Can you use colour in a Listed Building?

The question I get asked most often. From friends, from followers, from people who are considering it themselves. Are you even allowed to use colour when you live in a Listed Building? The answer is more nuanced than I thought, and I’ve looked into it for you.

01 What the rules actually say

Listed status protects what shouldn't be removed: the original beams, the fireplace, the stucco, the historical structure of the property. Not the paint colour on your wall. But it's not that simple either.

For the exterior, you need an environmental permit for a colour change. Indoors, it's slightly different: as long as you don't damage historically significant stucco, wall coverings, and don't completely remove old layers of paint, you can usually just get started. But every listed building is different, and every municipality views it slightly differently.

Practical Always contact your local council's heritage officer first. That sounds formal, but it's just a phone call and it saves you surprises later. If in doubt, you can also check the website of the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands via www.cultureelerfgoed.nl.

02 Colours that work in an old property

A listed building has high ceilings, thick walls, and an atmosphere that demands something more than modern white. The property easily absorbs deep colours; they recede into the space in a way that would never work in a new-build house.

What I've learned after weeks of scrolling, testing, and changing my mind:

03 Think in historical hues

Paint brands like Farrow & Ball, Little Greene, and the Dutch line of Sigma have palettes specifically developed for historic properties. Off-whites, deep earth tones, ochres, dark blues, and bordeaux have been present in old interiors for centuries. They feel at home in a listed building because they literally belong there.

04 Paint everything

Walls, ceiling – all in the same colour. It sounds daring, but in a space with many details like beams and a fireplace, it actually creates calm. The architecture speaks for itself; the colour envelops everything.

05 Dare to go dark

The biggest mistake people make is being too cautious. A dark colour in a tall, old room creates warmth and depth. In a new-build house, that same colour would feel oppressive; here, it works the other way around.

06 Pay attention to the light

North light makes cool colours cold and greyish. South light can make a warm shade appear orangey. See how your colour looks in morning light, afternoon light, evening lamp, and on a cloudy day.

Tip Those small swatches lie. Always test on a large area, like an A4 sheet, and leave it for at least a week.

07 Use breathable paint

Old walls breathe differently from modern plasterboards. Use paint with a low Sd-value (vapour-permeable) so that moisture doesn't get trapped in the wall. Specifically ask your paint shop for products suitable for historic masonry or stucco.

My three rules for colour in a listed building

• Test on a large area. Small swatches always lie. Paint an A4 sheet and leave it for a week.

• Look in all lights. Morning, afternoon, evening, rain. Only then will you know what you truly have.

• Dare to go dark. A listed building has the space and mass to carry it. Safe light grey here is simply a wasted effort.

Next week, I'll share my five chosen main colours and how they work together in the different rooms. Because we're not going for safe, but that was clear already, wasn't it?