If you’ve ever completed a home improvement project, especially painting, you’ve probably encountered the term “VOC”. But what exactly are VOCs, and why are there VOCs in paint? Why should you care about them? If you’re considering a fresh coat of paint for your home, understanding VOCs is essential for making informed decisions about your health and the health of the environment. 

What Are VOCs?

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are not inherently harmful — they’re simply chemicals that easily evaporate into the air at room temperature. You’ll find VOCs in paint, varnish, cleaning supplies, and even some furnishings. Some VOCs can have adverse health effects, especially when present in high concentrations indoors, while others contribute to the formation of smog and ozone in the atmosphere. 

The most harmful VOCs include: 

• Phenol
• Formaldehyde
• Terpenes
• Glycol ethers
• Acetaldehyde
• Methylene chloride
• Certain flame retardants

Why Are There VOCs in Paint Products?

So, if VOCs can be so harmful, why do we put them in so many products? Generally, VOCs in paint are used to dilute or dissolve other ingredients. In other products, such as building materials or mattresses, VOCs function as flame retardants. Many fragrances are VOCs, which allows the scent to linger in the air for a longer period of time.

Effects of VOCs in Paint

When the VOCs in paint and other products come into contact with air molecules, they evaporate (or “off-gas”) easily. VOCs in paint can continue to off-gas throughout the duration of the curing process, which can last months. 

The concentration of VOCs in the air is up to about seven times higher indoors than outdoors. This isn’t just because of paint — VOCs from various sources, including gas appliances and personal care products, get stuck indoors due to poor ventilation. Plus, heavier VOCs can settle onto surfaces and be absorbed by dust, which is harmful when inhaled or ingested.

A high concentration of VOCs in your home can have a number of negative effects on your health, indoor air quality, and the environment.

Health Concerns

One of the primary reasons to avoid VOCs in paint is their potential health effects. Breathing in large amounts of VOCs can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, along with nausea, headaches, and dizziness. Long-term exposure to certain VOCs has been linked to more serious health issues, including liver and kidney damage, asthma, and neurological disorders. Children, elderly individuals, and those with existing health conditions are particularly vulnerable to the effects of VOC exposure.

Indoor Air Quality

Since the VOCs in paint off-gas into the air, they can significantly impact the air quality in your home. Poor indoor air quality has been linked to a wide range of health problems, including fatigue, allergies, and respiratory issues. 

Environmental Impact

Indoor air quality isn’t the only thing VOCs affect; they can also contribute to outdoor air pollution and environmental degradation. When VOCs are released into the atmosphere, they react with other pollutants, forming smog and contributing to the formation of ground-level ozone, which is harmful for both human health and the environment. 

Regulatory Compliance

Because of the potential health and environmental risks associated with VOCs, many governments and regulatory agencies restrict VOCs in paint and other products. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency sets nationwide standards for VOC emissions, and many states have additional regulations in place. By choosing paints that comply with these standards, you contribute to a healthier, safer environment.

Tips to Avoid the Negative Effects of VOCs in Paint

Next time your home needs a fresh coat of paint, choose products that are labeled “low VOC” or “zero VOC” and have been certified by Green Seal or other third-party organizations. Opting for these paints doesn’t mean sacrificing quality or durability; they perform just as well as their traditional counterparts.

By utilizing low- or zero-VOC paint options, you can improve the air quality in your home, create a healthier living environment for you and your family, reduce your carbon footprint, and minimize your impact on the planet. 

In addition to being mindful of your product choices, you should also ensure proper ventilation while painting. Open the windows or strategically place fans to prevent VOCs from getting trapped in your home. Consider wearing a mask over your nose and mouth to protect yourself from the fumes.

Professional Painting by Rosewood

If you want to ensure your home’s sustainability while also improving its appearance, you need professional painting services from Rosewood Painting and Remodeling. Our expert team members can guide you through the process of selecting the right type of paint and provide safe, seamless service. Contact us today to get started!

When one year ends and another begins, it’s the perfect time to look back on the previous 12 months and make predictions about where we’re going. As you plan your home improvement and interior design projects for 2024, it’s important to consider what’s likely to be popular in the near future. That’s why we’ve taken a look at the Color of the Year announcements from various companies, along with predictions from experts online, and compiled a list of paint trends to help you get inspired.

Earthy Greens

Earthy shades of green have been one of the biggest paint trends in the past couple of years, and they aren’t going anywhere in 2024. The rise of muted greens coincides with the increasing popularity of sustainability in interior design, with natural materials, upcycling, and thrifting becoming more mainstream than ever.

These hues, inspired by the beauty of nature, create a calming, comforting feeling. Paint company Dutch Boy named a dark, moody shade of green, Ironside, as their color of the year, perfect for cozy spaces or a bold accent.

Warm Neutrals

Rather than the stark whites made popular by minimalism, warmer neutral shades are set to become one of the biggest paint trends this year. This is part of a shift from cooler gray tones to the warmer palettes of the natural world, creating a seamless transition between the indoors and outdoors. 

Glidden’s color of the year, Limitless, is a buttery, yellowish shade that can complement almost any color scheme. Neutral hues like Limitless that are both warm and light can make your home feel brighter, larger, and more open. 

Warm neutrals are an especially good choice for spaces that use LED lighting, as it tends to make colors appear cooler. To counterbalance the cool-toned LED lights, try adding a bit of warmth through your paint colors.

Shades of Pink

Thanks to Barbie, shades of pink will likely continue to trend in 2024. From vivacious bubblegum pink to dusty rose, these nostalgic hues are used everywhere, including wall paint. However, it’s not strictly a girly color anymore — instead of traditionally feminine applications, you can also expect pink to be used in more sophisticated ways, with soft mauve shades and tones with hints of brown.

Peachy shades of pink will have their moment, as well, with Persimmon and Peach Fuzz being crowned Color of the Year by Sherwin-Williams and Pantone, respectively. 

Dark Tones

To balance out the light and bright paint trends you’ll be seeing in the coming year, dark tones such as black, navy blue, and forest green will likely rise in popularity, along with York Wallcoverings’s color of the year, Bay Brown. These rich, deep colors create contrast, bringing enhanced visual interest to your interiors.

Black, especially, is becoming a favorite among designers and homeowners who want to bring moodiness to a space. Instead of being used as an accent, you’ll be seeing shades of black used as the main color in a room. Behr’s Color of the Year, Cracked Pepper, is perfect for these more liberal uses, as it’s a softer hue.

Cool Blues

Although there seems to be a collective shift toward warm colors, cool blues are also gaining popularity. Benjamin Moore, Dunn-Edwards, Krylon, Minwax, Sherwin-Williams, and Valspar all named shades of blue in their Color of the Year predictions. 

Due to its connection to the natural world and innate serenity, blue is unlikely to ever fall out of favor when it comes to wall paint. From bright and refreshing to airy and tranquil, there’s a shade of blue to fit any mood.

Tone-on-Tone Palettes

While you may think of monochromatic palettes as boring or dull, when they are done right, they can look effortlessly chic. Interior spaces that utilize different shades within one color family are coming into the limelight. If you’re looking to elevate your home, try tone-on-tone layering by utilizing a variety of paint shades, patterns, textures, and materials that belong to the same color family.

Follow Paint Trends With Professional Services 

If you’re looking to refresh your home by following 2024’s hottest paint trends, trust Rosewood Painting and Remodeling. Our expert painters take the stress out of home improvement by providing professional, efficient home painting services. With our team’s extensive experience, you can be sure we’ll create high-quality, long-lasting results. 

To get started on your residential painting project, contact Rosewood Painting and Remodeling today.