How is limewash different from house paint? A point-by-point comparison before you choose for your walls

They differ in how they hold on to the wall

Acrylic house paint is like a raincoat over your wall. As the water evaporates, the paint binds into a thin film that sits on the surface. That film is what makes paint smooth, even and wipeable.

Limewash works another way. It's like skin tanned by the sun: part of the wall itself. The lime soaks into the pores of the plaster, then slowly hardens back into limestone by absorbing carbon dioxide from the air. There's no film on top. This one difference explains almost everything else.

Limewash vs house paint, point by point

A quick comparison for anyone who wants the big picture first.

• Look: limewash is chalky matt and cloudy, and changes with the light; house paint is smooth and even, available from matt to semi-gloss
• Surfaces: limewash needs an absorbent mineral surface such as bare plaster, brick or stone; house paint goes on plaster, gypsum board and correctly primed surfaces
• Breathability: limewash lets moisture escape very well; house paint less so because of its film, and it varies by brand
• Durability: limewash wears slowly and needs recoating, especially outside; house paint stands up to rubbing and weather for longer
• Cleaning: limewash can be dusted but shouldn't be scrubbed; most house paints can be wiped with a damp cloth
• Colour range: limewash comes in soft earth and mineral tones; house paint runs from white to vivid brights
• Consistency: each batch of limewash may differ slightly; house paint can be remixed to a closer match
• Safety when applying: wet lime burns skin, so gloves and eye protection are needed; water-based acrylic is easier to handle

In a hot, humid Thai home, which has the edge?

Breathability matters a great deal for walls with moisture inside them, such as old brick walls, walls in contact with the ground, or old buildings plastered in lime. Seal them with a film and the moisture has no way out, so the paint blisters or peels. This is where limewash has a clear advantage.

But to be complete: breathability doesn't fix leaks or seepage. If a wall is damp because of a leaking pipe or roof, fix the cause before painting anything. And on exterior walls hit by rain every year, limewash wears faster. A good-quality house paint on a dry wall with the right primer is still the easier-care choice for most homes.

The effort and time you pay, which isn't on the price tag

Many people only compare the price per tin, but the real cost of a wall is the effort and time it takes, both to apply and to look after for years to come.

• Limewash: dampen the wall before applying, apply several thin coats, wait for each one to harden, use an experienced hand so joins don't show as patches, and plan to recoat exterior walls from time to time
• House paint: one coat of primer, two top coats; a predictable process you can do yourself over a weekend, and it lasts a long time with hardly any attention
• What limewash gives back: a surface no one else has, and a wall that looks better with age instead of shabbier

Who should choose limewash, and who should choose house paint

There's no right answer for every home, only the right answer for each wall.

• Choose limewash if: your home is an old building plastered in lime, your walls are bare plaster or brick that has never been painted, you like a surface that changes over time, and you don't mind recoating
• Choose house paint if: you want the exact colour on the chart, the wall gets touched or played on by children a lot, it needs to be wipeable, or you want to paint it yourself and finish quickly
• Choose a limewash-style paint if: you want the cloudy matt look, but your walls are ordinary plaster that needs priming, and you want an easier process than real lime

Can you use both in the same home?

Yes, and it's often the smartest way. Give the walls that set the mood, such as the wall behind the bed, the wall behind the sofa or the entrance hall, a matt surface with depth. For hard-working walls like hallways, children's rooms and ceilings, use wipeable house paint. It's like a wardrobe with both a beautiful linen shirt and everyday T-shirts: each has its job.

The changeover between the two surfaces should fall at a corner or a clear edge, not in the middle of a wall. If you want the limewash look on a primed plaster wall, Voqe Mineral Finish is a limewash-style mineral paint applied with a brush, roller or sponge, and it sits comfortably alongside acrylic-painted walls in the same home.