An aqueous coating composition comprising

• (a) 10 to 60 wt % of an aqueous dispersion comprising water and one or more water-dilutable binders selected from the group of polymethacrylic, polyacrylic, polyester, polyurethane, hybride polyacrylic/polyester or polyacrylic/polyurethane, epoxy modified binders, with linear, branched or star structure and any mixtures thereof, the amount of said water constituting at least 15 wt % based on the total weight of said component a),
• (b) 5 to 40 wt % of one or more water-dispersible polyisocyanates or mixtures of water-dispersible and water-emulsifiable polyisocyanates, blocked or unblocked,
• (c) 5 to 70 wt % of filler material,
• (d) 1 to 40 wt % of a ground polymer material,
• (e) 0 to 15 wt % of organic co-solvents,
• (f) 0.01 to 15 wt % of additives, pigments and fillers, and
• (g) 3 to 30 wt % of water and
• the invention is directed to a process for applying the aqueous coating to substrates to form decorative surfaces and to the resulting coated substrates.