Limewash before plastering? Project halt due to monsoon.

Hi all, hoping to get some advice here.

We're almost done constructing out wattle and daub cottage in South India, and now monsoon is about to hit hard. So I thought of leaving the plastering work for when monsoon is over (in 3-4 months). However I really want to brighten up the interior look until then, as it is now it've very dark with the brown mud shade. Plus we have many trees around that blocks the sunlight. So lightening up the interior is really important for me.

Can I lime wash the interior, putting 4-5 coats as I've read, to change the shade into 'white'?
Will this cause a problem for me later when I do the interior plastering (other earthen plaster/lime plaster)?

Thanks!

If you're planning on doing a lime plaster, a coat of limewash is a good idea to seal the earthen surface and receive the initial plaster layer. It will certainly brighten things up during all the rainy weather.

Thanks Phil!
So only 1 coat? My understanding is 1 coat wouldn't make much of a difference in the color?

As many coats as you like.
You may find after many coats that plastering later may not be needed.

Yes, I agree with John that just doing several coats of limewash would be a time, material and labour savings if you decide that's a good finish. The reason that you might only do a single coat would be to follow with plaster in order to have smooth interior surfaces. Multiple coats of limewash will conform to the contours of the earth layer underneath, just rounding them and filling in voids somewhat.