The Best Brands of Natural House Paint
Most house paints contain volatile organic compounds (which release gases to cause headaches and illness). No paint can be 100% green, as it needs preservatives (even washing clay causes VOCs). But look for brands that are zero or virtually zero VOC (low VOCs is just greenwash).
Keeping Safe with House Paints
- Paint preservative can be fatal in inhaled (true of all paint), so keep children, pets and pregnant/nursing women out of painted rooms, until dry and aired. Titanium (also found in cosmetics and sunscreen) is also pet-toxic, so keep away from wet walls or use titanium-dioxide-free paints.
- Lime-based paints can help to prevent mould and mildew (good to help prevent crib death (along with other factors) but all good green paints should let walls breathe anyway.
- For older homes buy a lead paint test kit, as this element can harm. It’s best to have professionals remove it, as you need PPE and special methods to avoid dust/fumes.
Where to Donate Unwanted Paint
Give old paint cans to Community Repaint where it’s used up to do up local eyesores or passed on (trade decorators can also get involved). Or enter your postcode at Paintcare to find outlets.
Graphenstone (cradle-to-cradle lime-based paints)
Graphenstone is a cradle-to-cradle-certified vegan paint (not tested on animals) with a free colour chart (white and 96 colours), all based on lime, and as affordable as other main brands.
The range includes:
- Matt and eggshell paints
- Air-purifying paint
- Nursery-friendly paints
- Heritage paints for listed homes
- Wood varnish
- Trade paints for decorators
Eco-Friendly Prep & Decorating Tools
Lick offers good eco-friendly decorating tools. The range includes:
- Vegan brushes with bamboo handles & recycled steel ferrules
- Biodegradable paint trays & kettles
- Biodegradable dust sheets
- Recycled polyester paint rollers
Home Strip is a nontoxic paint remover for most surfaces, also in a version to remove Artex (without turning into a gloopy mess due to polymers from 80s wallpaper).
Decorators often use this to remove asbestos paint, as it does not cause airborne fibres. Just apply and score with a blade, then use a long-handled scraper to lift (apply foil overnight, for best results).
To make your own sugar soap, mix half a cup of baking soda in a bucket of water and apply as a non-soaking scrub. Or buy commercially from Auro.
Keep children and pets well away from sanding, due to dust inhalation and possible release of titanium dioxide. Ideally wear a mask and sand in a well-ventilated area.
YesColours (paints in eco pouches, 66 colours)
YesColours are sold in easy-to-recycle pouches, that protect against moisture, mould and dust. The packaging means you squeeze out what you need, to avoid waste.
The clear circle window lets you check each colour, before opening. This company offers 66 colours as swatch cards (with real paint) instead of wasteful pots.
Earthborn Creamy Claypaint (72 colours)
Earthborn Claypaint is a thick creamy matte paint in 72 shades, good with lime plasters and requires less coats than traditional emulsion.
It’s breathable so good in older homes that may have had damp problems, and it won’t trap moisture (which can cause bubbling and peeling).
Earthborn Eco Friendly Decorating Tools
This company has its own range of plastic-free decorating tools. Designed to last years, they make use of bamboo (the world’s fastest-growing grass) and recycled/biodegradable products. The range includes a cutting-in brush and a detailing brush for skirting and painting furniture.
Lakeland Odourless Green Paints (many colours)
Lakeland Paints are odourless and sold in a wide range of colours, for walls, wood, metal, floors and masonry.
Plus there are specialist paints like air-purifying paint, claypaint and MDF-passifying primers, fire-retardant paints (for combustible materials) and paints for people with asthma.
Little Knights Eco Paints (for indoors & outdoors)
Little Knights offers paints for indoors and outdoors (including radiator paints, external metal and masonry paint). These paints are pigment-rich for exceptional tones on walls.
Clayworks (naturally-coloured plaster and paint)
Clayworks is a company founded by a married couple who are experts in building cob homes and natural plasters. These plasters are made from clay and naturally coloured, so you can paint and plaster your cob home, at the same time!
The site has full information on how to use, and where to find decorators who are trained in using these plasters.
Where to Buy Eco-Friendly Wallpaper
Like paint, you can’t have 100% natural wallpaper. But there are better options. To apply wallpapers, use non-toxic wallpaper paste from Earthborn or Auro.
Most wallpaper is made from paper and vinyl (for moisture resistance but contains chemicals that off-gas). Far easier are self-adhesive PVC-free wallpapers that use water-based technology. Just peel and stick them on, then replace when you want a change.
Made of Sundays is a Finnish company that offers plastic-free wallpaper, sold on Etsy in a wide range of colours and designs. With fast shipping and a happiness guarantee, this wallpaper uses thick peel-and-stick non-woven paper, so is as easy to use, as it is kind to the planet
A portion of sales are also donated to organisations that are planting yet more trees in Finland which due to high forestry, has the cleanest air in the world.
