Casa Refined

A focus on refined home, DIY, and design

7 Must Know DIY Limewash Tips for Painting Your Walls

Painting walls can be a great way to change the mood of a space. Lime wash paint might be a good option. This century-old technique creates an artistic feel and is known to be more environmentally friendly. Today I'm sharing my best tips for DIY limewash - where to get it, how to use it, and more.

diy limewash
Acrylic primer for limewash

I jumped on the DIY limewash bandwagon last year when I painted my bathroom and living room area. It has certainly made a big impact! The artisanal feel of the limewash makes decorating feel more intentional.

There is a sense of visual texture that is added that provides an old-world feel. If you're into wabi-sabi design, chances are the walls are painting with limewash - finding the beauty of imperfection.  

lime wash diy

Limewash is often used on bricks (interior and exterior) but can also be used on walls. My interior walls were previously painted with regular latex paint and you can paint over that too (using the right primer first). It can be a bit confusing where to get the paint, the supplies needed, and how to apply it. More details below

In this post, I am sharing what has worked for me and the resources I have used to learn. Keep in mind the technique will also vary from brand to brand so check with the paint manufacturer to get the best results. Let's dive in!

limewash diy
Affiliate links may be used in this post, which means I'll receive a small commission if you purchase through my link. There is NO additional cost to you. You can read the  full disclosure here. Thank you for supporting Casa Refined!


7 TIPS FOR DIY LIMEWASH PAINTING YOUR WALLS:
1. WHAT IS LIMEWASH?
diy limewash
Limewash is a mineral-based mixture (commonly from limestone), often chalky that has been around for centuries. It's made of of crushed lime that has been buried and mixed with water to form a putty-like consistency. Once painited and dried, the finish is typically a flat sheen. Many sources suggest the finnish last 5-7 years but that will vary from the manufactures.  One thing to know is that limewash is supposed to age gracefully. So the scuff marks and/or dirt accumulation should in theory look good with the paint - a wabi sabi acceptance.


Limewash paint bonds well to porous surfaces like brick. It is often used on bricks to create a chalky finish. You can still see some of the brick peek through - think of it like the watercolor of art paint. It is not fully opaque. Limewash can still be used on non-porous surfaces but you have to use a special primer.

limewash paint
Lately, lime paint has been trendy for its soft velvety appearance that gives a wabi-sabi feel. It can be tinted like regular paint too! I've seen some moody dark colors that can add some visual texture.
Q: Can I make my own?

A: Yes! You can DIY limewash your own mixture. In fact it's a more affordable way to do so. All you have to do is make lime putty from hydrated lime and water. I have not done this myself (yet) so I would suggest you look into it further. Some resources: How to make lime paint from scratch, Limewash recipes

For now, I have been buying it pre-mixed to obtain the color I want and make my life easier.

2. WHAT CAN I PAINT?
diy limewash walls
Limewash can be used a pretty much anything you would normally paint - walls, brick, and decor. Although I would not recommend on furniture because it may start to rub off. Keep in mind this material has a flat sheen. This post focuses on interior application but I know limewash can also be used in exterior applications.
Q: Can I paint textured walls or do they need to be smooth?
A: To be honest I mostly see limewash on smooth walls but I recently applied it over my textured living room and it still looks great! If anything it adds to the character of the texture. Check out this video to see how you can skim coat walls if you want them to be smooth:
3. CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLOR
diy limewash interior paint

Just like regular paint, selecting the right color is important for achieving a good design. Something to pay attention to is the design of your space before committing. How do you want the room to feel? Are you with imperfection? Do you want it to stand out or be subtle? I highly highly recommend ordering samples and doing a test before committing. Many brands offer swatches or samples to find the best one.

From a design perspective, many people choose to limewash their whole interior. I think this is a great solution for maintaining consistency, however, it's not necessary. One can just select a color tone from the paint for the rest of the spaces. You could even just do an accent wall with lime paint. In either case, it's important to choose a color that will work best with the decor.
lime wash paint
Q: Can I combine colors?
A: Yes! In this living room, I used two colors. For the base coat, I used Plateau by Color Atelier. For the second coat, I used Antique White. I was going for a lighter white but still wanted visual texture and this was a great solution. You can always ask the paint brand for a recommendation.

