Decorating with paint

Home Decorating – Paint

There is a wide range of choice when decorating with paint. It’s fun to go through the colour charts and brochures but when it comes to choosing the right paint we are baffled. What is the difference between eggshell and satin finish? When shall we use acrylic paint? What’s the difference between primer and undercoat? What is limewash and so on..

So in this overload of choice we get confused and instead of getting the most suitable type of paint we end up with something from a trusted DIY store’s range or a designer paint. Why? Because the paint has a sensual or sexy name with seductive images printed on the tin. Sad but true. You’re not alone, even I have been seduced by this marketing… and I should know better as I have mixed my own paints in the past and realised that making paint is just like cooking – it’s just the combination of certain ingredients that result in different sensual experiences…

So in this section I’ll put together a guide to help you to choose the right paint for your decoration. Then I’ll discuss colours and finishes and how they affect our perception of space and our being. But first let’s talk about paint. Making paint in the past was not exactly scientific – for centuries it used to be the mixture of oils, binders and waxes. Paints began to change with the introduction of synthetic materials which made them more durable, faster drying, less fading. Today many paints that were used in past are no longer allowed (e.g. lead paint) and, instead of solvent-based paints, we are encouraged to use more eco-friendly and water-based finishes.

Traditional paints

Limewash

Limewash is a simple paint made from water and lime (powdered stone – not what you have with gin!). It can be use on external and internal plaster, render, masonry or timber (but not hard brick, cement render or sandstones). It can be coloured with pigments – without pigments you get an off-white finish. External Limewash often has linseed oil in it to make it waterproof. Use it if you want a chalky finish and/or to allow walls to breathe. This type of finish is very suitable for cottages & old buildings – or to create a rustic or traditional look.

Limewash and whitewash used to mean the same – but more recently the term whitewash is used for cheap limewash or white soft-distemper.

Distemper

Similar to limewash it is a water-based paint that is made from a white base pigment (limestone or chalk powder etc) bound with animal-based glue. It is only suitable for internal walls and ceilings.

Soft-distemper is an easy (and cheap) way to cover ceilings and walls. Soft distemper has a velvety, matt finish because of its rich, butter-like texture. It allows the walls to breathe. Pigments can be mixed in to create rich colours.

Oil-bound distemper has generally been replaced by modern emulsion. It is water-based but has oil in it to make it more wipeable and hard wearing than soft-distemper. Before bleach and other bacteria-killing cleaners, in poorer houses limewash and white distemper were used to clean and sanitise timberwork and the walls. The necessity to limewash furniture, beams and floors turned into a fashionable style that is known today as French Country or Mediterranean Rustic .

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