This beautiful and spacious loft apartment in Sweden has been decorated completely in grey, combined with a neutral color palette for a modest yet stylish look. The loft consists of a large living kitchen with a dining room, and two bedrooms, all well-lit since the attic windows get an abundance of natural light.

Rather than going for a feature wall here and there, the entire loft apartment has been painted in the same subtle gray color combined with a few cohesive and strategically placed storage opportunities for a modern look and feel with a classic touch that looks thought-through and elegant.

The gray color on the walls is slightly darker than this subtle light gray painted apartment, yet it’s also not as dramatic as the dark gray paint color used in this beautiful interior.

A spacious living room combined kitchen with light gray walls

The living kitchen has a light gray paint color, while the doors and floorboards have a darker gray treatment which really makes them stand out against the walls. The sloped ceilings have been painted in the same paint color as the gray walls, but the ceiling itself has been painted white, which gives the impression of higher ceilings and more light.

The round dining table, the focal point of the room, has been placed in front of the large attic window going out onto the balcony, which really is an ideal spot for it. The warm wood tones in the furniture warm up the gray walls in a lovely way and the pointy roof above the window visually separates the dining area from the rest of the space.

A living room in warm hues to contrast the gray walls

The cream-colored sofa, the wood tones in the lounge chairs, and the subtle brown and beige tones in the throw pillows add a lovely warm touch to the light gray walls in the living room interior design.

The off-white area rug matches the color palette of the textiles and it also visually separates the living room area from the rest of the space together with the plissé pendant light above the coffee table.

A dark gray kitchen with a quartz countertop

The dark gray shaker-style IKEA Bodbyn kitchen matches the color of the doors and floorboards, which gives the living space an integrated effect. The granite countertops and stainless steel hardware add a fresh touch to the kitchen design, while the wood accent pieces match the hardwood floors.

The layout of the kitchen is planned with the larger modules containing the oven and the fridge on either side, with a split in lower and higher cupboards in the middle. The glass vitrine-style cupboards on the top give the layout a lighter look with clean lines coming back in the shaker cabinet fronts.

Light grey walls and warm textiles in the master bedroom

Just like in the living room, the light grey walls of the bedroom have been softened out and warmed up with a variety of different tones in the textiles on the bed, headboard, and large area rug. The light oak wood of the bench behind the bed and the lounge chair adds a natural touch to the interior design.

On the wall opposed to the bed, you can find a custom-built low board made out of the same dark gray cabinet fronts as the ones in the kitchen. The cupboards have been finished off with grey marble countertops and stainless steel hardware and I imagine they provide ample storage space seeing as they go wall to wall.

A guest bedroom with the same gray walls

Also in the guest bedroom, the kitchen cabinetry comes back as a form of storage, though here it’s a smaller one than the one in the master bedroom. The color palette in this small space goes in line with the one in the rest of the apartment, yet the dark details on the bedside table add depth to the look.

Custom storage in the hallway

The wall color in the hallway shares the same color as in the rest of the apartment and also here the interior designer included a custom-built storage opportunity in the form of a tall wardrobe to hold jackets and shoes.

A light gray open shelf sits comfortably against the perfect backdrop of grey on the wall and holds a few pretty decor objects to finish the look off nicely.

via Alexander White

This classic turn-of-the-century apartment in Sweden looks both classy and playful at the same time. The refurbished historical details throughout the space give the interior a classy Scandinavian design look, combined with pastel tints and subtle patterns for an interior design that is elegant, yet playful and characterful at the same time.

Light grey walls and a playful Scandinavian interior design in the living room

The apartment has the most beautiful natural light coming in through those historic windows and I love that the heating has been built into white cladding for an integrated look. The living room has light grey paint on the walls with yellow and green undertones. The undertones are very subtle, yet make enough of an impact to make the white trim and floorboards stand out in an elegant way. The beautiful historic fireplace with brass details adorns the living room corner and adds a chic touch to the space.

The polka dot sofa is from the Swedish brand Meli Meli and adds such a playful element to the space. The pastel color palette of the rug underneath the sofa adds a beautiful texture to the living room and at the same time provides a beautiful touch of pastel color in this Scandinavian interior.

