The journal

Natural Paint for Walls

29 July 2024 6 min read

What is natural paint, and why choose it? Find out more about natural paint for interior and exterior walls.

We all know natural is best when it comes to food; we're encouraged to check the ingredients list and watch for chemical additives and preservatives. But have you ever thought to check the ingredients on a paint tin? As with food, you may be surprised by the lack of natural ingredients and the presence of chemicals, solvents and preservatives in conventional paint.

Just as you might not want artificial additives inside your body, toxic paint components on your walls end up in the air you and your family breathe daily. Natural or eco-friendly paint is a healthier alternative, so next time your walls need repainting, consider it. Here we give you the lowdown on natural paint for walls and answer your frequently asked questions.

Small timber summer house with walls and door painted in green Artichoke BH.13 at the end of a garden — A timber garden summer house painted in Artichoke BH.13, seen across a lawn

What are natural-ingredient paints?

Natural paints are made with raw materials and natural ingredients, so they have a lower environmental impact and are kinder to you and your family, made without toxic additives and preservatives and free (or virtually free) from volatile organic compounds, the harmful chemicals that get released into the air and contribute to global warming. Natural paints are zero- or low-VOC. Natural paint improves indoor air quality with low emissions; it's breathable and purifies the environment rather than adding chemicals to the air around us.

What's wrong with conventional paint?

Long ago, paint contained lead and particularly toxic chemicals, and later acrylic paint and vinyl wallpaper were commonplace. While modern conventional paint is an improvement, it can still contain substances harmful to us and the environment, some of the most damaging being volatile organic compounds (VOCs), microplastics, pesticides, formaldehyde, toxic metals (used in pigments), solvents, preservatives, stabilisers, carcinogenic additives and more. These toxins are particularly harmful for children with asthma and allergies, as well as damaging to our fragile planet.

Bedroom with Grey Ochre No.152 walls, Belgravia No.6 woodwork and a floor painted in green and deep red — Left, Grey Ochre No.152 bedroom with Belgravia No.6 woodwork; right, Limestone No.55 hallway, Market Green No.38 arch

Ground-floor hallway with Limestone No.55 walls, an arched doorway in Market Green No.38 and a dark green painted landing — Left, Grey Ochre No.152 bedroom with Belgravia No.6 woodwork; right, Limestone No.55 hallway, Market Green No.38 arch

How do you make natural paint for walls?

At Mylands, we've worked tirelessly over 12 years to reduce the chemicals and microplastics in our paints, resulting in our plant-based ranges. We're proud to offer environmentally conscious products that are low-VOC, water-based, with plant-based resins. Natural paint is solvent-free and made from natural raw materials rather than toxic compounds, typically with a base of lime, flour or clay, and water-based rather than oil-based, clay paint or mineral paint being examples.

At Mylands we use only ethically sourced oils, many of our mineral fillers are natural clays, and we use natural pigments wherever possible. Our sustainable, natural Plant-Based Multi-Surface Paint uses superior-quality raw ingredients including natural earth pigments and is very low in VOCs, and we're constantly striving for more innovative solutions like this, upcycling natural raw materials to improve our products.

Bedroom in a Haussmann apartment with panelled walls painted in Kensington Rose No.22 and a herringbone parquet floor — Left, walls in Kensington Rose No.22 in a bedroom; right, walls in Holland Park No.5 in a study

Study in a converted stone barn with walls painted in Holland Park No.5 and a plain oak desk — Left, walls in Kensington Rose No.22 in a bedroom; right, walls in Holland Park No.5 in a study

Dressing room with an archway into a bedroom whose back wall and skirting are painted in Pale Lilac No.246 — A dressing room opening through an archway to a bedroom with Pale Lilac No.246 walls and skirting

Are natural paints suitable for all wall types?

Different surfaces require specific paints, so it's essential to choose the right product, especially with natural paint. Mylands natural paints deliver exceptional coverage, durability and depth of colour while being washable, breathable and easy to apply, and they suit all wall types, including lime plaster, clay plaster, gypsum plaster, cement and brickwork, as well as decorative finishes like wooden panelling and cornices, making them versatile for a wide range of DIY and restoration projects.

Exterior walls

Exterior paint needs to be hard-wearing and able to withstand the elements. Mylands Exterior Masonry Paint is a water-based acrylic formula that's weatherproof, mildew-resistant and low in VOCs and odour; designed to perform in hot and cold conditions, it offers excellent elasticity and durability, and its smooth matt finish gives long-lasting colour while protecting your home, ideal for most modern exterior surfaces.

Exterior of a rendered cottage with walls painted in Fitzrovia No.26 beside a cobbled harbour lane — Rendered exterior walls of a cottage painted in Fitzrovia No.26 in a smooth matt

Interior walls

Interior paint must withstand the daily demands of busy family life; it's called a living room for a reason, a lot of life happens there. Whether repainting walls, ceilings or both, you want a natural interior paint that's long-lasting, hard-wearing, washable and non-toxic. Our Plant-Based Multi-Surface Dead Matt paint, made with bio-based content, plant-based resin and natural fillers, is a great choice for interior walls, available in all colours with a 5% sheen and almost totally VOC-free.

Then there's Mylands' signature bestseller, Marble Matt Emulsion, a water-based natural emulsion crafted with crushed Carrara marble, low in VOCs with an A+ rating for French Interior VOC; it delivers exceptional depth of colour and a soft, luminous finish, and with more pigment than any other paint it provides outstanding coverage, meaning fewer coats, less product and less waste, beautiful to look at and a more responsible choice. A simple tip: on breathable walls, apply Marble Matt diluted as a mist coat; if the plaster is dry and in good condition, start with one thin coat diluted up to 45% with water, then at least two coats diluted at no more than 10% to finish.

Wall primer

Before painting new colour on your walls, a primer seals and sets surfaces to help create the perfect finish. Mylands Plant-Based Wall Primer pairs perfectly with our eco-friendly paints, with a high bio-based content, plant-based resin and natural fillers, a high-quality, durable primer suitable for freshly plastered walls and ceilings.

Wood paint

If you're painting exterior walls like fences and sheds, or interior skirting and woodwork, you need a specific natural paint. Mylands Plant-Based Multi-Surface paint is specially formulated for wood, MDF, metal, plastic, tile, masonry, plaster and uPVC; choose from the flawless Dead Matt finish (5% sheen), Eggshell (15% sheen), Satin (40% sheen) or Gloss (85% sheen). Mylands also offers water-based wood stains and varnishes.

Farmhouse hallway with walls and woodwork in Bone BH.04, ceiling in Boiled Dill BH.22 and floorboards painted in Henna BH.18 — Left, Bone BH.04 with a Boiled Dill BH.22 ceiling and Henna BH.18 floor; right, Lamb's Ear BH.06 with Artichoke BH.13 woodwork

Cottage bedroom with walls and ceiling in Lamb's Ear BH.06 and a door and woodwork painted in Artichoke BH.13 — Left, Bone BH.04 with a Boiled Dill BH.22 ceiling and Henna BH.18 floor; right, Lamb's Ear BH.06 with Artichoke BH.13 woodwork

Kitchen with walls, woodwork and cupboards in Old Man's Beard BH.03 and a freestanding fridge painted in Wheatsheaf BH.23 — A kitchen with walls, woodwork and cabinetry in Old Man's Beard BH.03 and a fridge in Wheatsheaf BH.23

Are natural paints durable and long-lasting?

Reducing our paints' environmental impact doesn't reduce their quality, durability or coverage, and importantly you still get a full range of colours to choose from. Look through our colour charts and choose a high-quality natural paint that will last.