How to paint lime plaster: A complete guide to breathable paint

Lime plaster is one of the most beautiful surfaces you can live with, it is also one of the most environmentally responsible. Long before the language of “sustainability” existed, lime was regulating moisture, improving air quality, and lasting for centuries with minimal intervention.

But it is one of the most misunderstood when it comes to painting. If you get it right, the result is a wall that breathes, ages well, and has a depth and softness that no modern system can replicate. Get it wrong, and you risk peeling paint, trapped moisture, and disappointment.

So let’s talk about how to paint lime plaster properly, and why it matters.

First: let lime be lime

Lime plaster is not plasterboard or cement. It is alive in the sense that it continues to carbonate over time, absorbing carbon dioxide from the air and slowly hardening. Crucially, it remains vapour permeable, allowing moisture to pass harmlessly through the wall rather than trapping it inside.

This breathability is the entire point of using lime, and it must be respected at every stage, including decoration.

That means no vinyls, no acrylics, no modern “wipeable” paints, however tempting they may be. These form an impermeable skin and will eventually blister or fail on lime.

Timing is everything

Fresh lime plaster needs time. As a rule of thumb, allow at least four weeks before painting, longer if conditions are cold or damp. The surface should feel dry to the touch and look evenly pale, with no dark patches.

Rushing this stage is the most common mistake. Lime rewards patience.

Lime plaster doesn’t want sanding or sealing. In fact, sanding can close the surface and create dust that interferes with adhesion.

Instead:

• Brush the surface gently to remove loose material.

• Fill any minor imperfections with our natural filler, not modern filler.

• Lightly dampen the wall with water before painting — lime prefers a slightly moist surface, which helps the paint bind properly.

Choose the right paint… this is non-negotiable

Only breathable, truly natural paints should be used on lime plaster. At Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, our paints are designed specifically with these traditional surfaces in mind.

They allow moisture to move freely, bond naturally with the plaster, and create a soft, matte finish that feels part of the wall rather than something stuck on top of it.

If your plaster is very new or particularly porous, a diluted first coat, or mist coat  is often beneficial — think of it as a key rather than a cover.

Choosing the colour is the fun part! Explore by ordering a free colour chart, A5 or sample pots to get you started. For more ideas start here, or talk to our colour consultants.

Application: slow and steady

Use a good-quality natural bristle brush or a medium-pile roller.

• Apply thin coats — thick paint smothers lime

• Allow plenty of drying time between coats

• Expect subtle variation; lime surfaces are not meant to be uniform or flat.

Longevity is the greenest choice of all

One of the least discussed aspects of sustainability is how long something lasts. Lime plaster walls decorated with breathable, natural paints can be maintained and repaired indefinitely. They do not need stripping, sealing, or replacing.  Surfaces develop patina rather than failure. And crucially, the wall continues to regulate moisture naturally, improving indoor air quality without consuming energy. To be inspired by period properties painted in our natural paint, read the blog, Paint for period homes. 

Painting on lime plaster is not about following a trend. It is about choosing a system that has already proved its environmental credentials over hundreds of years.

When you respect lime, use our truly breathable paints, and allow materials to work as they were designed to, you create interiors that are healthier, longer-lasting, and genuinely low-impact.

In an age of disposable finishes and quick fixes, lime remains one of the most quietly radical choices you can make.