Steps:1. Rip sections off a large bale of hay and place in a large tub for mixing (figure A).
2. Add ready-mixed joint compound to the large tub. The compound will help the straw adhere to the walls.
3. Add some of your selected paint, just enough to tint the compound and the straw (a frosted lemon-yellow color was used for this sunroom).
4. Wearing gloves, mix the straw, compound and paint all together (figure B). Make sure to separate any clumps to ensure that all of the straw is completely coated with the tinted compound.
5. To apply the straw to the wall, simply take a handful and stick it onto the wall (figure C). How thinly or thickly the straw is applied is your preference.
6. Allow at least three days for the straw to dry.
Finishing the WallsSteps:
1. Once the straw is completely dry, take any long, hard, smooth object, such as the back of a push broom (figure D), to "rake" the straw (figure E). This will rip off any small pieces that are hanging off; any stubborn pieces that don't fall off while being raked can be pulled off by hand or cut off with a small pair of scissors. This step is very important, as it helps to smooth the wall and make it easier to paint
2. Prime the wall with a primer and a roller, using a paintbrush to get into the hard-to-reach areas (figure F). (Priming first is very important, as straw is very porous and will absorb the paint quickly. By priming, you cut down the number of coats of paint you will need to apply.)
Tip: Have the primer tinted the same color as the paint. Your paint store can do this for you.
3. Finally, paint the straw, using the same roller-and-brush technique.
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