The best paint for a period home is one that suits what the walls are made of. Old houses with solid walls and lime plaster need to let moisture move through them, so breathable finishes such as distemper, limewash or a micro-porous flat emulsion are the right choice there. Where a period house has been replastered with modern gypsum or lined, a good quality modern matt is perfectly appropriate, and far more practical.
All three brands we stock make both. The skill is knowing which walls you have, and choosing a finish that looks and behaves as the house expects.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Slipper Satin (2004)
Why breathability matters in older houses
Most houses built before the early twentieth century were made with solid walls and lime-based plasters and mortars. They were designed to absorb a little moisture and release it again as conditions change. A tight, plastic-like paint film on top can slow that process, and moisture that cannot escape tends to show up as flaking paint, blown plaster or damp patches.
Breathable paints are vapour permeable, so the wall can carry on doing what it was built to do. That said, a breathable topcoat only helps if the layers beneath are breathable too. If an old wall has already been painted in modern emulsion, it is worth taking advice before deciding how far to go.
Breathable finishes compared
- Farrow & Ball Casein Distemper. A very flat 2% sheen with what Farrow & Ball describe as a breathable, permeable structure. Designed for interior lime-based plaster walls and ceilings in low-traffic areas.
- Farrow & Ball Soft Distemper. Recommended by Farrow & Ball for very detailed interior plasterwork and intricate mouldings only, such as cornices and ceiling roses.
- Farrow & Ball Limewash. A 2% sheen with exceptional breathability, for solid lime render exterior walls and interior lime plaster walls and ceilings. Farrow & Ball recommend professional application.
- Little Greene Distemper. A soft, chalky, very matt finish (less than 5% sheen), breathable and vapour permeable, and strengthened to be wipeable. Little Greene note it is commonly used in older and period buildings for sensitive restorations.
- Little Greene Limewash. For exterior use on lime render and porous stone, and suitable for old and damp-problematic walls. Colour builds up over four coats.
- Paint & Paper Library Pure Flat Emulsion. A dead flat 2% sheen for interior plaster walls and ceilings. Paint & Paper Library describe it as micro-porous, letting the building's fabric breathe, and gently wipeable.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colours Used: French Grey (113), Tuscan Red (140)
When a modern finish is the right choice
Many period homes have been replastered, at least in part, with modern gypsum plaster, or have lined walls. On those surfaces the case for breathable paint is much weaker, and a durable modern matt gives the same soft, flat look with easier upkeep.
- Living rooms and bedrooms. Farrow & Ball's Estate Emulsion (2% sheen) and Little Greene's Absolute Matt Emulsion (1 to 2%) are as chalky as most traditional finishes.
- Hallways and kitchens. Choose washable finishes such as Modern Emulsion, Intelligent Matt Emulsion or Architects' Matt.
- Woodwork. A low sheen suits old joinery best: Farrow & Ball's Flat Eggshell (20% sheen), Little Greene's Intelligent Eggshell (10 to 15%) or Paint & Paper Library's Architects' Eggshell (10 to 20%).
Colours that suit an older house
Period rooms tend to welcome colours with a little age in them: softened, earthy and never too bright. Old White (4) is, in Farrow & Ball's words, the most historic of their whites, and Hardwick White (5) one of the deepest and most grey-toned. French Grey (113) is a classic, versatile grey with balanced warmth, while Tuscan Red (140) is a chalky, earthy terracotta derived from iron oxide pigment. From Paint & Paper Library, Hunter Dunn (523) is a rich, characterful green with a romantic heritage, and the Stone series offers warm architectural neutrals for tonal schemes.
Photo Credit: Paint & Paper Library; Colours Used: Stone II (202), Stone IV (204), Hunter Dunn (523)
Before you start
- Find out what is on the walls. Lime plaster, gypsum and old distemper each need a different approach. A small test area tells you a great deal.
- Take care with old paint. Paint applied before the 1960s may contain lead. Do not dry sand it, and seek specialist advice if you are unsure.
- Follow the system. Breathable finishes work as a system, so use the primer or preparation each brand recommends rather than a modern sealer.
- Sample generously. Old houses often have low, soft light. Order sample pots and judge them on large boards in each room.
Questions we are often asked
Is distemper hard-wearing?
It is not as tough as a modern emulsion, which is why both Farrow & Ball and Little Greene position their distempers for walls and ceilings rather than busy, knocked surfaces. Little Greene's Distemper is strengthened to be wipeable.
Can I use limewash indoors?
Farrow & Ball's Limewash is suitable for interior lime plaster walls and ceilings as well as exterior lime render. Little Greene's Limewash is recommended for exterior use only.
Shop Farrow & Ball Casein Distemper
Little Greene Distemper · Pure Flat Emulsion · Farrow & Ball Limewash
