In 2025, decorative wall finishes are taking center stage in interior design, offering texture, depth, and a sense of understated luxury. More homeowners and designers in Toronto are moving beyond basic paint or drywall to explore tactile, organic finishes like Venetian plaster, microcement, and limewash. These artisanal techniques bring character and atmosphere to any space — whether it’s a grand foyer, modern fireplace wall, powder room, or even a spa-like bathroom. While they all offer unique aesthetics, Venetian plaster stands out for its smooth, marble-like surface and subtle sheen, perfect for creating elegant feature walls. Microcement is a seamless, concrete-look finish ideal for bathrooms, kitchens, and floors, while limewash offers a soft, cloudy texture that feels both rustic and refined.

Importantly, decorative finishes are one of the very last trades to come into your renovation project — just before the final cleaning crew. Why? Because these finishes require a clean, undisturbed surface, uninterrupted dry times, and zero interference from other trades to avoid damage and imperfections. Scheduling your plaster, microcement, or limewash application at the right phase minimizes the risk of touch-ups or rework, and ensures the finish has a pristine surface to bond with.

Whether you’re building new or planning a high-end renovation, understanding the proper timing to hire Venetian plaster contractor — and working with the right finish artisan — is key to a flawless result.

Many homeowners love the look of Venetian plaster, but don’t realize it needs to be part of the early planning and budgeting process — not a last-minute design upgrade. Because it’s a hand-applied, multi-layered finish, the cost depends on factors like surface preparation, design complexity, and how many areas you want to treat.

$18–$40 per square foot, depending on:

• Finish type (matte, satin, high-gloss, metallic, textured)
• Surface condition (new drywall vs older walls)
• Area complexity (ceilings, range hoods, niches, moldings, etc.)

Areas like fireplaces, ceilings, bathrooms, or kitchen hoods often cost more due to moisture resistance needs, vertical surfaces, or tight corners that require extra time and skill.

Pro Tip: If you plan to feature Venetian plaster in more than one area — for example, a fireplace and kitchen hood, or bathroom walls and arched niches — expect to budget around 10–15% of your overall wall finishing costs. These finishes are often used together to create visual cohesion throughout open-concept or modern homes

When combining different wall finishes, it’s essential to understand that not all finishes follow the same prep or installation sequence. For example:

• Venetian plaster, limewash, and microcement share similar steps: surface priming, multiple coats, hand-troweling, and sealing.
• These finishes can often be scheduled together and applied by the same trade for efficiency.
• However, mixing plaster and wallpaper involves separate surface prep methods, adhesive compatibility concerns, and completely different sealing or priming requirements.

This means your contractor will need to schedule those trades separately, and finishes like wallpaper must be done after plaster has fully cured and been sealed. Attempting to do both simultaneously can lead to delays, poor adhesion, or even finish failure.

Work closely with your venetian plaster contractor to select finishes that not only look beautiful together, but also make sense from a workflow perspective. They can guide you away from overcomplicated Pinterest concepts and toward solutions that are elegant, cohesive, and structurally sound — all while staying on time and on budget.

If you’re approaching the drywall or finishing stage of your renovation or new build, now is the ideal time to schedule your Venetian plaster consultation. This is a specialized, artisanal finish — and reputable contractors often book 6 to 8 weeks in advance.

Good contractors won’t just show up and apply a product — they’ll guide you through a detailed design process, starting with:

• A variety of pre-made samples in different textures, finishes, and colours
• The option to create a fully custom sample based on your inspiration, lighting, and wall conditions
• Clear guidance on how the finish will behave in your specific space (e.g. bathrooms vs fireplaces vs feature walls)

This preparation ensures that you don’t just get a trendy look — you get a tailored finish that complements your home’s architecture, lighting, and personal style.

Don’t leave this step to the last minute. High-end finishes like Venetian plaster and microcement require time, planning, and craftsmanship. When you plan ahead to hire Venetian plaster contractor, you protect both the quality of the application and the overall flow of your home’s decorative plaster project.