A light grey kitchen combined with subtle light gray paint on the walls

The kitchen has clean lines, which are enhanced with a dark grey granite countertop and chrome cabinet knobs from Swedish Beslag design. The kitchen cabinets look Ikea Bodbyn, yet I think the owners or interior designer of this beautiful apartment has painted them in the same subtle color as the grey walls for a tone-on-tone look.

The open shelving on one side of the kitchen has been painted in the same paint color as the walls as well and they offer a great sport for displaying the prettiest kitchen elements.

The dining room area contains a vintage dining table with black and natural bentwood chairs that have been placed in front of a beautiful bay window. I love how the different wood elements of the furniture and flooring look together.

A classic gray bedroom with built-in cabinets in the same color

The bedroom has been painted in a slightly darker warm gray color, which pairs nicely with the beige and cream tones in the headboard, lamps, prints, and the textiles on the bed. The gray walls are matched with the gray paint color on the custom-built wardrobe in the bedroom for a tone-on-tone look combined with the same chrome handles as the ones used in the kitchen.

via Innerstadsspecialisten

The open-plan kitchen with solid wood cabinets in this beautiful apartment is a true focal point in the space and perfectly fills out the floor plan. The entire apartment has light grey walls, which provide a subtle backdrop for the dark solid wood kitchen cabinets and furniture pieces in the living room.

The bedroom features grey walls and a wardrobe in the same color for a hotel-style effect where the bed and nightstands have been integrated.

A living kitchen with wood cabinets and soft grey walls for a lovely contrast

The kitchen stands center-stage in this open-plan apartment which used to be two rooms that have been opened up. The kitchen cabinets are made out of dark wood, which adds so much character to the space and the beige limestone countertops match this natural color palette perfectly.

The kitchen layout has been spread over two opposing walls, with the area closest to the window containing only lower cabinets for a lighter look. The beautiful open shelving above the counter by the window provides a perfect spot for pretty ceramics and picture frames and I love how the lighter wood of the natural finish hardwood flooring is combined with the solid wood cabinets of the kitchen.

The gray paint in the space has not been painted all the way up to the ceiling, but rather a white trim mimics the effect of crown molding for a lighter and more elegant look. In the living area, an antique white-painted built-in closet adorns the corner, which stands out so nicely against the grey walls.

The dining table connects the kitchen with the living space and introduces two more wood tones to the material mix inside the interior. The light and dark blue elements in the wall hanging add a pop of color above the dining table, yet the color palette of the rest of the space has been kept very minimal and based on natural materials.

A bedroom with a tone-on-tone wardrobe

The bedroom has grey walls as well, a perfect backdrop to the subtle color palette, just like in the rest of the apartment, yet what’s interesting here is that the cabinet doors and the frame of the bedroom wardrobe have been covered in the same paint color as the walls, resulting in a custom cabinets solution that integrates storage on both sides of the bed.

The bed is decorated with a brown velvet headboard and a small space has been carved out of the wood cabinets. This niche serves as a bedside table and this whole setup resembles a hotel-like setting with the wall color tieing the look together nicely.

The bed is made with a peach-colored duvet cover combined with a chequered throw blanket and white wall lamps with gold details, which complement the grey walls of the bedroom and the paint color of the wardrobe.

I recently compiled a list of built-in wardrobe ideas that go over the bed in case you are looking to implement a similar solution in your bedroom.

Wrede

via Innerstadspecialisten

This beautiful one-bedroom apartment in Sweden has a mixture of cool grey walls, combined with a nude pink kitchen wall color to add some warmth to the palette.

The three different wall colors: two different shades of cool gray walls and deep nude pink in the kitchen really enhance the interior design of the apartment, while the accessories and artwork picked out by the interior designer elevate the look of this small space.

Cool light gray walls in an art-filled living room

The living room features light gray walls with clear cool undertones, which almost look like light blue walls depending on which angle the daylight hits the walls. The cool undertones of the gray walls are warmed up by the many different wood tones in the hardwood floors, accessories, and furniture pieces.

Rather than opting for a feature wall, the entire living room has gray walls, highlighting the crown molding and the historic window and door frames which have been kept white.

The beige sofa adds warmth to the cool gray walls and the large fluffy area rug adds so much texture to the sofa area, while also reflecting more light coming from the windows. The beautiful mixture of throw pillows on the sofa brings variety to the color palette along with a selection of art prints on the wall.

