small pot of water at hand and also a box of cheap cotton buds.  Any paint excesses or errors can be smartly wiped away with a cotton bud which has been moistened with the water.  All the colours used to decorate the rose will need to be applied twice to give sufficient depth of colour.  If dark colours are used then a third coat may be required.  Gold paint can be used in small amounts to give highlights to ceiling roses.  It is amazing how a touch of gold can add an element of grandeur to a rose.  Gold paint is often oil based so will need to be cleaned up with turpentine.  Additionally gold paint needs to be stirred frequently whilst being used.  Use only a small amount of gold paint on your brush as it has a tendency to be quite runny and will be troublesome to remove if used in excess.

You now should have a delightful addition to your decor with an interior design project that cost very little in comparison to the effect it will create in your room.