Creating a healthier home environment starts with the paint you choose. Traditional paints can release harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that affect indoor air quality and your well-being. Fortunately, eco-friendly, low-VOC paint options are available that ensure a safer, more sustainable living space. 

Let’s explore some of the best low-VOC paint brands that offer vibrant colors and excellent performance without compromising your health. Whether you’re renovating a single room or repainting your entire home, these brands provide quality choices for a healthier lifestyle.

What Are VOCs?

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that easily evaporate into the air at room temperature. These compounds are found in many household products, including paints, cleaning supplies, and building materials.

Exposure to VOCs can lead to various health issues. In the short term, you might experience headaches, dizziness, or irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Long-term exposure can contribute to more serious conditions such as respiratory problems, liver and kidney damage, and even cancer. Reducing VOC levels in your home can significantly improve indoor air quality and overall health.

Benefits of Low-VOC Paint

It’s a healthier paint option.

Using low-VOC paint significantly reduces the risk of respiratory issues, allergies, and other health problems. Traditional paints can release harmful chemicals into the air, leading to headaches, dizziness, and long-term health concerns. Low-VOC paints minimize these risks, providing a safer environment, especially for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions.

It reduces air pollution.

Low-VOC paints contribute to a cleaner environment by reducing air pollution. Traditional paints can emit high levels of VOCs, which contribute to smog and air quality issues. Choosing low-VOC options means making an environmentally friendly choice that helps reduce your carbon footprint and supports a more sustainable planet.

It improves indoor air quality.

One of the most noticeable benefits of low-VOC paint is the improvement in indoor air quality. These paints emit fewer odors and chemicals, making your home a healthier place to live. This is especially important for frequently occupied rooms, such as bedrooms and living areas, where good air quality is crucial for well-being.

List of Top Zero-VOC Paint Brands

ECOS Paints

ECOS Paints is a standout choice for those seeking non-toxic, zero-VOC paint options. This water-based paint brand is known for its transparent ingredient list, making it easy to see exactly what goes into its products. Initially created for people who are sensitive to chemicals, it has now become one of the leading zero-VOC paint brands. 

Prestigious institutions like the Louvre have trusted ECOS Paints. So if it’s good enough for the Louvre, it’s good enough for your house!  The brand also offers color matching, so if you love a paint color from another brand, they can recreate it VOC-free. 

Benjamin Moore Eco Spec

Since Benjamin Moore’s Natura line has phased out, the Eco Spec has been the brand’s greenest interior paint. This line offers zero-VOC paints that are Green Seal certified and are also certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

These paints come in three finishes: flat, eggshell, and semi-gloss, and are available in a wide range of color options. This means you don’t have to compromise on style to have an eco-friendly home. 

Clare Paint

Clare Paint combines beauty and sustainability with its zero-VOC, self-priming paints. These designer-curated, water-based paints offer a durable, washable finish, making them perfect for busy households. Clare’s curated, stylish color palette ensures that your home will look as good as it feels.

This brand is Greenguard Gold Certified and free of toxic air contaminants and pollutants. It also offers various eco-friendly paint materials, like recycled liners, paint trays, and kits. Plus, when you order, your products arrive in a 100% recycled paper box at your door!

Behr Premium Plus

Since 2012, Behr has been offering a low-odor, affordable, zero-VOC interior paint line: the BEHR Premium Plus. An affordable yet high-quality zero-VOC option, this self-priming product can seal uncoated and previously painted surfaces.

This brand is also Greenguard certified and is ideal for high-traffic areas due to its excellent coverage and durability. BEHR’s widespread availability and budget-friendly price point make it a popular choice among homeowners.

Sherwin-Williams Harmony

Sherwin-Williams Harmony is a Greenguard Gold-certified, zero-VOC paint that offers additional benefits such as antimicrobial properties and odor-reducing technology. Yes, this paint can help remove common indoor odors from pets, cooking, and smoke! 

Sherwin-Williams Harmony also has a formaldehyde-reducing technology that can help improve indoor air quality by reducing VOC levels in cabinets, fabrics, and carpets. Its acrylic latex paint offers features and antimicrobial ingredients that can reduce the growth of mold and mildew, making it perfect for kitchens and bathrooms. 

AFM Safecoat

AFM Safecoat is designed specifically for individuals with chemical sensitivities. This zero-VOC, non-toxic paint was created in partnership with environmental medicine professionals to create healthy and eco-friendly products for hospitals, schools, and laboratories.

This zero-VOC paint product seals in off-gassing and dries quickly to reduce air pollution that affects those sensitive to chemicals or suffering from asthma and allergies. 

Aura from Benjamin Moore

Aura by Benjamin Moore offers zero-VOC paint with superior color retention and durability. This line is known for its rich, vibrant colors and excellent coverage. Aura’s proprietary Color Lock® technology ensures long-lasting results, making it a top choice for those seeking both quality and eco-friendliness.

BioShield

BioShield is a leader in natural paints, providing zero-VOC options made from sustainable raw materials. Their paints are clay-based, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly. They contain extracts, tree resins, essential oils, and other natural ingredients to offer an array of options and natural colors. 

BioShield is ideal for those looking to minimize their ecological footprint without compromising on performance. However, it’s not recommended for high-traffic areas or situations requiring contact with water, like bathrooms, kitchens, and children’s playrooms. 

The Real Milk Paint Co.

The Real Milk Paint Co. offers eco-friendly milk paint in 56 vibrant colors made from 100% organic ingredients, including purified casein, lime, and natural pigments. This paint is versatile and suitable for floors, walls, and DIY furniture projects. It offers different finishes: smooth, matte, or antiqued. 

Listed as zero-VOC, biodegradable, and compostable, it’s also safe for children’s furniture and toys. With a commitment to sustainability, Real Milk Paint is an excellent choice for eco-conscious home decorators.

Green Planet Paints

Green Planet Paints provides eco-friendly interior and exterior paints available in flat and eggshell finishes with built-in primer. These paints are zero-VOC, plant and mineral-based, and free from heavy metals, biocides, and preservatives. Made from soy-based alkyd rather than acrylic or latex, many of their products are BioPreferred Certified. They offer 48 clay-based and mineral pigment colors, with custom colors available, making it a versatile and practical option for any home.

Simplicity from Valspar

Valspar is a famous name in paint, and Simplicity by Valspar is their zero-VOC paint line that provides excellent coverage and a smooth finish. This paint, including primer, is easy to apply and durable, making it a great choice for DIY projects and professional use. Simplicity is Greenguard certified, has high coverage, and is very durable, making it perfect for high-traffic spots like kitchens and entryways. 

Conclusion

Switching to low-VOC paints is a simple yet effective way to enhance your home’s health and sustainability. Brands like ECOS Paints, Benjamin Moore Eco Spec, Clare Paint, BEHR Premium Plus, Sherwin-Williams Harmony, and AFM Safecoat offer excellent options that don’t compromise on quality or aesthetics. Make the eco-friendly choice today for a healthier, happier home.

If you need assistance from professional painters, contact Custom Painting, Inc., or call us at 925-294-8062, and you can ask for the best zero-VOC paint brand suitable for your painting project.