The wall next to the sofa has been adorned with a beautiful gallery wall which gives so much character to the living room and the light gray is the perfect backdrop for this lovely combination of art pieces. The gallery wall is the main focal point of the entire apartment, which is finished off with two off-white boucle lounge chairs and a bar cart underneath. The TV is paired with art prints as well to make it blend in with the interior.

Nude pink wall colors in a basic white kitchen

The kitchen connects the bedroom and living room, which have both been painted grey with cool undertones. Painting the kitchen in a deep nude pink was a design choice that sets the rooms apart and adds a nice play between cool under warm hues to the space.

The kitchen itself is a basic model with white cabinets and stainless steel appliances, nothing special really, yet I think the wall paint color combined with the vintage round dining table really stands out against the nude pink walls. The neutral color palette of the dining room area combined with the wood peg rail on the wall really sets the kitchen space apart. The white area rug underneath the table, combined with the rice paper pendant and the sheer white curtains enhance the natural light coming through the kitchen window, a combination that highlights the deeper color of the wall paint.

A darker gray paint for more contrast in the bedroom

Just like in the living room, the interior design of the bedroom combines cool and warm tones for an interesting look. The bedroom has been painted in a darker gray, which has subtle cool undertones. To contrast the cool tones of the wall, a combination of textiles in warm tones is decorating the bed. The nude pink duvet cover on the bed has the same color as the kitchen walls, which ties both rooms together in an elegant way.

How to achieve a similar look in your own home

If you are trying to achieve the light grey color on the walls in the living room, try a light grey with cool undertones like Skylight* or light blue* from Farrow & Ball which is more of a light grey contrary to what the name suggests.

I you are looking for a nude pink paint color like the one that is used in the kitchen, you might want to try out a sample of Farrow & Ball’s Dead Salmon*.

Styled by Emma Fischer and Annica Clarmell, photographed by Henrik Linden for Alvhem

Pastel tones can make an interior look so characterful, soft, and inviting, which is exactly the resulting effect in this gorgeous penthouse apartment in Sweden. The mix of pastel colours with unique wall art and classic furniture pieces turns into a wonderful space with an eclectic touch that shows a lot of personality and character.

The pastel colors are what stand out most in this apartment, yet the architectural details of this beautiful penthouse are really quite something, to begin with. Just look at those high sloped ceilings with the exposed wood beams and the abundance of natural light that hits the widows of this two-level home.

Pale pink and pastel hues in the living room

While the walls in this spacious living space have been kept white, the furniture and soft furnishings have a beautiful pastel color palette that brightens up the space. The living area is softened out by the Flower field patterned wool rug from Layered, which adds tones of pink, red, and a touch of buttery yellow to the space.

The art pieces on the open shelving combined with the wall art and the throw pillows in pastel colors turn this living room into a characterful space with a soft look.

Classic furniture pieces in a bold-colored dining room

The dining room is nestled into the niche area of the large living space, which kind of makes it feel like it’s in its own room. The white marble oval Saarinen dining table combined with the Panthella floor lamp are classic pieces that are enhanced with a mixture of brighter hues Vitra Panton chairs in white, pink, and mint green, resting on a round light purple area rug.

The focal point in the dining room however is the scalloped mirror by Gustav Westman which stands out so nicely against the white walls and follows many design trends. The dining rooms I see tend to either be playful or classy, yet this unique setup combines both with great style.

A greige kitchen enhanced with pretty patterns

While the main interior design is all about pastel colors in the rest of this rather eclectic apartment, the color palette of the attic kitchen is more modest with a light greige color on the kitchen cabinets combined with a beige natural stone. The same color combination is used on the custom-built kitchen island as well, which is more of a bar-type kitchen dining table with beautiful patterns on the upholstered bar chairs.

The white walls and ceiling combined with the light palette of the kitchen itself really make the aged exposed wood beams stand out in such a lovely way.

A mint green bar in a winter garden leading up to the balcony

The winter garden connects to the beautiful and spacious penthouse balcony. Inside you can find a custom-built bar module that has been covered in green pastel paint and enhanced with a custom mirror to reflect the bottles, which is a nice touch.

The same bar chairs as in the kitchen are placed by the bar, where just like in the kitchen, they add unique accents to the space.

