Textured, plaster-look walls are everywhere right now. Scroll through Instagram or Pinterest for five minutes and you'll see venetian plaster, lime wash, and all sorts of decorative wall finishes showing up in bedrooms, kitchens, and living rooms. They look great in photos. But when you start researching what it actually takes to get that look in your own home, the options get confusing.
Venetian plaster, lime wash, and Fresco Harmony all create textured walls with depth and color variation. They look similar in photos. But the cost, the process, and the durability are different for each one. If you're a homeowner in Vancouver, WA or anywhere in Clark County thinking about a decorative wall finish, this is the breakdown.
Why textured walls are showing up everywhere
Plaster and lime finishes have been around for centuries. What's new is that social media put them in front of millions of homeowners who'd never seen them before. TikTok and Instagram made venetian plaster and lime wash walls go from "thing you see in Italian villas" to "thing you want in your bedroom."
Interior designers named plaster finishes the texture of the year for 2026. The broader trend is a move away from flat, uniform painted walls toward surfaces that have some character to them. Walls that catch light differently depending on the angle. Surfaces with visible texture and color variation instead of one solid, even coat.
The demand is real. But so is the price tag on some of these finishes, which is why it's worth understanding what each option actually involves.
Venetian plaster: the original
Venetian plaster is the finish that started all of this. It's made from lime putty mixed with marble dust, and it gets applied by hand with a trowel in multiple thin layers. Each layer is burnished (compressed and polished) to build up depth, shine, and that signature marble-like surface.
The result is stunning. Venetian plaster walls have a depth and luminosity that's hard to replicate with anything else. Light moves across the surface in a way that flat paint never will. It's the real deal, and it looks like the real deal.
The catch is cost. Venetian plaster runs $8 to $30 per square foot installed, depending on the complexity of the finish and the plasterer doing the work. A single accent wall in a bedroom can easily run $1,500 to $4,000. A full room gets expensive fast. The application also takes time. Expect 3 to 7 days depending on the size of the space and how many layers the finish requires.
Venetian plaster also requires a skilled artisan. Not just any painter or drywall contractor can do it well. The technique takes years to learn, and finding a qualified venetian plaster applicator in Clark County isn't easy. Most of the specialists are concentrated in larger metro areas.
On the durability side, venetian plaster is excellent. It's extremely hard, moisture-resistant, and can last decades without needing attention.
Lime wash: the softer alternative
Lime wash is crushed limestone mixed with water, applied in thin coats with a brush. It creates a soft, matte finish with subtle color variation. The look is chalky and muted, almost like the walls in an old Mediterranean home where the color has developed character over time.
Lime wash is more accessible than venetian plaster. The materials cost $40 to $80 per gallon and cover 150 to 200 square feet. Professional installation is significantly cheaper than venetian plaster, and it's more DIY-friendly too, though getting even, consistent coverage takes practice.
The finish is beautiful, but it's softer than venetian plaster. Lime wash walls can mark or scuff more easily, and depending on the brand and the room, you might need a fresh coat every few years. In high-traffic areas or homes with kids, that's worth thinking about.
Lime wash also needs some surface prep. Existing painted walls usually need a light sand and primer before the lime wash goes on. It bonds best to porous surfaces, so slick or glossy paint can cause adhesion issues if you skip the prep.
For bedrooms, dining rooms, and spaces where you want that soft, lived-in feel, lime wash is a solid choice. It's especially popular for accent walls where durability isn't the main concern and the look is what matters.
Fresco Harmony: a different kind of finish
Fresco Harmony is a decorative wall finish where paint is mixed directly into drywall joint compound. The color and texture get applied together as a single material, built up in three troweled coats. Each layer adds depth and variation, creating a layered, hand-applied finish with a look and feel all its own.
What makes Fresco Harmony different from venetian plaster or lime wash is the process and the versatility. It goes over any existing surface without sanding, acid washing, or scraping. Walls, ceilings, range hoods, fireplace surrounds, custom built-up surfaces. We've applied it to accent walls in bedrooms, entire living rooms, and even ceilings in Washougal and Vancouver homes. The color palette is unlimited. If you can pick a paint color, Fresco Harmony can match it.
Because the base material is drywall joint compound, a drywall contractor is actually the ideal person to apply it. Our crew works with joint compound every day. The troweling technique for Fresco Harmony is a natural extension of what we already do on hand texture and finishing work. That means the application is precise and consistent, because we know the material.
Fresco Harmony also comes in at a lower price point than venetian plaster, around $3 per square foot installed. That makes it practical for larger areas. A full room, a vaulted ceiling, a hallway. You're not limited to a single accent wall the way you might be with venetian plaster at $8 to $30 per square foot. Homeowners in Camas, Ridgefield, and Battle Ground regularly use Fresco Harmony across entire rooms, not just as a feature.
Durability holds up to everyday wear. The paint-and-mud combination bonds directly to the surface. It's not delicate and doesn't need special maintenance.
Side-by-side comparison
| Venetian Plaster | Lime Wash | Fresco Harmony | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per sq ft | $8 - $30 | $2 - $6 | ~$3 |
| Timeline | 3 - 7 days | 1 - 2 days | 1 - 2 days |
| Durability | Excellent | Moderate | Durable (everyday wear) |
| Surface prep | Bonding coat needed | Sand + prime | None required |
| Installer type | Specialist plasterer | Painter or DIY | Drywall contractor |
| Best for | High-end, statement rooms | Accent walls, bedrooms | Whole rooms, ceilings, accent walls, custom surfaces |
Which one makes sense for your home
Each finish serves a different situation. Think about what you want the finished room to look like, how much surface area you're covering, and how the space gets used day to day.
Venetian plaster is for homeowners who want the highest-end, most polished look and are focused on a single statement wall or room. The marble-like depth and burnished shine are in a category of their own. It's a specialty finish with a specialty price, and for the right application, it's worth it.
Lime wash works well when you want something soft, matte, and chalky with an old-world feel. It's a great fit for accent walls in bedrooms and dining rooms where the aesthetic matters more than heavy-duty durability.
Fresco Harmony is the most versatile of the three. It works on accent walls and whole rooms. Ceilings, range hoods, fireplace surrounds. Because it's practical for larger areas, homeowners use it in ways that aren't realistic with venetian plaster. An entire living room. A full hallway. A vaulted ceiling. It creates real depth and texture with unlimited color options.
Think about the room too. A bedroom accent wall has different demands than a kitchen or entryway. High-traffic areas benefit from something durable. A guest bedroom accent wall is more about how it looks than how it holds up to daily contact.
If you're in Clark County and you want to see what Fresco Harmony or decorative plaster looks like up close, AvilaCo Drywall can show you samples and walk through the options for your space. We apply Fresco Harmony across Vancouver, Battle Ground, Camas, Ridgefield, and the surrounding area. Reach out for a free estimate or call us at (360) 904-3878.