Green Nursery - Use Low- or No-VOC Paint

13 Eco-Friendly Baby Nursery Ideas

Breathe easy, mama! From organic bedding to indoor air quality, we'll help you create a green baby nursery you'll both love. (14 Photos)

Julie Seguss on Apr 27, 2012 at 3:03PM

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a Julie Seguss on Apr 23, 2012 at 5:27PM

The Problem: Conventional paint gives off volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are chemicals that evaporate into the air, adding to indoor air pollution. It smells, can irritate asthma and may contribute to other health issues. In fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air is estimated to be 1,000 times worse than outdoor air immediately after painting. But VOCs don’t just enter the air when paint dries, they continue to off-gas for years.

The Solution: If you're planning paint for the nursery walls, use low- or no-VOC formulated with natural ingredients such as plant dyes, milk casein, plant oils and resins, natural latex, water and essential oils. A variety of brands now offer a rainbow of high-quality, non-toxic interior paints that are durable and less harmful to human and environmental health. One we like: Benjamin Moore Natura Zero-VOC Interior Paint, which is available in every one of the 3,400+ paint colors the company offers. Even with no-VOC paints, pregnant women should never do the job themselves.