A deep purple Togo in a room solely for lounging

Next to the living room, there is a separate lounge room behind a glass partition. I’m not sure why this apartment has two rooms with a sofa right next to each other, but the design scheme and color setup match perfectly with the adjacent living room.

The deep purple colorway of the Togo sofa adds another contrasting tone to the pastel colors in the space and enhances the interior design of the apartment in a subtle yet powerful way.

A bedroom with a purple wall

To match the pastel colors in the rest of the apartment, the bedroom has a purple accent wall combined with a light purple area rug underneath the bed, a deep green scalloped headboard, and a combination of pastel yellow, pastel blue, pink, and red tones on the beautifully patterned blanket. The bed is placed in the cozy nook underneath the sloped ceiling, which makes it such a snug spot to get a good night’s sleep.

A bathroom with a pink accent wall

The two bathrooms in this apartment are decorated in different ways: there’s a pastel version and a minimal and clean bathroom style in the penthouse. The small guest bathroom with the washing machine has light purple, pink, and mint accent walls, which brighten up the basic components, while the main bathroom has a very clean look enhanced with a dark floor and wood accents. The look of the bathroom stands in sharp contrast with the rest of the pastel interior design.

A pastels interior design as a red thread through the entire penthouse apartment

The pastel colors in this apartment can be found throughout the interior design and they give you a warm welcome as soon as you step into this spacious penthouse. I think it’s wonderful; how the combination of pastel blue, yellow, pink, and green can have such a playful and inviting effect in the space. Even though it’s quite daring to go for a look like this, with pastels that often remind of children’s rooms, it can certainly brighten up the look of an interior.

If you want to introduce pastel colors in your home yet you don’t want to go as far as decorating the entire interior with it, you can always try out just a hint of pastel colors in an otherwise neutral color palette.

I find pastels usually go best with a lighter base palette so that the contrast between two elements is softened out. Think of a few pastels in the throw pillows on a light sofa in the living room, or wall art with pastels against off-white or ivory walls. You can always play with mixing in geometric shapes, metallic accents, and different materials to make the look more interesting and less playful as well.

Styled by Åsa Copparstad, photographed by Elin Sylwan for Historiska Hem

This beautiful Swedish home on two levels is painted a with subtle light gray paint color all throughout the interior in the different rooms. The decor is modest, yet shines in its simplicity and elegance.

A living room in a brown and beige palette

The subtle light grey walls and dark wood flooring in the living room have been decorated with a beige fabric sofa, an off-white area rug that lightens up the hardwood flooring, and a dark wood coffee table with matching side tables in a minimal design.

The throw pillows on the sofa are picked out in a mix of browns and beiges, which matches the color palette of the space perfectly. Black accents in the table lamps, artwork, and accessories add a contrasting elegance to the living room and the fiddle fig tree is a nice finishing touch.

A light grey kitchen and black outlines on the dining furniture

Adjacent to the living room, you can walk into a minimal kitchen with light grey cabinets, chrome hardware, a chrome faucet, and white marble countertops.

The dark wood dining table goes in line with the color and material palette of the living room and the white fabric chairs have a black metal outline that is matched by the beautiful black and white pendant light above the table.

A classy bedroom, home office, and bathroom

The second level of this beautiful house follows the same minimal design aesthetics as in the living kitchen, with hardwood flooring matched by a subtle color on the wall and a neutral palette in the furniture and soft furnishings.

The bedroom has been decorated with beige curtains and a beige headboard that go nicely with the light greige wall paint on the wall. The beige striped pillows add a lovely pattern effect to the bed and the white structured area rug adds a beautiful soft texture to the room.

The bathroom is completely tiled with white marble tiles for an elegant effect that is enhanced by the minimal white bathroom furniture.

via Simon Crest

This beautiful Scandinavian interior in a turn-of-the-century Swedish apartment is decorated almost exclusively in tints of light grey, with a few beige, black and natural tones to bring in some variety in the color palette. This result in a very elegant and sophisticated look that matches the architectural style of the apartment well.

A classic gray kitchen in a Scandinavian interior design

Through the old sliding doors in the living room, you can take a peek into the kitchen with classic gray cabinet fronts in a minimal design, combined with a subway tile backsplash that goes all the way up to the ceiling.

