How to Choose a Decorative Wall Finish for Your Space
A practical way to choose between Microcement, Venetian Plaster/Marmorino and Limewash Paint, based on how the room is used, the walls you have and your budget.
Start with how the room is used, then look at the walls you already have, then decide how you want the room to feel. For wet areas and floors, Microcement is usually the answer. For a feature wall or fireplace with depth and sheen, Venetian Plaster or Marmorino. For soft, matte colour across whole rooms, Limewash Paint.
Step 1: How is the room used?
Water, foot traffic and cleaning narrow the choice quickly.
Showers, bathroom floors, kitchens: Microcement, applied over a waterproofing membrane where needed.
Living rooms, dining rooms, entryways: Venetian Plaster or Marmorino, or Limewash Paint.
Bedrooms and nurseries: Limewash or matte Marmorino, both breathable and low in VOCs.
Busy commercial spaces: Microcement for floors and counters, Venetian Plaster for reception walls.
Step 2: What are the existing surfaces?
Each finish has preferences. Microcement can go over sound tile, concrete and cement board. Venetian Plaster needs a flat, well-prepared wall. Limewash bonds best with porous surfaces such as plaster, brick or stone. Painted drywall can take Limewash after a mineral primer.
Cracks, moisture and loose material have to be fixed first whatever you choose.
Step 3: How do you want the room to feel?
Calm and continuous: Microcement, with no grout lines and a matte or satin surface.
Rich and stone-like: polished Venetian Plaster, which reflects light and has real depth.
Soft and lived-in: Limewash, which has cloudy movement and changes through the day.
Step 4: Light
Daylight changes all three finishes. North-facing rooms make cool tones look grey, so warmer pigments usually work better. Polished plaster shows every bump under raking light, so wall preparation matters more in rooms with long side windows. This is why we always make samples in your room before deciding.
Step 5: Budget and timing
Limewash is usually the quickest and least expensive. Venetian Plaster takes more coats and drying time. Microcement sits between the two for walls and needs extra time for curing and sealing on floors and in showers.
A quick comparison
Microcement: best for floors, bathrooms, showers, kitchens and stairs. Matte to satin. About 2 to 3 mm thick.
Venetian Plaster/Marmorino: best for feature walls, fireplaces and entryways. Matte to polished.
Limewash Paint: best for living rooms, bedrooms, stairwells and period homes. Always matte.
Next step
Look through the finish catalog and our projects to see which look you keep coming back to. Then request a free quote. We look at the surfaces and light in person and bring physical samples, so you can see the finish before committing.
Frequently asked questions
Which decorative finish is best for a bathroom?
Microcement is the usual choice for bathroom floors and showers, applied over a waterproofing membrane and sealed. Venetian Plaster can suit powder rooms and walls away from direct water.
Which finish is best for a feature wall?
Venetian Plaster or Marmorino, because they have physical depth and can be polished to a stone-like sheen.
Can Limewash go over painted drywall?
Yes, after a compatible mineral primer gives the Limewash something porous to bond to.
How do I know which colour will work?
Ask for physical samples in your own room. Daylight and artificial light change how mineral finishes look, so a sample on site is more reliable than a photo.
