Decorative walls: lime, concrete, metal or rust on one wall or the whole room
A decorative wall is applied by hand with a trowel or brush instead of being painted flat. Lime, concrete, metal or rust, in two to three coats, so the wall gets depth and a living texture that changes with the light. We apply decorative finishes in homes, restaurants and shops, on one wall or the whole room.
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What is a decorative wall?
Ordinary paint is flat. A decorative finish is a material with lime, marble dust, minerals or metallic particles that is applied in thin layers and shaped with the trowel. Each layer shows through the next, which creates the clouded shades, shadows and play of light that flat paint can never give.
We use Italian lime and mineral finishes that have been on walls for hundreds of years, together with newer metallic and rust effects. Most of them breathe, balance the humidity in the room and carry the highest indoor air quality rating (A+).
A decorative wall is not the same as microcement. Microcement is a 2–3 mm waterproof system with mesh and lacquer that suits floors, showers and worktops. A decorative finish is thinner, softer and cheaper per square metre, and it belongs on walls and ceilings where the look matters most.
The finishes we offer
Lime plaster (marmorino)
Polished lime with fine marble dust, trowelled on in two coats and pressed with the trowel into a satin or glossy finish with clouded shades, like the walls of Italian houses. Breathes, suits walls and ceilings, indoors and out.
Coarse lime plaster
The same lime with a coarser marble dust. More texture, deeper shadows and a more rustic look. Two coats by trowel.
Lime paint
A thin lime paint applied with a wide brush, two coats. A soft, clouded, matt finish where the brush strokes show. The simplest and cheapest decorative finish.
Concrete finish
Lime and white cement in powder form, mixed with water and trowelled on in two coats. An industrial look with soft, washed-out shades. Indoors and out.
Clay finish
Natural clay and air lime, a matt, warm finish that breathes and balances humidity. For bedrooms, living rooms and other dry rooms where a calm look is wanted.
Polished lime
Pure slaked lime with very fine minerals, polished to a gloss that recalls marble. Indoors, on one wall or a ceiling that should shine.
Metallic finish
A gold or silver base with metallic particles and quartz, two coats by trowel. The light plays across the wall depending on where you stand. Also available matt. Indoors.
Rust finish
An iron-rich base in two coats, then an oxidising liquid that lets the wall rust like corten steel. The finish is alive and can keep changing; we seal it with a clear protection on request. Indoors and out.
Stone finish with patina
A pearl, red or metallic patina over a textured base, so the wall looks like old stone. Indoors.
Decorative finish in a restaurant, Reykjavík
The finish continues behind the booths
Where does a decorative wall suit?
One wall in a living room or bedroom
The wall behind the sofa, the bed or the fireplace. The calmest way to give a room character without changing everything.
Restaurants and shops
Stands up to touching, stains and cleaning, and can be repaired locally if something happens. We plan the job around opening hours.
Ceilings and hallways
Lime plaster on a ceiling gives the room height and softness. Hallways and stairwells get a finish that takes traffic.
Joinery and furniture
Metallic and concrete finishes on kitchen cabinets, shelves and counters.
Bathrooms, but not the shower
Lime tolerates humidity and breathes, so it suits bathroom walls outside the shower. In the shower itself and on the floor we use microcement.
Microcement bathrooms
How is a decorative wall applied?
One wall takes two to four days with drying time, a whole room about a week. We always start with a sample board in the colour and finish you choose, so you see it in your own light before the wall begins.
Day 1
Preparation. The wall is filled smooth where needed, sanded and primed with a quartz bonding primer so the finish grips.
Day 2
First coat. The material is trowelled or brushed on and shaped; this layer sets the pattern.
Day 3
Second coat and finishing. Lime finishes are pressed with the trowel to a sheen, the rust finish gets its oxidising liquid and metallic finishes a second coat.
Day 4
Wax or clear protection where it applies, for example in a restaurant or a kitchen. The wall is ready for use the next day.
What does a decorative wall cost?
A decorative wall usually costs less per square metre than microcement, because there are fewer coats and no mesh or lacquer system. The price depends on the finish, lime paint being the simplest and rust and metallic finishes the most work, and on the number of walls, their height and how much has to be taped off. A full-height wall costs less per square metre than a partial one.
| Lime paint | Simplest and cheapest, two coats by brush |
|---|---|
| Lime, concrete and clay finishes | Two coats by trowel, quoted per square metre |
| Metallic, rust and polished finishes | More coats and a protective layer, quoted per square metre |
Send us photos of the wall, its height and width, and the finish you have in mind. You get a written quote the same day, free of charge, including materials, labour and VAT.
Care and lifespan
Lime and mineral finishes are cleaned with a dry or damp cloth. Waxed and sealed finishes tolerate a mild soap. No scouring pads or harsh cleaners.
Damage can be repaired locally, and a lime finish can also be renewed or painted over later. We keep the colour and finish of every job so the repair matches.
Get a decorative wall quote the same day
Send us photos of the wall, its measurements and an idea of the finish. That way we can usually price it straight away and tell you when we can start.
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Decorativewallquestions
What is the difference between a decorative wall and microcement?
Microcement is a 2–3 mm waterproof system with mesh and lacquer that suits floors, showers and worktops. A decorative finish is thinner and softer, applied in two to three coats without mesh, and belongs on walls and ceilings. It usually costs less per square metre.
Can a decorative finish go in a bathroom?
Yes. Lime finishes breathe and tolerate humidity well, so they suit bathroom walls outside the shower. For the shower itself and the floor we recommend microcement.
Which colours are available?
All the finishes are tinted from a colour chart, the lime ones in soft earth tones and whites, the metallic ones on a gold or silver base. We make a sample board in your colour before we start.
How long does a decorative wall last?
Lime finishes last for decades and age well; they have been on Italian walls for hundreds of years. Metallic and rust finishes are protected with a clear coat where there is wear. Damage can be repaired locally.
Can it be painted over later?
Yes. A lime finish can be painted over with ordinary paint or given a new finish on top. You are not tied to the look for good.
Can you do a decorative wall outdoors?
Lime plaster, the concrete finish and the rust finish come in versions for exterior walls. Icelandic weather is hard on most surfaces, so we assess each wall individually and say plainly what we recommend.
Get in touch
Tell us about the project and send photos of the space if you can. That way we can usually price it straight away.
Service area: the Reykjavík capital region and all of Iceland. Travel is charged outside the capital region.
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