The white of the subway tiles comes back in the dining table, which is warmed up with natural oak dining chairs. The kitchen gets a lot of natural light and the white table and tiled wall reflect this in a nice way.

The light grey walls in the space soften out the look and even the round arch going towards the hallway has been painted in light gray paint colors, which is a nice touch. The kitchen design itself is minimal, which you often see in a Scandinavian interior design, yet the classic elements of the space add a certain elegance to the space.

Light gray paint colors throughout the living room

The living room has been painted in a slightly darker shade of gray paint, which makes it a bit moodier. The natural light coming from the window can be dimmed by these heavy grey curtains that go wall-to-wall, and floor-to-ceiling and they give the Scandinavian interior design of the room a luxurious look and feel.

The sofas, area rug, and pouf have been picked out in a white and light gray palette, which brings out the cool undertones in the gray walls. The TV has been mounted on the wall and is matched up with a black bench and lamp for a bit of contrast in the space.

Different shades of grey in the bedroom

The bedroom has a warm gray paint on the wall that is a bit darker, which is matched by the gray linen curtains on the wall that filter out the natural light coming into the room.

The light gray palette has been matched with a soft beige headboard, white bedding, and a beige day cover on the bed. These warm tones warm up the space and I love the set of fabric pendant lights on the ceiling that provides a soft glow inside the space. The basic Ikea Ivar cabinet is painted in the same color as the wall and offers some extra storage space in the bedroom.

Just like in the living room, the black elements like the bedside tables and the wall lamps add a bit of contrast to the gray paint on the wall and give the space a bit of character.

via Brspec

Limewash paint is a great way to add texture to a modern and minimalist interior setting. The shadowy effect on the paint surface adds a textural effect to your interior. Moreover, it removes the need for a lot of wall decor.

You can create a subtle or expressive cloudy effect depending on the brush pattern. This effect will make the furniture pieces and accessories you place in front of your walls pop out.

Below, you can find my favorite limewash paint interiors and ideas. In this list, you will find inspiration for integrating limewashed walls in your home. Ranging from living rooms to bedrooms, kitchens, and even accent walls

What is limewash paint?

Limewash paint has been around for ages. Even though it was used in the old world, it has gained popularity in the last few years in modern homes as well.

Limewash paint consists of natural ingredients only. It’s a non-toxic paint with no volatile organic compounds and no chemicals. The environmentally friendly solution even absorbs carbon dioxide improving interior air quality in your space.

The production process is simple. Crushed limestone mixed with water and natural pigments forms a lime putty. You can apply this putty in thin coats on the wall, creating a beautiful texture.

Limewash paint is much thinner than Venetian plaster. Its consistency gives it a more relaxed impression, achieved by layering one coat on top of the other.

Limewash living room examples

A subtle lime wash treatment on the walls and ceiling details

The white soft furnishings pop out against the beige limewash paint on the living room walls. The lime surface forms the perfect backdrop for an elegant living room decor.

The texture of the lime paint evens out the irregular wall corners in the floor plan. A few selected pieces of wall decor suffice to decorate the textured walls in this modern space.

via Unika Hem

A rustic effect with half limewash walls in an attic apartment

When you are working with sloped ceilings, there are two ways to paint your walls. You can either stop the limewash paint where the ceiling starts or paint the ceiling as well. I have an example of that in the list below.

The interior designer of this attic home picked out a light grey limewash paint. The wall paint complements the white paint on the ceiling and adds a subtle textured effect.

Styling by Bon Interior, photographed by Mariah Salander for Bjurfors

Light grey limewash paint in an open-plan living room

The tick white trim below the ceilings contrasts against the light grey lime paint in this space. The complementary warm textiles add a warm and inviting atmosphere to the interior.

Styling by Grey Deco, photographed by Anders Bergstedt for Alvhem

A dark grey lime paint for a dramatic effect

This beautiful living space has dark grey limewash paint on the walls. Against this dark tone, the white trim and tall floorboards stand out. This adds a strong contrast, yet the white surfaces lighten up the space a bit as well.

The dark color palette in the furniture pieces pops out from the light hardwood flooring.

via Historiska Hem

Inspiring limewash bedroom wall designs

Light grey limewash paint and black accents in a spacious bedroom

Where traditional paint will look flatter, limewash paints are great for adding extra dimension to an otherwise minimal interior. You can see the subtle brush strokes on the wall in the bedroom below. If you don’t like this many brush strokes, you add another coat.

