How to Choose a Limewash Paint Color for Your Home

The #1 question we get about how to choose a brick limewash color is will the white color turn the brick pink after you paint and distress it when washing some off. The answer is no. Romabio Classico Limewash is an opaque paint that fully covers the brick and will not create a bleed through the surface. The beautiful thing about the limewash paint is after you paint, you can decide how much or little to wash off to achieve the look you want.

The more paint you wash off, the more dramatic the look becomes.

But, the dominant color for the exterior of the home will be the color you pick for the Classico Limewash paint. If this is the case, then how do you choose the right lime wash color for your home?

It’s not about the brick color. In almost all situations, the way to choose a lime wash color is to first look at the trim and roof color, then look at the brick color.  We have the perfect whites and neutrals  that will work with most homes.

Because Romabio Classico Limewash is made from authentic, Italian slaked-lime it can only be tinted to whites and mid-tone colors. The lime in the paint formulation does not allow it to be a dark color so if you want a daker color with a completely solid finish, then use Romabio Masonry Flat, an extremely durable, mineral-based paint made for brick and stone.

To decide which color to use, first understand what color tones you are working with for your home. Here are three color tone scenarios that are very common and which colors we recommend:

1. Cool Tones: If your  roof is slate or gray shingles and the trim color is a cool white or cool light gray, then you will want to choose a  cool, crisp white, like Bianco White, or a neutral white, like Avorio White which is our most popular color for that reason. These colors will complement the cool tones of the home, and are perfect exterior paint colors, almost regardless of the brick color.
   

2. Warm Tones: If the primary exterior trim is a very warm white, or has an espresso or other warm color accent trim color, mixed with a warm color roof and darker bricks, then we would recommend these three warmer limewash colors: Tropea Beige or Riposo Beige.
   

3. Mixed Tones: If your home has trim and roof colors that compete a little bit with each other where one is slightly warm tone, and the other one is slightly cool tone, then we would recommend a slightly cool color such as Nube Gray or a slightly warm color such as Cristallo White. This way you can lead your home nicely in one way or the other.  Or, you can choose the most neutral of them all, Avorio White and tie it all together.
   

Color selection is so important and the best way to make sure you get what you want is to order a 1 liter sample and test it first. The amazing thing about Romabio Classico Limewash is it can be removed within a couple days after you apply it.

Paint a small area on the brick surface and see if it’s the color you want. You can have your paint applicator show you a sample of the wash off effect too, and decide if it’s the look you want. If it’s not ideal, then remove it instantly with a pressure washer or diluted muriatic mixture (details in TDS).

We specially formulated Romabio Classico Limewash paint so it can be manipulated, and the advantage is you can test it first. It’s unlike any other brick paint in that way … enjoy the process!

And, if none of these colors are working “just right” for you, you can always color match through a retailer. Check out our Where to Buy locations and find a store near you where they can custom tint to any color you want. Or, if you have small project or fireplace, then buy our fireplace kit with everything you need. 

Happy Painting,

Michael