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This post is all about how to apply limewash paint. Plus, we’re sharing our simple 5 step process to make the process easier for you.
Limewash is having it’s moment in design, and we predict it’s going to be such a trendy paint technique to add to your home this year. It looks like it would be complicated, but it’s actually way easier than it looks.
We recently used limewash paint in our friend’s home office, and absolutely loved how it turned out. As we were researching how to apply it, there were a lot of different opinions on how to use limewash, so we thought we would make it simple and describe our process in five simple steps.
We’re going to answer some questions you may have about limewash and describe in detail exactly how to limewash paint any space in your home.
This post is all about how to apply limewash paint.
Common Questions About Limewash Paint
What is limewash paint?
Limewash is made of limestone that’s crushed, fired at a high temperature and then mixed with water and pigments to create different colors of limewash paint. It’s made of 100% natural elements, which makes it super unique and different from regular paint.
The technique and limewash paint was one of the first pigmented house paints that was first used in the Mediterranean and Roman regions. It creates a textured look on your wall without applying an actual textural element.
We absolutely love how cozy and warm it makes any space feel—especially the most modern of spaces.
Is limewash paint expensive?
Limewash is pretty comparable in price to regular paint. You can buy limewash paint for $25-$80.
You can also make your own limewash paint mixture, which is more budget friendly as well. However if you want a pigment or color in your paint, you’ll have to purchase and mix that as well.
Can I use limewash paint on walls in my home?
Limewash has more commonly be used on the exterior of homes, but can totally be used in the interior of your home as well. To be honest, we prefer the look of it on the interior of the home more, because of the texture and warmth it brings to the space.
Can I apply limewash with a roller?
Limewash can not be applied with a roller. We used block brushes to apply the primer, limewash paint and sealant to the wall.
What materials do I need to limewash paint?
The materials for limewash are super basic and simple, and you can more than likely pick them up at your local Lowe’s or Home Depot.
The materials you’ll need are:
- Limewash Primer
- Limewash Paint
- Limewash Sealant
- Large Paint Tarps or Plastic
- Blue Paint Tape
- Block Brushes
- Paint Trays
- Wood Paint Stir Sticks
- Ladder (to reach higher places)
Do I need primer and a sealer for limewash paint?
We recommend using a primer before applying the limewash and a sealer after the limewash has been dry for 12 hours. The primer preps the surface so the limewash paint can be easily applicable. The sealant protects the limewash from lighter wear and tear.
What’s the difference between limewash and lime paint?
Limewash is more watery than lime paint and only requires one application.
What if I accidentally splatter paint onto a wall or surface?
Limewash is easily forgivable as you are working with it. Because it’s so viscous and watery, you will more than likely splatter some on walls or surfaces you don’t mean to paint on. We found that you could easily wipe the limewash paint off the wall with a wet towel or wet wipe while before it had dried and it would come off easily.
How to Apply Limewash Paint
Our Simple 5 Step Process to Limewash Paint
1. Purchase Your Materials
First, purchase the materials you need to limewash paint (see the full list above). We used James Alexander Limewash Paint, Primer and Sealant. They have so many beautiful colors and give you the option to purchase all three items together.
2. Prep Your Space
Next, prep your space just like you would if you were painting a room. If you’re making a feature wall, tape off the edges of the wall, tape the plastic tarp on your floor to prevent paint from dripping onto the surface. If you’re planning on painting your whole room, tape the areas and edges that need to be taped (baseboards, ceiling line, doors) as well.
3. Prime the Wall or Walls You Want to Paint
Once your space is prepped, use the block brush to apply the primer. We applied the primer the same way you would apply limewash. You can either paint in an “x-shape” motion or start in one spot and butterfly out the paint as far as it can go.
Cover the complete surface with the primer and allow it to dry.
Pro tip: In order to get a super crisp, clean edge on your paint, apply a stroke of primer a bit over the painters tape. As the paint dries, the primer will help block the paint from leaking through and will give you a straight edge when you remove the tape.
4. Paint the Wall(s) with Limewash Paint
Applying the limewash is the fun part, because you get to see your vision come to lime a little bit at a time.
Once the primer is dry, you can start by applying the limewash paint with your block brush. Like we mentioned above, you can either paint in an “x-shape” motion or start in one spot and butterfly out the paint as far as it can go. Whichever technique you decide, you want to continue that throughout the space to create consistent textural look.
There is really no perfect way of applying limewash, because the variation of strokes will give you beautiful, unique texture when it dries.
5. Use a Mineral Based Sealant to Seal the Limewash Paint
Lastly, you will want to apply a sealant over the limewash paint after it has dried completely. We waited about 12 hours until applying the sealant, and applied it using the same technique we used throughout the whole process.
Allow the sealant to dry and then remove the painters tape, tarps, and move your furniture back in the space.
We absolutely love how the limewash paint turned out, and she absolutely loved it too! If you have any more questions about the process of limewash paint, leave them in the comments below and we’ll try to answer them as well as we can.
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our experience with limewash paint and will definitely be using it in future design projects!
This post is all about how to apply limewash paint.
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