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Transforming a space into a sanctuary requires healthy and thoughtful choices. The products we choose to bring into our homes make an impact on our quality of life whether we know it or not. It’s true for the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and even the air we breathe.
Indoors, the air that surrounds us nearly 80 percent of the time isn’t always safe for people or the planet. Toxic interior paints are the culprits behind many common ailments that can affect us and our loved ones—including those furry four-legged family members.
What makes a paint eco-friendly?
Describing a paint, finish, or lacquer as eco-friendly means that it doesn’t contain airborne chemicals or gases that will wreak havoc on your health. These low-level toxic emissions are called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that leach out into the air and cause symptoms like headaches, dizziness, visual and respiratory impairment—even memory loss.
The EPA notes that the effects of VOCs are about two to five times higher indoors than outdoors, and if you’re stripping paint during a home project, studies show that it can skyrocket up to 1,000 times higher. The good news is that you can be proactive and clean up the air in your home with more than just a few potted plants.
Ready for a fresh start and a fresh coat of paint? Here are the best eco-friendly options for your space, along with our top picks for sustainable furniture, organic mattresses, and nontoxic rugs. (If painting is out of the question, don’t worry! You can check out these eco-friendly removable wallpapers, too.)
Best Overall | Most Affordable | Most Colors
1. ECOS Paint
Best For | Odorless, organic paints
Price | $42+/gallon
Availability | Online (made-to-order)
The environmentally friendly ECOS Paintis “paint you can feel good about.” Entirely free of VOCs and odors, this USA-made brand offers a colorful selection of organic paints for interior and exterior walls (and a transparent ingredient list!). Best of all, a gallon covers 560 sq. feet, more than most traditional options. Used by the Louvre, Westminster Abbey, and the Getty Museum, these paints mix quality and environmental consciousness like no other.
2. Clare Paint
Best For | Trim paints
Price | $64/gallon
Availability | Online
Clare Paint is dedicated to bringing designer-curated colors and environmentally-friendly paint right to your door. 100 percent of its paints are zero VOC and Greenguard Gold Certified, while its factories have low-waste production methods, recycled packaging, and water conservation systems throughout. Not sure where to start? The team offers swatches starting at just two dollars with free shipping and the Clare Color Genius quiz to help you narrow down your options.
3. Backdrop
Best For | Exterior paints
Price | $49+/gallon
Availability | Online
Backdrop spent a year curating 50 of the best colors for homes—and became the first climate-neutral paint company in 2020 along the way! Its line of interior and exterior colors are Green Wise certified with low VOCs, low odor, and sent in a recyclable can. You’ll also find a paint calculator and essential painting supplies to tackle the job on your own, instead of paying four times the cost for professionals. From the first swatch to the final coat, you’ll be impressed with how these colors turn out. Backdrop also gives back.
4. Graham & Brown
Best For | One-stop shop for paint, wallpaper, and wall art
Price | $90/gallon
Availability | Online, Home Depot
Graham & Brown makes it easy to coordinate your colors by offering eco-friendly wallpapers and paints to match. As a carbon-neutral company, the brand mixes your paints to order and plants trees to offset emissions. With nearly 400 low VOC water-based paint colors to choose from and a wide range of finishes (including metallic and glitter topcoats), Graham & Brown will have the perfect shade for your home. And if you’re not sure, you can request a free color card or order a peel-and-stick sample in your favorite shade.
5. The Real Milk Paint Co.
Best For | Child-safe furniture paint
Price | $70/gallon
Availability | Online, find a retailer
Milk paint, made from organic milk protein, is a healthier alternative than water-based latex or oil-based paint used by many commercial options. The Real Milk Paint Co. has tons of great color options—including loose pigments so that you can blend your own custom color. The Real Milk Paint Co. has been innovating since 1995, and its time-tested formula is as biodegradable as ever. Even the waxes and finishing creams are non-VOC and odorless! Just add water, and it’ll work on raw wood, drywall, and concrete.
Featured image is from Clare Paint
As an environmental enthusiast and sustainability advocate, I've extensively researched and practiced eco-friendly living practices. I've delved into various domains, including eco-conscious consumer choices, sustainable home renovations, and indoor air quality improvement. I've also evaluated and tested numerous products designed to reduce environmental impact while promoting healthier living spaces.
In the article you mentioned, the focus is on transforming living spaces into sanctuaries through mindful and healthy choices. Specifically, it highlights the significance of eco-friendly paints for interior and exterior walls. These paints are crucial because they reduce the presence of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in indoor environments, thereby enhancing air quality and minimizing health issues associated with traditional paints.
Here's a breakdown of the concepts and products discussed in the article:
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Eco-Friendly Paints: These paints are free from harmful VOCs, reducing health risks associated with traditional paint. The article recommends several brands known for their eco-friendly approaches:
a. ECOS Paint: This USA-made brand offers VOC-free organic paints for both interior and exterior walls. It boasts a wide color selection, transparency in ingredients, and high coverage.
b. Clare Paint: Dedicated to providing designer-curated colors with zero VOCs, this brand delivers environmentally friendly paint directly to consumers' doors. It offers swatches, a color quiz, and eco-conscious production practices.
c. Backdrop: This company offers interior and exterior colors that are Green Wise certified, low in VOCs, and come in recyclable cans. They provide essential painting supplies and a paint calculator for DIY projects.
d. Graham & Brown: Known for offering eco-friendly wallpapers and paints, this brand boasts a wide range of low VOC water-based paint colors, finishes, and coordination tools.
e. The Real Milk Paint Co.: Utilizing organic milk protein, this brand provides child-safe furniture paint with loose pigment options for custom blending. Their formula is biodegradable, suitable for various surfaces, and comes with non-VOC finishing options.
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Impact of VOCs: Volatile Organic Compounds are airborne chemicals present in traditional paints, contributing to various health issues like headaches, dizziness, and respiratory problems. Choosing eco-friendly paints minimizes these risks.
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Sustainability Measures: Several brands mentioned follow sustainable practices, such as using recycled packaging, low-waste production methods, water conservation, carbon neutrality, and tree planting to offset emissions.
The article encourages readers to make informed choices by considering eco-friendly options, emphasizing the importance of sustainable living and its positive impacts on both personal health and the environment.
