Choosing Paints That Don't Give Back

Painting is one of the best ways to refresh a room. Unfortunately, most paints aren’t good for us: They give off volatile organic compounds, or VOC's, which can cause short- and long-term adverse health effects. Look for paints that say “low VOC” or “zero VOC,” as well as paint strippers that are nontoxic and biodegradeable.

Most, if not all of the major brands now offer both low and zero VOC options. If you are looking for other alternatives, Green Planet Paint is an interior clay paint that covers well, Anna Sova's food grade paint has zero VOC's and 94% food ingredients and AFM SafeCoat offers a broad array of interior and exterior options that were developed specifically for people with chemical sensitivities and allergies.

There are a variety of options out there, so do your research and ask a lot of questions.