The black lamps and the textiles on the bed contrast with the natural pigments in the paint. I love the warm tones on the duvet cover and the artwork on the wall. They contrast with the cool undertones of the grey limewash paint.

Styled by Grey Deco, photographed by Fredrik j Karlsson for Alvhem

Warm grey lime wash paint paired with wood and brass accents

The warm grey limewash paint used in this bedroom adds a warm glow to this marvelous interior. The paint texture adds a cozy and inviting touch to the space, contrasted by a white baseboard on the bottom.

The gold candle wall scones and the mirror are the only decorations present on the wall. This scarcity allows the lime paint to shine in the bedroom interior.

via Alvhem

A dark grey bedroom limewash wall stands out in a white interior

The darker color limewash walls are a real focal point in this interior with white living room walls. The dark grey contrasts with the natural wood double doors. Green plants connect both room styles and add a fresh touch.

via Stadshem

A rustic effect with lime wash paint and a vintage sideboard

This cozy bedroom features a beautiful combination of different textures. The lime paint texture complements the distressed look of the vintage dresser. The darker backdrop makes the vintage piece stand out.

via Stadshem

A subtle sage green bedroom with a limewash finish

This historic bedroom interior features sage-green walls with a limewash texture. The limewash makes the historic architectural features and the built-in wardrobe stand out.

via Alvhem

Grey Limewash paint combined with white window frames and a burgundy linen curtain

I love the texture the limewash paint gives this beautiful bedroom with a warm color palette. The white-soaped floor and the white window frames stand out against this texture. Finally, the burgundy tint on the linen curtain and the lamp add even more character to this bedroom.

via Historiska Hem

A grey limewash paint is the base for a sophisticated and elegant look

The grey texture on the wall makes for the perfect backdrop for the elegant textiles in the space. The white fabric pendant light and the light oak stool behind the bed stand out in this color palette. As the cherry on top, the elegant thin black table lamps add a lovely touch of contrast.

Styled by Pella Hedeby, art director Therese Sennerholt, photographed by Erik Lefvander for Länna Mobler

A peach limewash paint paired with a white wardrobe and ceiling

The peach limewash treatment covers the entire wall structure in this bedroom interior. This results in such an impressive effect. The negative space of the white ceiling section makes the room look taller. For added contrast, the off-white wardrobe doors stand out against the warm wall color.

via Unika Hem

A contrasting grey with blue undertones paired with a white wardrobe

The beautiful grey limewash paint on the wall in this bedroom has blue undertones. These cool tones contrast with the impressive white wardrobe against the wall.

The mirror and the wall lamps pop out against the backdrop of the lime paint.

Styled by Grey Deco, photographed by Janne Olander for Stadshem

A rich green lime paint contrasted by white textiles on the canopy bed

The rich green texture on the bedroom walls in the example below adds a dramatic look to the space. The white and beige textiles on the canopy bed light up the palette.

Styling by Grey Deco, photographed by Anders Bergstedt for Alvhem

Grey limewash paint and white accents

On this beautiful bedroom wall, the brush strokes are clear and visible. A second coat could make this effect more subtle.

The dark grey color of the limewash paint makes the white linen bedding and white wall lamps stand out.

The living room walls are painted with the same grey limewash paint for an integrated effect.

Styled by Grey Deco, photographed by Janne Olander for Stadshem

Blue limewash paint for a contrasting bedroom effect

Grey and beige are the most common color choices when picking out limewash paint. Yet this blue color variant looks so beautiful as well.

Blue is a perfect color for a bedroom, as it adds a fresh touch to the interior. This dark blue variant has a dramatic touch to it from which the lighter colors pop out.

via Entrance Makleri

Visible texture in the limewash paint brush strokes and a boho touch

The rattan headboard gives this bedroom a boho touch, complementing the limewash walls. The mixture of pink and peach textiles on the bed brings out the warm undertones of the limewash paint. Right below the ceiling, the moldings stand out against the wall.

via Alvhem

A subtle grey lime paint with a matte finish and a light wood bed

Grey limewash paint can have a subtle industrial concrete touch to it. The resemblance with a concrete finish depends on the direction of the brush strokes.

