Little Greene Distemper - 5 Litre - Tinted Colour Match

There is a reason Distemper has been used on the walls of beautiful buildings for centuries. Little Greene Distemper delivers a chalky, velvety matt finish of extraordinary depth and softness, the kind of finish that makes a room feel considered, calm and quietly luxurious in a way that modern emulsions simply cannot replicate.

Water-based, environmentally friendly and breathable, it is vapour permeable and allows walls and ceilings to breathe naturally, making it particularly well suited to older buildings, sensitive restorations and rooms finished with lime or natural plasters. Its high opacity means colour goes on richly and evenly, and with a gloss level of less than 5%, the finish is as matt and characterful as it gets.

Strengthened to be wipeable, Little Greene Distemper is a more practical evolution of the traditional formula, retaining all of the softness and purity of colour that makes it so beloved while offering a finish that can be gently cleaned when needed. It works beautifully across the full Little Greene colour palette, and is especially well suited to pastel shades where its powdery, luminous quality truly shines.

Best suited to bedrooms, living rooms and dining areas.

• Chalky, deep matt finish - less than 5% gloss level for a beautifully soft, historic appearance
• Breathable and vapour permeable - ideal for older buildings, lime plaster and natural renders
• High opacity - excellent coverage on porous surfaces
• Wipeable - strengthened for gentle cleaning without compromising the finish
• Low odour - water-based and environmentally friendly
• Available ina range of Little Greene colours - particularly well suited to pastel shades
• Available in 5 litre tins

Not recommended for high traffic areas, contact surfaces, or areas prone to condensation or water vapour.

Remove any surface imperfections and repair all defects to ensure a premium finish before painting begins.

This product is recommended for lime and other natural plasters. It is not recommended for painting over non-porous oil or vinyl-based systems.

New plaster walls

• For plaster skim, allow at least four weeks for the plaster to thoroughly dry before painting. For fully plastered new walls, allow at least six months.
• Apply a primer coat by thinning the paint with a 5 to 25% addition of clean water, depending on the porosity of the surface. Very porous surfaces such as new plaster may require up to 50% thinning for the first coat.
• Cut in by brushing at the same dilution as the primer coat to promote flow and seal the substrate, then finish with two full coats.

Existing plaster walls

• Lightly wash the surface to remove dust or surface laitance from any existing hard distemper finish.
• Soft distemper must be completely removed before painting, it cannot be painted over directly.
• Apply a primer coat thinned with 5 to 25% clean water, then finish with one or two full coats as required.

A 20% thinning with clean water is recommended for most porous surfaces. Minimum recoat time is 4 hours between coats.

Stir thoroughly before use. Distemper may be applied to slightly damp surfaces which can subsequently dry out. Condition new brushes by washing in clean water and drying with a clean, lint-free cloth before use.

Brush application

• Use a high quality synthetic bristle brush suitably sized for the project. Do not immerse the brush too deeply into the tin to avoid paint entering the ferrule.
• Apply in even strokes, working in manageable sections to maintain a wet edge at all times. Avoid overloading the brush to prevent drips and splashes.
• Keep final brush strokes all in the same direction and never go back over paint that has already begun to dry.

Roller application

• Use a short nap wool blend sleeve for smooth surfaces. Increase nap length for textured surfaces to ensure even, thorough coverage.
• Keep final roller strokes all in the same direction, maintaining a wet edge throughout. Never go over already drying paint as this will cause lap marking and flashing.

Drying & recoating

• Allow a minimum of 4 hours drying time between coats. Two coats are recommended to achieve full depth of colour.
• Clean all equipment immediately after use with clean water. Never store brushes or roller sleeves in water.

For pastel shades, Distemper's powdery, luminous quality is at its most beautiful. Owing to its chalky finish, pastel tones from the Little Greene palette are particularly recommended.