Watch my video below to see what I did in the living room:

4. WHERE CAN I GET IT?
limewash walls interiors
There are a few brands that specialize in limewash paint and similar products. Although 'regular' paint brands are starting to get into lime paint options. 


Popular Limewash Brands:
  • Color Atelier - I have used this one in my living room/office and love it! Great customer service. and am very impressed with quality.
  • Sydney Harbor Paints - I used this brand in my bathroom and also loved it! This lime paint requires less mixing in between applications.
  • Bauwerk - this is another popular one but I have not personally used it
  • Portola Paints -  I have not used this brand but a well-used one
  • JH Wall Paints -  never used this one but has 75+ colors
  • Home Depot -  the depot carries Romabio limewash but is marketed for bricks and masonry. I'm not sure if they offer samples/swatches though
Other Materials Needed:
  • deck stain brush - NEEDED! limewash paint is applied with a large brush to get the brushed look. Do not use a roller for limewash
  • acrylic-based primer - for painting non-porous materials (see section below for more details)
  • regular paint supplies - brushes/rollers/sprayer for applying the primer
  • drop cloth
  • painters tape
  • personal protection equipment - eyewear and gloves is recommended to avoid getting on skin and eyes. Limewash is non-toxic but it can irritate eyes and skin when in contact for long periods of time
diy lime wash
Q: Do I need a primer?

A: It depends. If you're painting over non-porous surfaces like drywall walls that have been painted with regular paint, you will need an acrylic-based primer. I have used this affordable one and works well. Your selected limewash brand may also carry their own primer so check with them. I've also used the Color Atelier Matte primer and appreciate the low VOC's!

Q: Do I need to seal it?
A: It depends. For spaces like bathrooms and kitchens, it is recommended to use a sealer as they often have higher traffic and moisture exposure. A sealer helps prevent dust from settling and staining the surfaces. It allows you to wipe down without removing the limewash. Check with the paint brand to see which they recommend for their product
5. HOW TO APPLY IT
limewash diy
Full disclosure I am not a pro at applying it, lucky it is very forgiving! There are so many great tutorials online that explain the technique. In terms of the steps necessary here are the basic steps:
  1. Mix limewash paint thoroughly to ensure the clay-like substance is dissolved (as best you can)
  2. Apply base coat (the darker color if using two colors) with the large brush. See the video below for an ideal technique
  3. Allow the paint to dry per paint instructions (I wait at least 6-8 hours).
  4. Apply a second coat using the lighter paint color.
  5. Let everything fully dry per paint instructions before applying sealer (if applicable)
THE BRUSHING TECHNIQUE:
6. IS THERE MAINTENANCE?
diy limewash
There is very little maintenance involved with limewash paint. It should age gracefully given the 'imperfect' effect it creates.   It is not recommended you clean limewashed walls because. The shadowy effect helps hide some of the dirt and scuffs on the surface, however, you can touch up areas with some diluted lime paint.
Q: Can I paint over it?

Many sources suggest the paint lasts 5-7 years before it starts to fade. It depends on the brand of the paint. You freshen up by painting over existing lime wash painted surfaces (with no primer necessary again). If you no longer want the limewash you can simply paint over it with regular paint too.

7. OTHER HELPFUL DIY LIMEWASH RESOURCES
Here are couple of videos I have found helpful when it comes to diy limewash painting:

This post was all about diy limewash painting. It might seem intimidating but it is not! Limewash paint can be a great solution for adding an artisanal or wabi sabi feel to any space. It especially looks great for minimal spaces but can work with many styles. You can do it! Good luck!

Have more questions? Ask below in the comments.

Other Posts You Might Like:

Want to learn more?

Comments

  1. Annie says

    Can you let me know the acrylic-based primer you used for prepping your walls- HD does not carry it anymore and I’m on a budget – Thanks – I have latex on the walls so I need to do some prep work before doing the lime

    Reply

  2. Matthew says

    What color and brand lime wash did you use for your bathroom? I’m looking for a light beige/ grey color that isn’t too yellow or orange. That looks like it could work. Thanks!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

   

Copyright © 2024 Casa Refined · Theme by 17th Avenue