Tell Me About Milk Paint

Milk paint is getting a second look from homeowners, largely because it's non-toxic and gives walls, trim, or furniture a flat, matte look rather than a shiny one. It's made from powdered casein (a milk protein) rather than the synthetic ingredients in regular paint, and it's sold in colors based on historic palettes, like ochre and umber, though you can adjust the shade since it comes as a powder you mix yourself.

How it looks depends on how much water you add: more water gives a thin, translucent effect similar to a wood stain, while less water produces solid, opaque color. Once it soaks into a porous surface, such as plaster or bare wood, it becomes part of that surface rather than sitting on top of it, which is why it resists fading, chipping, and peeling over time. If you're using it somewhere that gets heavy wear, it helps to seal it afterward so it doesn't stain.

Worth knowing if you're shopping for it: some products labeled "milk paint" are actually a liquid version with synthetic additives mixed in, sometimes called acrylic milk paint, which can be applied outdoors, unlike the traditional powdered kind. So it's worth checking the label if you specifically want the real, casein-based product versus the acrylic version, since they behave differently and aren't the same material.