Toxin– and VOC–free paints are available in a wide range of colours. They are durable, low odour and contain zero toxins, which means freshly decorated rooms may be immediately inhabited. Used in identical ways to conventional paints, applied with a brush or roller, they require the same preparation.
Technically advanced clay paints are an alternative to water–based emulsions. Their high clay content means the paint is thick enough to be applied in one coat, covers small cracks, does not splatter and gives a smooth, matt finish. VOC–free clay paints are breathable , allowing moisture to move through walls, preventing damp and saving paint surfaces from cracking. Trapped moisture within walls can lead to a damaging build–up of damp, which in turn can promote fungal growth such as mildew. So breathable clay paints are better for your home – particularly timber–framed structures – and your health.
Likewise, lime wash is a breathable wall coating. An old–fashioned paint with a chalky finish, lime wash is made from crushed limestone and water mixed with pigments to create soft, pastel shades. The lime is naturally anti–bacterial and insecticidal so is a good repellent for bugs and woodworm.
As well as clay paint, natural coatings are available as emulsion, eggshell, lime wash and a range of varnishes, lacquers and oils. With their quality now comparable to conventional paints there seems little reason – apart from their slightly higher financial cost – not to use eco or natural paints. But what price do you put on the health of your family and the people around you?
Eco Wallpaper: a chic alternative to paint
Environmentally friendly wallpapers are now easy to source in a wide range of decorative designs. Made from 100% FSC–certified timber or with a high percentage of recycled paper fibres, the paper pulp is made with long fibres so that it withstands wet adhesive and stays strong. The paper is printed with vegetable inks, left to dry and then packaged in biodegradable materials.
Eco wallpapers harbour no embedded toxins, so it is a healthy product to use in your home. It can be hung using natural starch adhesives and will neither fade nor discolour; the average lifespan of an eco wallpaper is between five and six years (the time period after which you might wish to redecorate anyway). At the end of its usable life, eco wallpaper degrades completely without polluting the environment.
As these papers have no surface coating, they may not be used in wet areas such as bathrooms or kitchens; however, they are great for use elsewhere. They make good feature walls and work well when accompanied by a paint scheme that matches the background colour of the paper, allowing the pattern to stand out and paper to blend in.
An alternative is natural wallpapers, which are available in a variety of surface finishes, from sisal to sea grass, bamboo to arrowroot. These papers may well have ingredients that have travelled long distances, but they will bring sophistication, natural warmth and texture to your walls. However, they can be fragile, so are perhaps best kept for areas of low traffic to minimise wear and tear.
This is an extract from Oliver Heath's Urban Eco Chic.
