Lakeland Paints (odourless paints from Cumbria)

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. This brand also carries a guarantee that all the paints are both vegan and not tested on animals.

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).

Use with eco friendly decorating tools.

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 natural 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.