Interior Walls with movement effects are trending! Lucky for you, Romabio offers an authentic mineral-based paint, Velatura Mineralwash, to create the beautiful, subtle movement effect of Interior limewash. Two easy steps. No primer is needed!
Romabio only manufactures authentic Italian mineral and lime-based paints that are healthy, Zero VOC, odorless, and give artistic effects you can’t achieve with traditional paints. I’ve painted with our Velatura Mineralwash and here are my nine helpful tips and techniques when applying Interior limewash paint.
Velatura Mineralwash – Interior Limewash
#1. No primer is needed.
Romabio formulated Velatura Mineralwash for ease of use. One advantage is you don’t have to apply a primer prior to application. This allows you, a DIYer, to dive right into your first coat using the crosshatch technique!
#2. How to pick a color.
Color choices are unlimited if you purchase through one of our Retailers (call first to see if they have it in-stock) or online at Rings End (they will ship you a custom color) or you can buy one of our pre-tinted colors on Amazon.
The key to colors and creating a unique limewash effect is making sure there is enough contrast between the 1st and 2nd coat. Darker colors work fine with tone on tone or as the same color for 1st and 2nd coat, but for light to medium colors, you will need the 1st coat to be slightly darker than the 2nd coat. We recommend going two shades down the paint color chip card.
For example, if you want a moody gray, you could pick Benjamin Moore Equestrian Gray 1553 as the 1st coat and La Paloma Gray 1551 as the 2nd coat or even River Reflections 1552 as the 1st coat and Cumulus Cloud 1550 as the 2nd coat.
In the next tip, I will walk you through the Romabio color combos available.
#3. Romabio color combinations work beautifully.
Romabio offers select colors on Amazon that work very well in combination for a beautiful Interior limewash effect.
- Nube Gray 1st Coat + Bianco White 2nd Coat – a gorgeous soft, cool tone white perfect for subtle limewash walls (See Image)
Nube Grey (1st) + Bianco White (2nd) - Riposo Beige 1st Coat + Bianco White 2nd Coat – similar to the above, a soft, warm tone white perfect for subtle limewash walls (Image #3 Below)
- Instant Chateau 1st & 2nd Coat – a cool tone, modern beige color for a subtle limewash effect when applied tone on tone
- Instant Chateau 1st Coat + Bianco White 2nd Coat – a cool tone, modern beige color and when 2nd coat is applied with Bianco White, it has an even more dramatic effect
- Venice Blush 1st & 2nd Coat – a warm pink hue that is reminiscent of buildings in Venice, Italy to give you a pop of color and an authentic finish
- Venice Blush 1st Coat + Bianco White 2nd Coat – a warm pink color as the 1st coat and when 2nd coat is applied with Bianco White, it has a more noticeable movement effect (Image #1 Below)
- New Hope 1st & 2nd Coat – a darker blue-green color that is a deep, beautiful color that can be applied tone on tone
- Blue Ridge Parkway 1st & 2nd Coat – a rich, moody navy blue that can be applied tone on tone (Image #2 Below)
- Celtic Stone 1st & 2nd Coat – a perfect smoky shade of ‘almost black’ that can be applied tone on tone
We don’t recommend Bianco White as a 1st and 2nd coat application as you would not get any visible movement effect. This would be similar to other Romabio Whites like Avorio White or Cristallo White so make sure you have enough contrast for the 1st and 2nd coat if you are trying to achieve a lighter, white tone effect.
#4. Test it before you start.
Creating the Interior limewash effect takes some artistic license so if you want to feel comfortable with your color and cross-hatch technique, we recommend using sample drywall boards to practice prior to painting. Buy them at your local hardware store and apply Velatura Mineralwash in two coats just like you would on your wall.
If you apply the product on your wall as a sample, this works fine too. But keep in mind that when painting the wall you need to start and finish and do the same effect on the entire wall, just like you would to cover any painted area.
Romabio offers 1L/2.5L sizes of Velatura Mineralwash that cover 140-300 sq/ft perfect for testing and sampling colors.
#5. Dilution is important.
Romabio Veltura Mineralwash must be diluted on the 2nd coat only!
The first coat can be applied with no dilution or just a bit (max 5%). The 2nd coat, we recommend starting with a 75% dilution (1 part paint to 3/4 part water). If you want to do a 3rd coat, then add even more water like 100-150% dilution. Don’t exceed 150% dilution (1 part product to 1-1/2 parts water).
#6. The 1st coat should fully cover and must be crosshatched.
To achieve the Interior limewash effect of subtle movement the key is that the 1st coat must be crosshatched and fully cover the whole surface with random strokes. Some areas can have more coverage than others, but this top coat establishes varying layers of absorbency which is how the movement is ultimately created.
When working with lighter colors on a lighter wall, you may not see the paint as well, but do your best to use the cross-hatch technique and not to apply it like you would with traditional wall paint.
Also, because you don’t dilute the 1st coat, you’ll find that if you are not used to cross-hatching it may get a little tiresome (or it did for me!). The great thing about Romabio Velatura Mineralwash is you can have multiple applicators working the same wall! This is because the product is formulated with ease of application and the different applicators can create a similar effect.
#7. The 2nd coat you can have more fun.
Creating the Interior limewash effect is an artistic finish so there are no absolutes. For the second coat, you can use the crosshatch technique and/or cloth technique and/or can increase dilution.
As you are applying the 2nd coat, what you see is usually what you get. It will dry a little lighter but you should work it to get the look you want. Don’t be afraid to take a cloth and water spray bottle to work it into the wall and then brush over it. This is the time to be an artist!
#8. Paint corner to corner but you have time.
Unlike some other limewash products, Romabio Velatura Mineralwash is forgiving. You should plan on painting the full wall, corner to corner at the same time, but if you see something on the wall you don’t like while you are painting, you can go back and work it out. As mentioned above, this is why you can have multiple applicators working the same wall, a huge advantage to getting a project done quickly!
The 1st coat should dry to the touch (usually 2-6 hours depending on humidity and temperature) before you start the 2nd coat, but you don’t have to finish the whole project in a day. You can apply the 1st coat one day and come back to do the 2nd coat later.
#9. Don’t cut in like you would with traditional paint.
I made the mistake of doing a normal, straight cut-in on the 1st coat. This created a line going down the wall edge instead of movement going away from the corners. The key is that you want to crosshatch away from corners and keep the product moving. Try not to do any straight lines or traditional cut-ins as you may see that on the finish coat.
Have more questions? We are here to help! Our amazing customer service team has used Velatura Mineralwash and they can answer any questions or concerns you have. Email us at [email protected].
Happy Painting!
Leslie
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