Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve distracted myself from the changes and tough decisions by jumping into prepping the nursery. When I first wrote about my nesting instincts kicking in, I was still battling a worry demon. It took a lot of guts and faith to pull the trigger and order the very first item for the baby. And with an order for a fluffy yellow rug from Target, I set the ball rolling.
Before the crib can be assembled and any real decorating done however, I knew the baby’s room desperately needed a thorough paint job. Forest green and mud brown (let’s not go there) just will not do for a little girl. I also knew it was important to me to find zero VOC paint.
According to Consumer Reports, VOCs (short for volatile organic compounds) are “solvents that get released into the air as the paint dries” which can “cause acute symptoms, including headaches and dizziness” and are “suspected carcinogens.” The concern is not just for myself and the baby during the painting process, but also the long term release of VOCs from standard paints. A 2006 report from Green Seal found that less than 50% of VOCs from traditional latex paint are offgassed in the first year.
I knew zero VOC paints had become more common (mainstream even), but I was very surprised to find so many options in our small community. The following four paint lines, in particular, were mentioned most often for being of reputable quality. Unfortunately zero VOC paints do come at a higher price (varies by brand and finish, but generally $25-45/gallon), but not any moreso than other premium interior paints.
| Benjamin Moore Natura Do It Best Hardware 107 West Springfield Avenue Champaign, IL 61820-4813 (217) 356-6454 |
Dutch Boy Refresh Menards 620 Town Center Blvd Champaign, IL 61822 (217) 359-6100 |
| Sherwin Williams Harmony Sherwin Williams 709 North Mattis Avenue Champaign, IL 61821 (217) 356-3748 |
Olympic Premium Lowe’s Home Improvement 1904 North Prospect Avenue Champaign, IL 61822 (217) 373-7300 |
I’d like to say I selected a paint brand based on extensive comparison shopping and reading of reviews. Instead, I chose Benjamin Moore’s Natura because I had found the perfect color and did not want to fuss with matching it. I did read many online reviews though and found Benjamin Moore and Olympic to have slightly more positive opinions than the others. The chief complaints for Dutch Boy and Sherwin Williams were regarding coverage.
Zero VOC paints have come a long way in the past few years. I was also excited to learn that each of these lines carries several standard finishes as well as a primer. I had been concerned that we’d need to use a traditional primer first (over the existing ultra dark colors), thus reducing the long term benefits of this paint choice.
We’ve now got the paint, an empty room and a full set-up of painting gear. All we need now is a free weekend to turn the bat cave into the perfect haven for our little one.
Did you choose zero VOC paint for your nursery or otherwise make environmental friendly choices?
Jennifer Wilson will definitely sleep better knowing she didn’t add extra chemicals to her little girl’s world. Her current addiction to tangerine-flavored jelly beans likely offers enough artificial ingredients. Jennifer writes 31 and Pregnant, a column about navigating first time pregnancy in Champaign-Urbana.