What is Mineral Finish? A lime wash-style mineral paint that gives walls texture

What is mineral paint, and why does the wall look alive?

Ordinary wall paint aims for a surface that is even from edge to edge. Mineral paint aims to give the wall a story. Voqe Mineral Finish is a limewash-style mineral paint made with natural minerals. It dries matt, with the texture and depth of plastered walls in old European houses.

Put simply, it is the difference between a hand-thrown ceramic plate and a factory-made one. Both hold your rice just as well, but the hand-thrown one carries fingerprints and light and dark tones that hold your eye for longer.

It is easy to live with, too. The formula is low VOC, breathable and mould-resistant, which matters a great deal in a humid climate like ours.

The two-tone system: Light Shade and Shadow Shade

What makes Mineral Finish special is in the box. Every set comes as two tins: the same shade in two tones, Light Shade, the bright tone, and Shadow Shade, the darker one.

As you paint, alternate the two tones in criss-crossing directions, one layer this way and the next layer that way. The pattern and depth come from the hand doing the painting. Long sweeps give a calm surface; short, close criss-cross strokes give one with more movement. So every wall is its own.

• Tools: a large paintbrush, a roller or a sponge
• Stir before use; add 5–10% clean water if needed
• System: 1 coat of primer and 2 coats of Mineral Finish
• Touch dry in 20–30 minutes, hard dry in 1–2 hours, recoat after 1–2 hours

Where can you use Mineral Finish for a textured wall?

According to the technical data sheet, Mineral Finish can be used on both interior and exterior walls, and the collection page describes a smooth, seamless mineral surface for both walls and floors.

The rooms people tend to start with are the wall behind the bed, the wall behind the sofa, the entrance hall and the feature wall in a shop or café, because these are the walls people look at longest. Exterior walls, such as a boundary wall or the wall beside the front door, work too; just finish them with Sealer.

On new concrete, let the render cure for at least 1 month first, then apply Voqe Primer new concrete. On older walls, use Voqe Primer old concrete. Either primer needs only 1 coat.

The 38 Mineral Finish shades by colour family

The 38 shades are named after things Thai people know well, from Silom Dust and Chao Phraya Sand to Phu Kha Coffee. They are grouped into 6 families to make choosing easier.

• Whites and creams: Yogurt, Seashell, Egg Custard, Cut Glass
• Beiges, sands and stones: Chill Beige, Chao Phraya Sand, Toasted Rice, Bang Saphan Dust, Silom Dust, Latte, Pebble, Charoenkrung Plaster, Quiet Luxury
• Browns and earth tones: Tamarind, Milo, Phu Kha Coffee, Sappan
• Greens: The Ex's House, Siam Olive, Asoke Traffic, Coastal Pine
• Blues: Phuket Bay, Chiang Dao Blue, Doi Luang Blue, Squid Ink
• Pinks, peaches and purples: Strawberry Pink, Sweet Shrimp Paste, Sorghum Pink, Gossip Peach, Young Peach, Shrimp Paste, New Crush, Cherry Blossoms, Smoked Salmon, Rose Pink, Rose Apple, Purple Cabbage, Mao Berry

Mineral Sealer or Mineral Wax: which finish should you choose?

Voqe Mineral Sealer is a clear satin coat in a water-based acrylic formula, for interior and exterior use. It is ready to use with no mixing. It goes on milky white and dries clear, and it does not turn white when it gets wet. It covers 145–155 sq m per gallon per coat. It costs ฿1,400 (0.946 litres) and ฿3,900 (3.785 litres).

Voqe Mineral Wax is a clear semi-gloss coat in a water-based acrylic formula with added wax, for interior use only. It leaves a soft, smooth film that you can buff to a higher sheen. It helps resist dirt, makes the wall easier to wipe clean and adds durability. It costs ฿1,195 (0.946 litres) and ฿3,495 (3.785 litres).

• Choose Sealer for a clear satin finish, exterior walls, or spots that catch splashes
• Choose Wax for a glossier finish on interior walls that are touched and wiped often

Who is Mineral Finish for, and how do you start?

It suits anyone tired of flat, plain walls who wants a wall that looks handmade; anyone who loves loft, wabi-sabi or natural-toned homes; and shop owners who want a feature wall that looks good in photos.

Set 2QT, at ฿1,180, suits a small feature wall. Set 2GL, at ฿2,998, is for a large wall or several walls. Every shade comes in a sample pot so you can try it first, or you can see the real finish at Voqe Studio (Bang Phli), open Monday to Friday, 8:00–16:30. If you would rather not paint it yourself, our Supply & Apply service sends trained applicators with the paint.