10 Limewash Wall Color Ideas That Add Old-World Elegance To Your Space

Whether you're wondering how to fill your blank walls or want to refresh a tired space, limewash paint can transform your home. Used for centuries in European countries like Italy, Greece, and France, the age-old formula that blends crushed limestone, water, and natural pigments to create a soft, matte finish has been gaining popularity in North America — and the trend isn't going anywhere anytime soon. This is because of the natural patina and suede-like texture it lends to walls, giving them a romantic, old-world feel that can add character.

"Limewash brings depth, texture, and personality into a home," Charlotte Cropper, color consultant at the Australian paint company Bauwerk Colour, said in an interview with Paint the Town Green. But its benefits go way beyond aesthetics — its also an eco-friendly option and can be an especially smart choice for older houses with damp issues, thanks to its breathable finish that allows moisture to evaporate. "Limewash paints are made from calcium carbonate, which absorbs carbon dioxide from the air, just like trees," explained Cropper. "They are made of natural, renewable resources and preservatives with natural antibacterial qualities, which create a healthy home environment." These qualities would also make limewash great for the bedroom if you want a better night's sleep.

While limewash looks amazing in warm, light neutrals, it can also make a room pop with darker, moodier hues. We've rounded up a list of the best shades, no matter what style you're going for. 

A perfect place to start if you're unsure about limewash walls, a neutral white is a great way to incorporate this paint trend into your home. It offers the right amount of texture, without taking away from the other design elements of your space — think of it more like the supporting character rather than a lead. Perfect for creating a clean-looking space, pair a neutral white shade like Bianca from James Alexander with soft, cream-colored fabrics and light woods to turn your space into a bright and airy oasis.

To complement the earthy texture of limewash paint, try a soothing green shade like sage or moss. It brings a natural pop of color while instantly elevating the room's sophistication. Better yet, green is known to boost well-being, making it an ideal choice for bedrooms and living rooms. Make it the star of the show by pairing it with neutral decor in whites or beiges, or lean into its cozy vibe with accents of warm browns, deep navy, or even metallic copper and brass.

Another earth tone that works beautifully as a limewash-painted wall is terracotta. Offering a wide variety of shades with undertones of pinks, oranges, and reddish-browns, the color can bring a warm, sun-soaked feel to any room, instantly adding coziness. Inspired by the color of terracotta clay, this shade looks great in a room with a lot of organic elements like wood accents and really pops against white and cream furniture. It also lends itself easily to a relaxed, boho vibe, making it a perfect choice if that's the aesthetic you're after.

Similar to the positive effects of green, dark brown shades have a strong connection to nature that can make a space feel more grounded. Choosing a softer brown limewash like caramel or mocha will bring feelings of warmth and calm to the room, while deeper tones like umber and espresso can create a rich, moody atmosphere. The color also offers a timeless, rustic quality, which pairs perfectly with the lived-in texture of limewash. To really transform your space, consider color drenching the room — a technique that works especially well with brown.

Although a little more on the daring side, an eggplant-inspired limewash color — like this Dusty Purple from Bauwerk Colour or this Melanzana Limewash Paint from James Alexander — can add a touch of luxury to your space while still bringing a warm and inviting ambiance. An incredibly expressive color, a purple limewash-painted room can take on multiple personalities. Pair it with crisp white furniture and light wood accents — think woods like pine and birch — to keep the space feeling bright and inviting. Or, decorate with brown leather furniture and dark woods like walnut and mahogany for more of a dramatic statement.

Is there any color more romantic than pink? If you're going for a warm, feminine aesthetic with your limewash walls, then look no further than a soft, dusty shade of pink. Known for inspiring feelings of calm, pink-painted walls can have a similar effect to white by making smaller spaces feel more open. So something like Muse Lime Paint from Color Atelier would be especially beautiful in a small bedroom with limited natural light. And since light pink limewash is often seen used in old-world countries like France, bringing it into your space will add a touch of timeless European charm.

It might be a cool tone, but the color blue can bring an incredible amount of tranquility to a room. A deep blue limewash, like Bauwerk Colour's Docklands shade, would make a striking accent wall in a living room — pair it with soft white and blush pink décor pieces for a refined look or dark wood elements for added sophistication. It also works beautifully in a bedroom, especially since blue tones can promote relaxation and lead to better sleep.

A safe neutral that brings endless warmth into your space, a tan or peach-hued beige limewash works beautifully in just about any room of the house. It creates an inviting, tranquil vibe and looks especially radiant in spaces filled with natural light. Crisp white decor and medium-toned woods such as cherry and hickory offer perfect harmony with this shade, as do brass and copper accents. Thanks to its clean, minimalist look, it's also a great candidate for color drenching.

Although light gray walls are among the once-trendy paint colors that have gone out of style in 2025, with people often criticizing them for feeling cold or clinical, gray limewash is the exception. The texture adds warmth and depth, softening the cool undertones. As a versatile neutral, a light gray limewash shade can provide the perfect minimalist setting for your space. And if you're still worried about the room being too cool, try a warmer gray like Color Atelier's Béton Grey with olive undertones, or consider incorporating natural wood accents to bring in extra warmth.

While many limewash paint colors create a timeless or rustic look, dark gray walls can add a more modern edge while still holding on to that cozy feel. If you're considering a dramatic shade like charcoal or slate gray, keep the room's size in mind, since darker colors can make a space feel smaller. That doesn't mean you need to avoid them, though — just make sure to bring in elements that will break up the darkness, such as metallic light fixtures or pale woods. In larger rooms, you could lean into the moodiness a little more by pairing dark walls with black or navy furniture for a bold, stylish statement.