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ECO-FRIENDLY WALL FINISHES TO CONSIDER
How to decorate with paint
Invited Guest Contributor: Stephen Treffinger Photo: Jacob Fox
If you want to transform a white box of a room into a space with depth and character, nothing does the trick better than a specialty wall treatment. These eco-friendly options contain natural ingredients like lime, ground marble, and even milk protein to avoid a flat paint look.
Some finishes, like chalk-finish paint and limewash, are applied like regular paint; others, such as milk paint and tadelakt, come as powders you first mix with water. Still others, like Venetian plaster and Roman clay, begin as thicker putties you layer onto a wall with a trowel.
The application processes vary from quick, one-step coatings to multistep jobs that require extra work—including priming and sealing. Here are some listed in order from the easiest to apply to the most labor-intensive. (and I will leave tadelakt for another time!)
CHALK FINISH PAINT
Made from calcium carbonate, pigments, and water, chalk-finish paint is a non-toxic, water-based formula that’s low in VOCs (the smelly chemicals found in a lot of paint). As the name suggests, it dries with a soft matte, chalky finish. The formula comes premixed and can be applied with a brush or a roller. It’s known for having a thick consistency that easily covers wood, metal, plastic, and glass, usually with little or no prep (but do prime unfinished wood). Chalk Paint bathes walls in a soft, velvety finish. It’s all about the patina. A matte finish absorbs light rather than reflecting it.
Chalk finish paint yields a smooth, even surface that blurs textures well, so you end up with something that can hide the grain of wood like oak for a modern look. You can leave the finish as is, though uncoated surfaces will be susceptible to getting distressed (which can be beautiful) or stained (which is not).
LIMEWASH
This weathered finish is made from crushed burned limestone, natural pigments, and water and is zero-VOC. Due to the way light bounces off crystals that form when it cures, limewash seems to change color depending on the light. It will give you the look of plaster in a medium that’s easier to apply—it’s brushed on using quick cross strokes as if you’re painting overlapping Xs. It shows where you stop and start, creating a mottled effect, so aim to do the whole wall in one shot. You can also apply limewash directly over surfaces like brick and stucco.
MILK PAINT
This zero-VOC, nearly matte finish contains casein (a protein derived from cow’s milk), calcium carbonate (lime), pigments, and other natural ingredients. It has a subtle, velvety sheen that some like for its antique feel, especially as it may crack and chip if you don’t apply a top coat, allowing you to achieve a distressed look.
VENETIAN PLASTER
Also called lime plaster, this ancient, naturally low-VOC finish consists of a putty made from limestone and/or marble dust mixed with calcium carbonate, pigments, and water. Although it’s been around since Greek and Roman times, it is well-suited to modern interiors because of its durable, architectural finish that can even help absorb sound.
ROMAN CLAY
This ultralow-VOC paste is made from a gypsum plaster base that dries with a mottled finish and a stonelike texture that has a soft, tactile feel. Roman clay is similar to Venetian plaster but with a more organic quality. “It immediately creates warmth, texture, and coziness within a space. The look can create an effect that resembles natural stone.
TADELAKT
This is the most difficult finish to achieve. I would leave this up to an expert or someone who has had experience working in this medium. This finish, pronounced tad-eh-lact, was developed in Morocco centuries ago and is traditionally used by mixing lime plaster, applying it to the wall, then rubbing olive oil soap into the surface to make it waterproof. The finish is stunning and takes many steps to achieve. It is also expensive to install.
If you are looking for more than just a flat wall coating- one of these techniques would certainly add glamor and interest to any room in your home!
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