Owners of period properties often face a common question: what is the best paint for an old building? The answer lies in understanding how traditional buildings were designed to work. Historic homes, whether timber-framed cottages, stone farmhouses or Georgian terraces, were built using natural materials such as lime mortar, soft brick, stone and timber. These materials are naturally porous and manage moisture by allowing it to pass through the fabric of the building and evaporate. For centuries, traditional paints worked in harmony with this process. Limewash, distemper and natural oil paints protected surfaces while remaining breathable. This breathability is essential for the long-term health of historic buildings. Trumpington and Spanish White Persian Order a free colour chart The problem with modern sealants Many modern paints and sealants are designed to create a tough, impermeable coating. While this works well on modern construction materials, it can cause significant problems for period properties. When plastic-based paints seal the surface of a breathable wall, moisture becomes trapped within the structure. Over time this can lead to peeling or blistering paint, damp patches and mould and damage to brick, stone and timber. In effect, modern sealants can prevent traditional buildings from functioning as they were designed. Hallway in Lute. Credit: Carlos Garcia Interiors Photography: Christopher Horwood Interiors Why breathable paint matters Breathable paints allow moisture vapour to escape while still protecting the surface from weather and wear. This makes them particularly suitable for heritage buildings and older homes built with lime and natural materials. Natural paints made from plant oils, minerals, chalk and clay provide a microporous finish that supports the natural moisture balance of the building. Rather than trapping moisture, they allow the building fabric to dry out naturally. This not only helps prevent damp but can also reduce the long-term maintenance required for period properties. Garter BlueGarter Blue Nicaragua bathroom. Photography by Paul Massey The power of natural paint – Laura Burlington 'We'd have to paint the little attic rooms every year because the paint peeled off, but we've never have to repaint since using Edward's paint'. Laura Burlington A natural approach to period property care At Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, we believe the best paint for period properties is one that works with the building rather than sealing it. Breathable, natural paints protect historic surfaces while allowing traditional materials to perform as intended. For those restoring or maintaining heritage buildings, choosing breathable paint is one of the simplest and most effective ways to safeguard the structure for generations to come. Protecting period properties is not about creating an impermeable barrier. It is about understanding the building, respecting traditional materials, and allowing the fabric of the building to breathe. Pea Green Stripes. The Swan, Thyme. Credit: Helen Cathcart Jonquil. Credit: Rock The Heirloom To explore further how to treat your period property correctly, read How to paint lime plaster – a complete guide to breathable paint . All our colours are made from natural ingredients and work harmoniously with each other. Edward has recently created 24 new colours in collaboration with Chatsworth to sit alongside the existing palette of 104 colours. Our colour consultants offer advice in person or online. To see some of the homes they have assisted with read the article Focus on colour consultancy. Order the Chatsworth Collection colour chart Colours featured in this article Trumpington Order a Sample Lute Order a Sample Garter Blue Order a Sample Persian Order a Sample Pea Green Order a Sample Spanish White Order a Sample Jonquil Order a Sample Nicaragua Order a Sample
Behind The Chatsworth Collection: 24 Exquisite New Paint Colours Learn the story behind The Chatsworth Collection, a range of 24 new paint colours inspired by the interiors, heritage, and landscapes of one of this country’s most significant country houses.
Discover the new ‘Forever Favourites Collection’ Create a scheme from one room to your whole house with soft colours that work together effortlessly ensuring tonal flow and harmony. Our 12 best loved shades together in one pack. Discover the power of natural paint today.
Inside Our London Preview Party for The Chatsworth Collection Step inside our exclusive London Townhouse preview of the new Chatsworth Collection. Discover the inspiration behind 24 exquisite new colours, including Herbarium, and enjoy the recipe for our signature Herbarium Spritz cocktail.
Using soft greens in a dual aspect room Pomona is a fantastic colour if you want to use it where you have dual aspect rooms of East and South light and that’s because it carries a little bit of yellow and a little bit of blue and can balance the light as it transitions from the morning through to the midday. Find out more in this series..
Why use breathable paint? Breathability is one of the words that comes up a lot when talking about paint so we are going to break down the meaning of breathability, the benefits of choosing a breathable paint and what makes our paint breathable.
Sustainable and Plastic-Free Children’s Toys We are delighted that the design curators of PomPom found our natural paints to use on the latest edition to their collection of sustainable and plastic-free toys.