This bedroom pairs a grey limewash paint with a wood bed for an industrial yet Scandinavian look.

Styled by Pella Hedeby, photographed by Ragnar Ómarsson for IKEA Livet Hemma

A moody bedroom with dark grey limewash paint

This is the darkest tint of limewash paint on the list. This dark color has a dramatic effect on this attic bedroom space. The sloped walls also have paint on them, yet the ceiling is white so the look doesn’t become too heavy.

via Wrede

Beige limewash paint for a warm look with soft tonal variations

The warming color palette of this bedroom starts with the beige limewash paint as the basis for the look. Additionally, the vintage bedside tables, art prints, and warm textiles add more coziness.

The texture of the wall has an impressive effect on the space. This eliminates the need for a lot of details and accessories.

Styled by Linnéa H. Manaberi for Kvarteret Makleri

Limewash accent wall

A lime paint accent in between brick walls

A limewash accent wall is a great way to accentuate an interior feature. Limewash paint makes the niche between a brick arch stand out even more in this bedroom.

The white shelving stands out against the beautiful textured backdrop. It’s the perfect spot for precious deco items.

Styling by team Sarah Widman for  Alvhem

Grey limewash paint in a small and cozy apartment

Painting the entire interior with limewash paint is too much for some people. Alternatively, you can work with an accent wall in lime paint. In the example below, the grey limewash is paired with white paint. This creates an interesting effect in the room.

Styled by Bon Interior, photographed by Jens Eliasson for Bjurfors

Limewash paint in the kitchen

Beige limewash paint behind black kitchen cabinets

In this kitchen, the black cabinets pop out against a soft beige backdrop of limewash paint. The beige wall color softens the contrast between the cabinet color and the walls.

Styling by Grey Deco, photographed by Anders Bergstedt for Alvhem

Lime paint on the walls and ceiling

This spacious living kitchen has tall sloped ceilings. Both wall and ceiling surfaces have limewash paint on them for a monotone textured look.

The textural effect is much more impressive when you paint the entire space. The black furniture pieces and white kitchen stand out against this textured backdrop.

Styled by Copparstad, photographed by Boukari for Historiska Hem

A sage green limewash wall complements a sage green kitchen

The sage-green limewash paint on the walls complements the gorgeous sage-green kitchen cabinets. This tone-on-tone look has an impressive effect on the space.

Styled by Annica Clarmell and Emma Fischer, photographed by Janne Olander for Stadshem

Beige limewash walls complement exposed brick

The beige lime paint complements the brick wall surfaces in this living kitchen. Additionally, the limewash-painted walls make the crisp white kitchen cabinets stand out.

Styled by Linnéa H. Manaberi, photographed by Fredrik Karlsson for Alvhem

How to apply limewash paints

Do I need a primer?

Limewash paint can be used in the interior and exterior of a home. It works on wood, masonry surfaces, previously painted surfaces, and plastered walls. Whether you need a primer depends on the porosity of your surface.

If you are painting limewash paint on drywall or previously painted surfaces you will need a base coat. A mineral-based primer or acrylic-based primer will create a microporous surface. Note that the amount of limewash paint you need will also depend on the surface porosity. Porous surfaces will need much more than non-porous surfaces.

How to apply limewash paint

Limewash paint should be applied using several coats with a big brush. By doing this, you can create the desired finish. The ‘up and down’ method will deliver a more plain result. Use the ‘x-strokes’ method for a cloudy effect and a mottled appearance. More info about that here.

There is no right or wrong way to apply limewash paint. You can work with several thin coats to get the desired effect. At least two coats are necessary, as one coat shows all the streaks.

Apply the first coat and then see if you want to make changes to the texture in the next coat.

Where to get Limewash paint

Kalklitir has a beautiful collection of eco-friendly limewash paints with a nuanced texture. I love browsing through the interior spaces with limewashed walls on their Instagram.

Bauwerk colour has one of the biggest color catalogs for limewashed walls in any color or shade. They have great examples on their website as well to get some color inspiration.

For those of you based in US, Portola Paints might be a great local option, you can have a look at their website here.

Can you DIY limewash paint?

While I haven’t tried this myself, it is possible to make your own limewash paint. You would need to make a lime putty from water mixed with hydrated lime. The last one can be purchased in the hardware store. You then use natural pigments to get the desired color.