So when it comes to living rooms, we naturally look to a lemon wash to help provide just the right dose of texture. Its hand-painted shape and color combination make it a perfect living room idea—you can relax it with a darker shade, for example, or help reflect light with an off-white for a brighter space.
With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite living room lemon wash walls that showcase the versatility of wall finishes—and hopefully, inspire your next decorating project.
1. Texture construction with grooved application
(Image credit: Arsight)
The living room of this Tribeca apartment sees layers of texture build up through the use of lime wash and fluted plaster application on alcove walls on either side of the fireplace. ‘Our decision to incorporate lemon wash into the design was driven by a desire to offer a sense of imperfection and human touch, a quality that is hard to capture with manufactured items,’ says Artem Krobovinsky. (Opens in a new tab), founder of the interior design studio Arsight. “The hand-applied technology allowed us to create an environment that felt intimately tailored and customized.”
Artem chose a lime-wash green-gray paint color that complements the oak floors, marble, and fireplace. “This color not only complements existing materials, but also creates a relaxing atmosphere, reminiscent of natural stone elements,” he adds.
2. Add a fun touch with an unexpected color
(Image credit: Taylor + Taylor)
The Saltillo floor tiles in this space helped define the Taylor & Taylor scheme in Los Angeles. ‘(The tiles) had a thick, glossy finish: We stripped that down and wanted vibrant walls that played with pinks in the warm floor tones,’ says co-founder Jonathan Taylor. (Opens in a new tab). “These clients were particularly creative and were playing the game with a particularly vibrant trim color that really helps the whole space pop.”
3. Use a light lemon wash to lighten up a darker room
(Image credit: Matthew Williams. Designed by General Assembly)
At first glance, you might not even spot the lime texture adding interest to the walls of this Brooklyn home—but look closely and you can see how this subtle lime paint idea helps add lightness, layers, and a subtle contemporary touch to this living room and its period features.
“We love using lime wash in our projects because it adds depth to a space by creating contrast in the way the light hits the subtle variations on the wall,” says Sara Zamis. (Opens in a new tab), founder of New York Studio General Assembly, who designed this project. “Not only does a lemon wash create a more textured feel, but there are also many health benefits to using it over traditional paint.”
4. Or embrace your bolder side with a moody color
(Image credit: Brian Wetzel. Design by Madeline Interiors. Design by Christie Hunter)
The myriad shades of lemon lacquer mean you can evoke completely different feelings with the same textural finish. Light colors will help bounce light, grays will maximize the modern industrial aesthetic, and darker colors help make this wall finish feel more cocooning—as this cozy living room shows.
“I was focused on creating the experience and feel of a traditional den, but in a fresh, organic way,” says Madeline Howes. (Opens in a new tab), founder of Madeline Interiors, who designed the space. “Painting the walls with a dark lime wash of Portola Paint brings the feeling of darkness and cocooning without the heaviness; movement in the application of lime wash brings airiness to the space.”
5. Use lime wash to mark period characteristics
(Image credit: Simone Bossi. Design by McLaren.Excell)
Thanks to its versatility, a lime wall finish is a popular paint idea—but of course, stucco plaster itself dates back centuries. This makes the lime wash a strong choice for period properties – and creates a lovely contrast with features such as coving and original fireplaces.
For Downshire Hill, a project by London architecture and interior design firm McLaren, the brief was tough: The building was partly listed, part 20th century. “It was a welcome challenge by the studio,” says co-founder Luke McLaren. (Opens in a new tab). “The listed nature of the building meant externally that we needed to be careful and sensitive in approach. But inside, it was an entirely different story. We were able to peel away decades of wallpaper and successive layers of paint schemes to reveal the original lime-covered walls. We found it had a natural feel to it.” Beautiful on its own so we decided to celebrate the beauty of this more traditional material.
The lime paint helped seal the roof and smooth the color palette through the house. “In revealing the building’s origins, the limestone stucco speaks to the wider design story, but in our studio-realistic approach, we worked for a contemporary aesthetic without compromising integrity,” Locke adds.
6. Mix lemon with a palette of contrasting textures
(Image credit: Run For The Hills)
This cinema room from London studio Run For The Hills is a master class in how to give texture to walls, incorporating a lime wash in a way that feels comforting, but also surprising. “We love finding ways to use cool design elements in unexpected ways, so we chose to design some glass partition screens embedded in the entrance hall wall all the way to our cinema room,” explains founding creative director Anna Borls. (Opens in a new tab). “We worked with Perla to paint it in a low-gloss finish, in contrast to the interesting textured lime glaze.”
For paints, Anna played with contrast, using harmonious shades with different textures: “Eco-friendly brand Earthborn (Opens in a new tab)“Lifestyle” solid block olive green to a highly visible paint line of dado elevation to create a rich, relaxing environment, and then Powerque’s gorgeous textured lime wash with a deep hawthorn green. (Opens in a new tab)It is applied with a brush for a dramatic, cloudy, vintage effect. Layering adds depth and creative personality to a space — we love the two-tone effect of the paint and the pop of wallpaper in the background. We stylists love our layers!
7. Use a matte finish to emphasize architectural curves
(Image credit: Stephen Kent Johnson. Design by Giancarlo Valli Studio)
The sumptuous curves in this living room by Studio Giancarlo Valle in New York (Opens in a new tab) It is emphasized by the lime finish that coats the walls, cabinets, and ceiling. Because of its texture and the way it plays light, lime paint can be a strong choice for accentuating architectural details in this way: The shifting matte texture draws attention to the three-dimensional elements of a space.
Combined with circular sofas, chartreuse and sculptural ceramic floor lighting, this space embodies the meaning of Minimaluxe.
8. Choose cool gray tones for a strong contemporary scheme
(Image credit: Tim Hirschmann. Design by Aesthetics Studio)
While a warm-toned lime wash can soften spaces and work with traditional settings, cooler tones like gray have more of an industrial interior feel—and therefore fit well with contemporary spaces.
But for anyone put off by the idea of cooler shades, let this living room by Los Angeles, California-based studio Aesthetics reassure you: The hand-painted effect of a lemon wash ensures this look is still homey rather than commercial. ‘I love using lime paint because it can add depth and subtle texture to any space,’ says studio founder Victoria Adisanmi. (Opens in a new tab). “Personally, I gravitate toward things with a slight patina and wabi-sabi elements.”
9. Match with the rest of the room’s surfaces
(Image credit: Salva López. Design by Studio Andrew Trotter)
A surefire way to create a soothing living room scheme (because who wouldn’t want one of those?) is to choose a tonal approach to your color palette. Limewash is a great choice for a wall finish for a scheme like this because its texture helps set it apart from similar colors. Elsewhere, choose stone floors and upholstered furniture that can pick up the same tones—and again, add extra texture that’s always useful in a scheme like this one.
For Studio Andrew Trotter, this approach has succeeded in creating a comfortable space. ‘An earthy lime wash was chosen for the interior and exterior walls of the house,’ says Marcelo Martinez. (Opens in a new tab), studio manager and partner. “Based on this choice, the flooring and furniture materials were chosen, always striving to achieve an atmosphere of lightness and calm.”
10. Create a two-tone wall with texture
(Image credit: James Brittain. Design by AtelierCarle)
Two-tone walls are a popular motif, but in this scheme by Montreal-based architectural firm AtelierCarle (Opens in a new tab)Warm, warm lime on the top half of the wall is paired with a soft gray fireplace on the bottom half—a game of contrasts that pays off for this space thanks to its high ceilings. Note also the use of concrete on the floor and wood on the roof – each material supporting its counterpart on the wall.
