The secret about the toxicity of wall paint is out, but select interior coating specialists have risen to the challenge by offering healthier paint for the home. Couple these eco-friendly low VOC interior paint brands with the fall 2015 color trends from Pantone and you’ve got a slew of stylish, bold, and surprisingly livable hues that might even be worthy of a second season.

With acetone, turpentine, ethylene glycol, and heavy doses of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) lurking in your paint, it’s no wonder why the indoor air quality of our homes is compromised. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, volatile organic compounds, commonly found in paint, “irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, and can cause headaches, nausea, and damage to the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system.” The majority of these chemicals are released when the paint is wet and drying, but can continue to off-gas long after the pigments are dry.

On the bright side, it is possible to have the best of both worlds – kick ass colors and a medium that won’t leave you gasping for air.

Now that autumn is upon us, let’s check out Pantone’s latest color palette for fall 2015 and how they translate into hues for the home from a few of the best eco-friendly paint brands on the market. Marsala, the familiar Italian red wine sauce, is Pantone’s color of the year. In addition to this burgundy shade, are several other warm and playful colors such as Dried Herb, Biscay Bay, and Cashmere Rose. With a nod to the hippie days of yore, these colors are right in line with this year’s bohemian-chic trend.

Check out the suggestions below and see if this year’s eco-friendly paint and color trends are enough to bring out the weekend-warrior in you!

Quiet Home Paints

According to the manufacturer’s website, Quiet Home Paints are completely solvent and toxin free, as this line of paint was originally designed with children in mind. The only ingredients found in the paints are water, natural and non-toxic manufactured binders, non-toxic pigments, natural mineral fillers such as limestone and clays, non-toxic thickeners such as wood cellulose, food grade non-toxic white pigment, levelers, and waxes.

Quiet Home Paints are offered by the sample, quart, or gallon and come in a shell, satin, velvet, or chalkboard finish. One gallon will run you anywhere from $72 up to $103 and will cover approximately 560 sq. ft. per coat.

Although Quiet Home Paints are natural and non-toxic, they still come in all of the latest colors. Use these muted primary tones in all the grown-up areas of your home. Accent walls with a mostly neutral backdrop is a safe bet, but even if you opt for something bolder by appointing a different room with one of each color, their shared intensity and tone almost guarantees that they will look great together from any vantage.

These would work especially well in the kitchen, living room, and foyer of an open floor plan with high ceilings. A contemporary loft or rustic setting should serve as an excellent backdrop.

Natura by Benjamin Moore

This interior paint doesn’t promise to eliminate all chemicals, but it does offer customers the opportunity, convenience, and health benefits of purchasing zero VOC and zero emissions paint with more colors than you will ever know what to do with. According to the Benjamin Moore website, Natura is water-based for easy cleanup, virtually odorless, quick drying, certified allergy and asthma friendly, self-priming on most surfaces, and carries Benjamin Moore’s Green Promise designation.

Natura is offered by the sample, quart, or gallon and comes in a flat, eggshell, or semi-gloss finish. One gallon will cost about $50 and will cover approximately 375-425 sq. ft. per coat.

As if it isn’t hard enough to choose a wall color, Benjamin Moore swoops in to offer customers thousands of different options. The advantage is that this overabundance of swatches makes it super easy to find a comparable match for each of the colors from Pantone’s palette.

From nursery to college dorm, these versatile colors have the ability to grow with your child through the years, but are sophisticated enough for adults, too. Gray is thought to promote creativity, so get those juices flowing by using this palette in your home office – add a pop of pink with a painted desk and a a splash of navy with a couple of painted cane back barrel chairs for an ultra-chic look.

YOLO Colorhouse Paint

Founded by artists in 2005, this paint brand was designed to be safer for its users and the environment. By offering low odor paints with superior coverage, zero volatile organic compounds, no reproductive toxins, no chemical solvents, and no toxic fumes, they are, like the website suggests, committed to creating healthier paint and better color with artist-crafted palettes.

Colorhouse is offered by the sample, quart, or gallon and comes in a flat, eggshell, or semi-gloss finish. Primer and chalkboard paint is available, too. One gallon will cost about $40 from Amazon.com and will cover approximately 350-400 sq. ft. per coat.

If you’re looking for a thoughtful, hand-picked color selection with a healthy twist, then you’ll definitely want to check out YOLO Colorhouse’s website. Staying in line with the sophisticated palette are the three selections below. At first glance they may seem bold, but used strategically, this earthy group is sure to bring warmth to any space.

Keep in mind that you’re never restricted to just paint – use Glass .04 on the walls of your living room and then incorporate Dream .06 and Clay .07 through reupholstered vintage treasures, rugs, and other accessories. If bold styling is more your thing, then Dream .06 would be a great master bedroom wall color with Glass .04 in the master bathroom. Be sure to incorporate orange, herb, and teal accents throughout both spaces for a balanced look and feel.

Interior decorating doesn’t have to be hazardous to your health. After reviewing the low VOC interior paint brands and color trends from Pantone for fall 2015, it’s safe to say that these non-toxic gems shouldn’t be restricted to just one season. But if you’re the type that prefers to change your wall color as often as you change your clothes, then these should keep you busy for at least the next few months. Happy painting!

Related on EcoSalon

5 Fall Colors to Wear This Autumn

7 Simple Rules for Picking Wall Paint Colors

How to Use Essential Oils to Create a Fresher, Healthier Home

Paint Swatch Image via Shutterstock

The post Try These 3 Low VOC Interior Paint Brands for Your Next Fall Project appeared first on EcoSalon.

In my household, we love decorating almost as much as we love our homemade java. We even get giddy when it’s time to paint – well, not the actual act of painting, that can be boring. We get excited over the endless possibilities and the fresh new look. We’re huge fans of eco-friendly paint, so the next time you’re thinking of taking on a redecorating project, here’s everything you need to know about finding the right type of paint for your project.

Buh-Bye VOC’s

VOC’s, the solvents used to make standard paint are fumey and gag-worthy, not to mention a proven health hazard. Fortunately, companies like YOLO Colorhouse, Benjamin Moore and Freshaire Choice have come up with VOC-free paint that’s less harmful to the environment and far better for people and animals. In fact, we’ve named low VOC paints as one of the top 20 greenest materials on the market.

If it’s spray paint you need for smaller projects, there are a few lower-toxicity ones out there if you dig around. They’re not completely risk-free, but they’re far better than what you’ll find in a standard can of the spray stuff.

Can I Have Cookies With That?

Milk paint is a big favorite around here. Originally made from milk, lime and earth, and used in cave paintings, milk paint has been around for centuries. There are many different ways to make your own, including a super-simple method that uses just two ingredients: nonfat dry milk and water. Of course, you can always spring for a pre-made batch from green businesses like The Real Milk Paint Company.

Painting Frenzy

There are a ton of ways to use your eco-friendly paint around the house. Color an accent wall, decorate mirrors and glass, or spruce up the entire place before putting it on the market. No matter what kind of project you tackle, check out some color tricks you can use to make the most out of your rooms.

Images: Photocapy, Mess of Pottage, redeye, and lejoe

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