Eco-friendly paint options for a healthier home

Eco-friendly paint options for a healthier home

These days, lots of people are trying to cut back on toxins at home. Whether you’re planning to sell, or just want to freshen up your walls without that awful chemical smell.

The thing is eco-friendly paint’s not just about being trendy. It’s about health for you and your family.

The crew at Perth City Painters have used all sorts of products over the years and they’ve seen what a decent low-VOC paint can do or prevent. Hopefully.

Curb appeal still matters (even with green paint)

When someone walks past your house, they’re not inspecting insulation or foundation slabs. They’re looking at what hits them first, the outside. That means the paint and the condition. The vibe it gives off.

Inside’s where it really counts

Walking into a house that smells like paint thinners , not ideal. Especially in winter when you’re keeping the windows shut, yeah?

The big win with low- or zero-VOC paint is it doesn’t have that same chemical hit. You get a clean smell or sometimes no smell at all. Which is kind of refreshing?

Your home is meant to be be your safe space, the place you can go to be yourself and feel at peace. So making sure you have low toxic paint can keep you knowing that youre also keeping your health safe too.

The colours you choose still matter. Stick to warm whites, soft greys, maybe even greige if you want to sound fancy. That way, it won’t clash with most people’s furniture.

Also if you’re painting kids’ rooms or nurseries, it just makes sense to go the low-tox way. Same with bedrooms and living spaces. You’re spending heaps of time in there so you want to make sure everyone is safe.

The weird psychology of paint (and why it affects selling price)

So, apparently blue bathrooms sell better. Don’t ask me why, it’s a thing. Maybe it feels fresh and clean? Either way, colour affects how people feel about a space.

And if they feel good in it they’re more likely to buy it! Thats just how it goes.

Light greys can make places feel bigger. Warmer tones make them feel lived-in. But go too dark, and you risk making everything look smaller, unless it’s styled right.

Also, don’t forget that eco paint doesn’t mean giving up on quality.

At least the good ones don’t. Some of them go on even smoother than the older oil-based stuff and clean up easier too. I find that sometimes they can be easier to work with to be honest. Much better than the cheap stuff from back in the day.

People can tell when it’s done badly

You can have the fanciest low-tox paint on the shelf but if it’s slapped on badly, people will notice. Drips and rough edges screams rushed job. And rushed jobs lower value. Every time.

Spend the extra on a pro finish if you’re not confident. And seriously don’t forget ceilings or trims. Baseboards too. These may seem like insignificant parts but they really do make a difference when everything if put back together in place.

They all show wear faster especially if you’re doing the walls and leaving the rest, makes it look half finished.

Also don’t use flat paint in kitchens or bathrooms. It absorbs moisture and you can’t scrub it clean. Semi-gloss or satin’s the go.

Plus there’s eco versions now that handle steam and splatter better than some normal paints that are on the market.

Green paint won’t fix a broken wall – but it helps

Look it’s not magic. A fresh coat won’t cover structural issues.

But it can hide little things like light scuffs or old patches. And it gives off that nice vibe, even if you haven’t redone the bathroom since 2003.

The moral of the story? Don’t try to trick people, but don’t underestimate how much a fresh coat changes how a room feels.

Especially when it’s safer to breathe in.

If you’re gonna do it, might as well do it right

Some rooms matter more. Entryways? Big impact, small area.

Kitchens and bathrooms? Definitely. Especially since they deal with moisture and heat from cooking! Living rooms and hallways too  since they are used everyday they are considered high traffic.

If you’re not selling anytime soon, that’s alright. You’ll notice the difference. Even just from a cleaner air point of view.

Do it yourself, or call someone in?

That depends. If you’ve got a steady hand and you actually like painting, sure. Just don’t skimp on the gear. Go out to a proper paint or hardware shop and get proper eco paints and a good paint brush. Get decent rollers if youre doing a big area it will save you so much time!

But if you hate the idea of cutting in around the cornices or you’ve already stuffed it up once, maybe let a pro handle it. Perth City Painters deal with this stuff all the time and they know which paints work best in Aussie conditions.

So yeah – is eco paint worth the effort?

Basically yeah. It costs a bit more upfront sure, but when all is said and done, you’re getting better indoor air quality, a lower environmental impact and a cleaner looking finish.

Just don’t fall for the trap of thinking “eco” means lower quality.

It doesn’t, not anymore. Some eco friendly paints are better quality than some paints that are terrible for the environment, so the choice is kind of obvious isn’t it?

And if you do it right, it’s one of those few reno jobs that won’t break the bank but still adds proper value.

So if you’re gonna freshen things up anyway, might as well pick something that’s good for the planet and your walls.