The present invention provides a binder composition comprising a first binder comprising by dry weight based on total dry weight of the first binder, from 5% to 98% of polymer particles, from 0.3% to 10% of a first polysaccharide, from 0.01% to 5% of a crosslinker, from 0.3% to 6% of a water-soluble metal cation, and from 0.05% to 3% of a cationic polyelectrolyte. The binder composition may further comprise a second binder comprising by dry weight based on total dry weight of the second binder, from 0.3% to 20% of the first polysaccharide, from 0.5% to 20% of a second polysaccharide. And in that case, the wet weight ratio of the first binder to the second binder is from 1:20 to 20:1. The present invention further provides a paint formulation comprising the binder composition.
