Apply a limewash or colourwash finish to a wall for a soft, mottled, aged look.
LW-01Clear and protect the roomMove furniture away from the wall or cover it with dust sheets. Lay dust sheets over the floor and skirting. Open a window, as limewash has a strong smell while wet.
LW-02Check the wall will take the finishLimewash and colourwash grip best on porous surfaces: bare plaster, brick, or old matt emulsion. They will flake off vinyl silk, gloss or plastic paint. Wipe a hidden patch with a wet finger — if water beads up rather than soaking in, you'll need a mineral bonding primer first.
LW-03Clean and fill the wallWash the wall with sugar soap to remove grease and dust, then rinse and leave to dry fully for 24 hours. Fill any cracks or holes, sand flat once dry, and wipe away dust with a damp cloth.
LW-04Mask up edgesRun masking tape along the skirting, ceiling line and any woodwork you want to keep paint off. Press it down firmly so the wash can't creep underneath.
LW-05Mix the washFor true limewash, mix the powder or paste with water following the maker's instructions until it's the thickness of single cream. For a simple colourwash, dilute matt emulsion with water at roughly one part water to two parts paint. Stir well until there are no lumps or streaks.
LW-06Test a hidden patchBrush the mix onto a small, out-of-sight area first. Limewash dries much lighter than it looks when wet, so wait for it to dry fully before judging the colour. Adjust the mix if needed before doing the whole wall.
LW-07Apply the first coatLoad a large decorator's brush and apply the wash in random criss-cross strokes, working in sections about a metre wide. Don't try for even coverage — patchiness is the effect you want. Blend each section into the next while both are still wet.
LW-08Build depth with a second coatLet the first coat dry, usually 2-4 hours depending on the room. Apply a second, thinner coat over parts of the wall only, to build up a patchy, aged look. While it's still wet, soften some areas with a dry brush to blur the strokes into a mottled texture.
LW-09Seal if the wall needs protectingLeave the finish to cure fully, at least 24-48 hours. In a kitchen, bathroom or hallway where the wall gets touched or wiped, seal it with a matt limewash sealer or matt varnish. Skip this step on a low-traffic feature wall, since sealing changes the soft, chalky look.
LW-10Tidy upPeel off the masking tape while the paint is still slightly soft, not once it's fully hardened, so the edge doesn't peel or tear. Clean brushes in water straight away. Dispose of leftover wash and rinse water down an outside drain, not the sink, if using lime products.
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