Yes, you can absolutely make your own limewash paint! It is an affordable and eco-friendly DIY project that requires only three main ingredients: water, lime (hydrated lime or lime putty), and natural earth pigments.
Mineral paint is a great choice instead of traditional limewash paint. It gives a chalky, matte look but with more color options. Interior designers love it for its versatility and easy use.
Lime wash is a watered-down lime paint that is used only in one application. It is a whitewash or lime wash and is usually runny If it is overly watered down, water streaks may result, making it difficult to use. and may be difficult to use if it is too watered down too much causing water streaks.
COST!: The ingredients for limewash are incredibly inexpensive. One 50-lb bag of hydrated lime cost us around $8. The only other ingredient is water. Color: Limewash really only comes in one color - white.
It's easier than you think. You can do it yourself, it's cost-effective, and perfect for a weekend DIY. Plus, once the walls are dry, your room is ready to use the same day. Trust the process, take your time, and enjoy watching it all come to life.
❌ Cons of Limewash
Sensitive to Moisture Early On: Needs time to cure properly—avoid touching or cleaning it too soon. Limited Color Control: Pigments are subtle; don't expect paint-like saturation. Reapplication Over Time: It weathers naturally—some people love the patina, others see it as wear.
To make a classic DIY limewash, mix 1 part hydrated lime powder with 4 parts water until it looks like milk. Add alum salt (about 1 part) to act as a binder, and a natural powdered pigment (like ochre or iron oxide) for color. Stir thoroughly and apply in cross-hatched "X" strokes.
Natural Longevity. Limewash can last anywhere from 5 to 15 years, depending on: The number of coats applied. Surface prep quality.
Yes, you can achieve a "faux" limewash effect using regular latex or acrylic paint, though true limewash is made from crushed limestone. To do this, use a flat-finish paint and a specialized brush, applying a watered-down mixture in a crisscross pattern.
Size of the Wall
The cost to limewash interior walls is $1.50 to $6 per square foot. Naturally, if you're working with larger surface areas, the price will increase. Limewashing multiple different rooms that total 1,000 square feet, for example, can cost up to $6,000.
Lime Wash Myth #4: Limewash can kill mold. Romabio Answer: Not exactly true. Limewash paint that is made with authentic slaked lime has a very high pH, which creates a mold and bacteria-resistant surface as mold and bacteria cannot grow on it.
Whether you choose the texture of Limewash or the depth of Lime Paint, 2026 is the perfect year to make your home feel more authentically you.
Eco-Friendly Aspects of Limewash Paint
Made from natural ingredients, limewash paint is often considered safer than regular paint, which may contain harmful VOCs. The absence of artificial solvents and low VOC emissions enhance indoor air quality, making limewash paints a healthier option for homes.
SW 9589Limewash
This light neutral welcomes you into the room with its subtle warmth. This highly versatile hue pairs with a broad spectrum of shades.
While both finishes soften masonry, whitewash is made of diluted latex paint that sits on the surface, while limewash is a natural limestone-and-water mixture that penetrates and calcifies within the brick. Whitewash offers a bright, opaque finish, whereas limewash creates a chalky, matte look that ages gracefully.
Yes, Home Depot sells authentic limewash paint, most notably carrying the popular brand Romabio.
If you love the rustic, textured, old-world look of limewash but want an easier application or better washability, the best direct alternatives are mineral paints, clay paints, or a DIY faux-finish using regular paint.
Red is universally considered the hardest paint color to cover. Vibrant red pigments are highly transparent and inherently prone to bleeding through subsequent layers. Other notoriously difficult colors to cover include black, dark blue, dark green, and bright yellow.
A standard, traditional limewash formula uses a ratio of 1 part hydrated lime powder to 2 parts water. To mix, slowly add the hydrated lime to the water while stirring thoroughly with a paddle drill attachment until the mixture reaches the consistency of skim milk or thin pancake batter.
The Cons of Limewash
Achieve the textured, Old-World look of traditional limewash without the high cost or specialty materials by using regular flat/matte latex paint. This "faux" technique uses a two-tone color blend and loose brushstrokes to create soft, cloudy, and luminous depth on your walls.
It's a natural color variation that occurs when exterior walls with an application of limewash get wet. Basically it will look slightly darker when it rains and with a heavily distressed finish, some of the original brick may shine through.
In simple terms, Limewash is slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) which is suspended in water. Once applied to a suitable surface, the water evaporates and carbon dioxide from our atmosphere combines with the calcium hydroxide to form calcium carbonate, or limestone. This is known as carbonation.
The inherent chalky texture of Limewash is beautifully complemented by lighter shades, creating a serene and cohesive look, but it delivers less visual texture and tonal highs and lows. In contrast, darker hues reveal more dynamic shifts in tone and light, showcasing intricate patterns and a captivating cloudiness.
For the best results, use high calcium hydrated lime (Type S) or lime putty (slaked lime) to create traditional limewash, as it is breathable, durable, and highly adhesive on porous surfaces like brick and masonry. Avoid agricultural or garden lime, which does not produce the same curing results, and aim for pure lime, such as CL 90, for high quality.