Introducing texture to your home decor is one of the hottest current trends, and it’s not going anywhere. Homeowners and designers are adding textural textiles, upholstery and surfaces and are looking for new ways to bring texture. One of such ways that may be not evident but very smart and effective is limewashing your walls. It will make your walls eye-catchy, even if they are very neutral, and will provide texture, which means an edgy feel. Let’s find out more about this idea and how to implement it.
What Is Limewash?
Limewash is a sort of paint made from limestone that’s been crushed, burned, and mixed with water to make a lime putty. The putty is aged and then thinned with water and colored with natural pigments (limewash is usually neutral, grey, tan, pink, green or blue). Limewash creates surfaces that are mottled and matte with a chalky texture something like suede. It lends a depth and luminosity to flat walls.
A beautiful and bold space with grey limewashed walls, light-stained furniture, purple chairs, a metal pendant lamp.
A beautiful bathroom with blush limewashed walls, an oval tub and a wooden side table is light-filled through the window and the skylight.
A beautiful living room with pink limewashed walls, a white sofa, woven chairs, a delicate table and a pendant lamp.
A catchy bedroom with light grey limewashed walls, a black bed with grey bedding, a wooden nightstand with dried blooms.
A chic contemporary bedroom with grey limewashed walls, a creamy bed and graphite grey nightstands and sconces.
A chic dining room with blush limewashed walls, a stone tabletop dining table, an upholstered bench, a crystal chandelier.
A chic moody living room with grey limewashed walls, a grey sofa, a green blanket and some potted greenery, mismatching pendant lamps.
A chic neutral bathroom with creamy limewashed walls, an oval bathtub, a tiled vanity and printed floor tiles and a potted plant.
A chic vintage meets modern living room with tan limewashed walls, a creamy sofa, vintage crates and shelves, a black sconce.
A contemporary bedroom with grey limewashed walls, a green upholstered bed, catchy nightstands and an upholstered bench.
Pros
Limewash is breathable (no condensation in damp conditions), natural, solvent-free, and hypoallergenic. It absorbs odors and is naturally bacteria-resistant cause of a high pH level.
Traditional limewash is made from natural lime and natural pigments. Even some modern varieties that contain additional binding agents use mineral additives that keep the environmentally-friendly attributes intact.
Limewash can be used indoors and out. Unlike most house paints that sit atop surfaces, limewash sinks in, so it’s best applied to porous surfaces, such as plaster, stone, and brick.
Limewash can be easily DIY, and that is budget-friendly. It’s a simple process that involves making a lime putty from hydrated lime (available at hardware stores) mixed with water, and then gradually diluting the concoction with water until it has the consistency of thick cream.
Cleaning limewashed walls is not recommended, nor is it often required: Limewash’s mottled, shadowy effect shows much less dirt than standard painted surfaces do. But should walls need a touch-up, simply apply a diluted re-coat of limewash.
A cool living room with a grey limewashed wall, an amber leather sofa, a black coffee table and a potted plant.
A cozy modern bedroom with tan limewashed walls, a white bed, wooden nightstands, a chair and some black lamps and spotlights.
A delicate bedroom with grey limewashed walls, a creamy bed with matching bedding, black nightstands and neutral table lamps.
A fabulous neutral living room with creamy limewashed walls, wooden beams, a wooden console table, a white sofa and a chic table.
A gorgeous dining space with tan limewashed walls, a light-stained vanity, a wooden table and mismatching chairs, lots of plants.
A laconic Scandinavian bedroom with a grey limewashed wall, a white bed with white bedding, a vase on a stand, a bulb chandelier.
A modern boho living room with grey limewashed walls, a blush sofa, tree stumps as side tables and a red printed rug.
A modern living room with a greige limewashed wall, black sofas and colorful pillows, pendant bulbs and a black sconce.
A modern living room with grey limewashed walls, a grey sofa, dark-stained furniture and a sconce.
A modern space with neutral limewashed walls, a grey sofa, a black oval coffee table and a dining space.
A neutral minimalist space with neutral limewashed walls, a white stone bench, a catchy and soft chair with a footrest.
A pretty and airy living room with light grey limewashed walls, a creamy sofa, a low coffee table, pampas grass in vases.
Cons
Limewash features a limited color palette (mostly earthy colors, from grey to taupe, from light pink to tan). Its mottled appearance hard to control and is not to everyone’s liking. It may require several coats to get the desired effect. It can not easily be cleaned and it may require a re-coat from time to time.
Limewash becomes much lighter as it dries. It’s up to 10 times darker when it’s wet; so it’s important to test colors. Colors vary depending on the pigments used, the composition and porosity of the surface being painted, and the application of the paint. That said, understanding the real color when applying limewash can be very difficult.
A refined dining room with grey limewashed walls, a rough wooden table, stylish chairs and grey curtains plus a white vase for decor.
A refined modern bedroom with grey limewashed walls, a light-stained bed with dark bedding, a cork bench and a black plywood chair, some branches.
A relaxed bedrom with neutral limewashed walls, a floating bed, light-stained furniture and grey bedding.
A Scandi living room with a mauve limewashed wall, white furniture, an IKEA Hol table and a black hearth in the corner.
A sophisticated modern bedroom with grey limewashed walls, a dark green upholstered bed, pretty nightstands, an upholstered bench.
A super chic art deco inspired dining room with tan limewashed walls, niche shelves, a hexagon table with cane chairs and a faux fireplace.
A vintage-inspired bedroom with grey limewashed walls, a black forged bed with neutral bedding, a small gallery wall and a stained wooden bench.
A wabi-sabi living room with neutral limewashed walls, a fireplace, a neutral sofa, a rough wood coffee table and chests.
An airy bedroom with tan limewashed wall, a white bed with neutral bedding, a catchy pendant lamp and a chair.
An airy contemporary space with neutral limewashed walls, a green sofa and a round coffee table plus a pendant lamp of a catchy shape.
An elegant living room with beige limewashed walls, a glass console and coffee table, a brown chair and neutral textiles.
An elegant modern living room with grey limewashed walls, a faux fireplace, a creamy sofa, a stained coffee table and a side table.