Column finishing: doing it right

Columns are architectural features that can improve any space’s aesthetic appeal in addition to serving as structural components. Simple columns can become striking design elements with the correct finish, whether they are found inside or outside the building.

Achieving the perfect finish is crucial. It entails making the appropriate material, technique, and style selections that enhance the overall appearance of your room. Although this process might seem overwhelming, it can be rewarding if you have some guidance.

We’ll look at helpful hints and detailed instructions in this post to help you give your columns a polished appearance. We’ll go over everything you need to know to complete the task correctly, from choosing the appropriate supplies to adding the finishing touches.

Classic types of finishing

All of the components of modern interior design, from the front door to the furniture and curtains, work together harmoniously. An essential component of this design are the columns. Furthermore, people’s fascination with traditional finishing methods does not wane with time.

Stucco molding

Classics in global architecture are gypsum stucco-decorated cylindrical white columns. We are accustomed to this style of décor from school textbooks that feature pictures of classical Greek enfilades.

• Nowadays, gypsum is successfully replaced by polyurethane, which has the same snow-white texture. This modern polymer material, very flexible, allows you to finish structures of any configuration.
• Polyurethane parts are mounted with regular “liquid nails” glue, such finishing can be easily done by yourself. The polyurethane surface can be painted, which allows you to give the columns a shade that matches the color scheme of the interior.

Marble, granite

A luxurious home’s marble columns have long been a symbol of its owner’s wealth. Nothing has changed from the many centuries ago that this was the case. Because this stone is a naturally occurring substance, its benefits keep the price constant. In this regard, granite is only marginally less than marble.

• Monolithic columns made of solid stone are found only in designer projects. They give the interior a solemn look and emphasize its status.
  They decorate gazebos and terraces, stairs, balconies and parapets.
• Columns can be not only solid, but also prefabricated, mounted from several parts, as well as overhead. Elements of marble columns can be superimposed on another, even gypsum, structure.

If you truly want a finish like that but cannot afford it, there are alternative materials that can mimic the texture of any natural stone, including marble. We’ll discuss them in more detail later.

Venetian plaster

The Renaissance saw the invention of this substance. Dust and marble chips make up its major ingredients. This allowed Roman architects of antiquity to replicate the surface of a wide variety of natural stone types. This kind of finish is still in use today.

• It can also be classified as an elite type of interior decor. Its exceptional value is that using Venetian plaster, it is almost impossible to create an absolutely identical design.
  People have long been tired of mass production – they want individuality.
• The essence of this technology is that at least three layers of material are required for finishing. The more of them, the more complex the pattern on the surface will be, formed due to the structural features of the plaster.

The appearance of a three-dimensional pattern present in natural stone is produced by multi-layer plaster. Painting the surface artistically can intensify this effect. It is appropriate to refer to a master of Venetian plaster working techniques as an artist. Under his hands, a myriad of paintings and panels come to life, vivid fantasies of color that not even he will be able to replicate in the future. Watch the video to learn how such works of art are made.

Mosaic

Mosaics can be used to create the same distinctive design. The most common kind of decoration today has its roots in the ancient East. Broken pieces of stone, colored glass, and ceramics are used to create mosaic patterns. You can replicate the intricate patterns found in eastern national traditions by using this technique.

• Mosaic panels were also found in excavations dating back to the ancient era. Today, this type of decoration is extremely popular.
  He can be found in a variety of establishments. Mosaic finishing is also perfect for columns.
  Small mosaic tiles allow you to decorate a column of any configuration.
• The most popular material for mosaic production is Venetian glass. It is highly durable and has a huge range of colors, obtained through various additives: cadmium, boron, mother-of-pearl, aventurine.

A particular section is devoted to tiny mosaics, which are a kind of glass. Small colored glass particles are pressed with potassium salts and certain metal oxides to create stained glass. The end product is glass that is opaque and glows internally. Every mosaic particle also has a distinct play of shades created on it.

Correct column finishing is essential for enhancing a space’s visual appeal and structural integrity. In order for columns to complement the overall design while also blending in seamlessly with the surrounding walls, careful material and technique selection must be made during this process. A polished and long-lasting finish can be achieved with careful planning and execution, regardless of the material being used—plaster, paint, or decorative panels.

A space can be completely changed by adding column finishing, which gives it a more upscale and polished appearance. Whether you’re working with contemporary or classical designs, the architectural beauty of your columns will be emphasized with the appropriate finish.

It’s critical to choose building materials and methods that both ensure durability and blend in with the overall design of your area. Achieving a harmonious outcome requires paying attention to details like proportion and symmetry.

With the correct techniques and high-quality materials, you can make gorgeous columns that improve the appearance of your house and give it a fashionable yet sturdy appearance.

Video on the topic

Our Dacha 2025 (19) Column Facing Part 1

Gypsum column – manufacturing and installation | how it is made | ENG sub

What material is best to make a column from | Building design

How to properly mount a steel column | Concrete pouring under the base of the column

Marble column made of decorative plaster TM ImagineDecor