healthy alternative to paint (alternatives, painting, bathroom, kitchen)

[bgmv90]

Without spending a fortune, are there any creative healthy alternatives to painting your walls and cabinets? The clear coating for my wood cabinets has come off in places, and I don't want to use something unhealthy like some paints have such high voc.

[Moby Hick]

There's low VOC paint.

[haggardhouseelf]

google "green" wall

or milk paint: Environmentally friendly, VOC free, non-toxic paint for chemically sensitive individuals

lots of options out there, actually... try zero VOC paint, or go for a rustic look and sand everything down and finish with a combo of mineral oil and beeswax

We recently stayed in a sweet beach cottage on the coast. Instead of drywall with paint or wallpaper, the walls in all the rooms of the cottage - even the bathroom and kitchen - were cedar boards... sorta like this:



It was beautiful.

[Pitt Chick]

Originally Posted by bgmv90

Without spending a fortune, are there any creative healthy alternatives to painting your walls and cabinets? The clear coating for my wood cabinets has come off in places, and I don't want to use something unhealthy like some paints have such high voc.

Then use paints with low VOC.

[TrapperL]

Sherwin Williams Harmony, Valspar Ultra, Behr Premium Plus Enamel, and Ben Moores Aura are all zero VOC (Volitile Organic Compounds). More and more makers are formulating to zero VOCs as the aqueous binders are becoming more common and less expensive.

[RayinAK]

Pittsburgh Paints 900-series has zero VOC's. However, just because a paint does not produce volatile organic vapors it does not mean that it's not hazardous. There are other ingredients in all paints that in pure form are hazardous. Latex paints are a form of plastic, and most contain silica and liquid agents to speed the drying process. If no VOC paints were not hazardous, then there would not be warnings about creating ventilation and for sanding. Read the MSDS.

But since the OP indicated that the cabinets have a clear coating that's peeling, he (or she) needs to explain if the new coat has to be clear or not.

[RayinAK]

Please note that the Pittsburgh line of paints I mentioned above is the "9-500" series, not "900-series".

[davebarnes]

such as kale.

[eddiehaskell]

not sure if it's creative or stylish, but recycle some old wood paneling someone has torn out? i know some landlords love it...when a tennant moves out they just wipe it down. i have seen some paneling that's 50+ years old and still looks new.