Cleaning

• For light surface soiling, use a dilute, lukewarm solution of washing up liquid and a clean sponge or lint-free cloth. Ensure the cloth is well wetted but not dripping, then very gently wipe the affected area.
• Keep your home well ventilated during activities likely to cause grease or oil accumulation, such as cooking, to help prevent general build-up on painted surfaces.
• When vacuuming adjacent surfaces, always use a soft brush attachment to prevent marking the painted finish.
• Tackle dust from DIY by collecting at source where possible, or thorough vacuum cleaning, to prevent settling on painted walls.

Repairs

• Prime any exposed substrate before repainting, then repaint "break to break" with one or two coats as required.

Spot repairs will almost always result in an inferior aesthetic appearance. Always repaint full sections between natural breaks for the best result.

Delivery - All orders placed on a working day before 3pm will be dispatched on the same day for next working day delivery. Orders placed before 3pm on Friday will be delivered on Monday (excluding bank holidays). Orders placed after 3pm on Friday, weekends and Bank Holidays will be dispatched on the next working day. 

Delivery of Tinted Products - Tinted paints are dispatched in line with our express order process, shown below. However, due to their bespoke nature, please allow up to an additional 5 working days to accommodate any potential courier delays or delivery issues before receiving a refund or replacement.

We strongly suggest customers avoid booking tradespeople until they receive their order. Next Day Paint will not be held liable for any costs incurred due to order processing errors, delivery delays, or other issues that may result in financial loss.

Delivery Options

Express Shipping - £3.99

Order by: 3pm, Monday - Sunday

Expected delivery: Next working day, 8am - 9pm

AM Delivery - £12.99

Order by: 4pm, Monday - Sunday

Expected delivery: Next working day by 4pm

Late Cut-Off - £5.99

Order between: 3-4pm, Monday - Friday 

Expected delivery: Next working day, 8am - 9pm

Extended Late Cut-Off - £7.99

Order between: 4-5pm, Monday - Thursday

Expected delivery: Next working day, 8am - 9pm

Saturday Delivery - £9.95

Order by: 4pm, Friday 

Expected delivery: Saturday, 8am - 9pm

Standard Delivery (Out of Zone Postcodes Only) - £8.99

Order by: 3pm, Monday - Sunday 

Expected delivery:  3-5  working days, 8am - 9pm

Note: Orders placed on weekends or bank holidays will be dispatched on the next working day for delivery on the following day

We do not deliver to the Channel Islands or the Republic of Ireland

Certain postcodes delivery times and charges may vary please head to the cart to see your available delivery options.

Returns

We offer a 14 day money back guarantee for all goods shipped correctly that are not required. If the item is not required, please send the item back for a full refund in its original condition, unused with its original packaging. Please note return for unwanted item is at your own expense.

Contact us as soon as possible to inform us you will be returning the product either by a contact form or by calling our team on 0161 960 0217.

All tinted paint purchases are final and non-refundable. If you're unsure about your selection, please refer to the product listing or contact us for guidance before ordering. Once mixed, tinted paints cannot be returned or refunded, regardless of delivery delays or changes in circumstances.

While we aim to meet delivery timelines, we are not responsible for delays caused by couriers, weather, or other external factors.

We recommend ordering samples or colour charts before purchasing. While we strive to represent colours accurately, screen settings and surface types can affect appearance. Opened tins cannot be returned due to dissatisfaction with colour.

For non-tinted products, we offer a 14-day money-back guarantee. Items must be returned unused, in original condition and packaging, at your own expense.

Damaged Paint

Please visit our damages page, where we can help resolve the issue for you. 

Incorrect Item

If we have sent you a different item from what you ordered, we will be happy to organise an exchange for the correct goods at no extra charge to yourself, please get in touch to organise this.

Faulty Items

Faulty items can be refunded or exchanged within 30 days. All returns are tested, and if no fault is found, no refund will be issued you'll have the option to have the item returned. For faults discovered after 30 days, please contact the manufacturer for further support.