17 Considerations when Choosing Interior Paints

Why 17, you ask? Well, recently we explored the Celtic archives in hunt of all the photos that included an old banner featuring our director's 4-year-old daughter painting a wall with Earthborn Claypaint. This summer she celebrated her 21st birthday! Rediscovering this banner has taken us down memory lane, recalling all the local shows we took it to in the early years of Celtic Sustainables. It inspired us to reflect on the importance of using sustainable and eco-friendly paints and the conversations we have had with our hundreds of thousands of customers over the years.

Here are 17 things to consider when choosing paint for your rooms.

1. Of course it needs to work. We don’t sell anything we haven’t tried ourselves. Our customers love the paints we provide (just take a peek at our glowing reviews!).
2. Check the coverage (m2) and how many coats are required. Our selection of high-quality paints provide excellent coverage, helping you save both time and money! You can find the specifics for each paint on our product pages.
3. If you need the paint to be wipeable or scrubbable (usually a good idea for hall or kitchen walls), check out the “abrasion class classification” of the paint. Abrasion Class 1 is the best and means that once the paint is dry you can give it a good old clean if necessary.
4. Research eco and air quality certifications. Look for ones that are independent of the brand. Our chosen paint brands are highly certified! The Keim paint range has achieved cradle-to-cradle certification for 65 of the paints within their range. All Earthborn interior paints are certified safe for children's rooms, and Earthborn paints were among the first to receive the eco label for all paints.
5. Are you painting an older building or an eco-home? If yes, you probably need a “breathable” paint. Our range of breathable paints like those in the Earthborn Claypaint, Beeck, Graphenstone and Keim brands allow walls to regulate moisture levels. This in turn improves energy efficiency by reducing the need for excessive heating or cooling (it takes more energy to heat a damp wall – not to mention the potential long-term damage from excess moisture).
6. Talking of damp, do you have mould on your interior ceilings or walls? If yes, check out our lime-based paints. These paints are highly alkaline, and mould simply struggles to grow on surfaces painted with these paints.
7. Are you concerned about animal welfare? We have a huge range of Vegan paint available from leading environmentally friendly & clay-based paint and natural plant-based paint suppliers; Earthborn, Graphenstone & Auro. None of the vegan paints products are tested on animals, and all are suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
8. Not all Low VOC paints are equal. There are international standards on what is classed as “low VOC” when it comes to paint. The max allowable number for VOCs depends on the type of paint. Many of our eco-friendly paints emit only trace amounts of VOCs (much, much lower the regulations allow). This means they don’t pollute indoor air which in turn makes your home a safer place to breathe and live, which is particularly beneficial for individuals suffering from allergies and asthma.
9. How quickly do you need to use the room again? The lower the VOC the quicker you can move back in. Indeed, some of our paints hardly have any VOCs in them so can be used while they are being decorated!
10. Indeed, air purification paints like Graphenstone Ecosphere, loaded with graphene technology can even help improve indoor quality. This paint effectively eliminates formaldehyde and reduces odours when used on interior walls and ceilings.
11. Fed up with chucking brushes and rollers in the bin? Our interior paints are specially formulated to be easily cleaned with just hot, soapy water, meaning your brushes and trays won’t get ruined and you can use them time and time again!
12. Do you have any allergies? Most of the brands declare all their ingredients so you can see easily if there is something in the tin that you will react to before you open the tin! If you are concerned about a particular preservative like MIT or BIT (which are potential allergens), we can advise you on the best options.
13. You can easily check whether there is an ingredient you are boycotting because they are listed on the tin (or available to us – so just ask). For example, some people prefer not to use products that contain Titanium Dioxide because of the environmental impact of some mining practices.
14. Worried about end of life for the things you have painted or the leftovers in the tin? Paints manufactured from minerals and plant extracts (like Auro) are harmless, so any extra paint can be poured onto your home compost pile. However, we would always recommend decanting the last bits of paint into a smaller container (labelled of course) for that moment when you need to spruce up an area.
15. Do you need a paint with a specific fire-retardant rating? Paints made of high mineral ingredients achieve the fire safety rating.
16. Will the colour last? Some paints, particularly whites, can go yellow over time. Others can bleach in the sunlight. Mineral paints utilise natural raw pigments; our paint brands, like Keim, offer lightfast and UV-resistant paint coatings. This means they maintain their colour for decades and guarantee long-lasting coatings!
17. Lastly (but for many the deciding factor between two or three options) is it available in the colour you want!

In short, whether you need a breathable paint for an older home, one that can help reduce mould, a vegan option, or a washable finish for your busy hallway, or indeed, any paint related requirement, we’ve got you covered!

Some of the outings the banner has had over the last 17 years! 

Our paint brands offer a vibrant palette of environmentally friendly and sustainable paints that are gentle on your health and a joy to work with. If you’re feeling inspired to try our selection but aren’t sure where to start, just reach out to us! We talk about the benefits of these paints every day and would love to help guide you to the best option for you and your home. We’re here to support you in making healthy, lasting choices!