Painting green (in whatever color you like)

When it comes to home décor, it's generally a lot 'greener' to rejuvenate your current furniture, rather than throwing it out and starting over. But when you choose to bring your bookcases, tables and chairs back to life with a new coat of paint, there are steps you should take to make certain you are being as kind as possible to both the larger and your personal environment.

Start by considering what type of paint or stain you use to make your furniture look like new. Many conventional paint products contain volatile organic compounds. VOCs are released into the air when the paint is applied to a surface, combining with other pollutants to form smog outdoors and generally unhealthy air indoors. In humans, VOCs have been blamed for nausea, headaches, dizziness, irritation of the eyes and heart, lung and kidney problems.

Natural Options

Latex paint contains fewer VOCs than oil-based paint, but you can get around the problems of VOCs altogether by using paint or wood stain made from plant dyes, oils and waxes. These paints come in a limited number of colors and are more expensive than their conventional counterparts, but sometimes it's worth the extra money to protect the environment, your health and indoor air quality.

Clay paint – Made from minerals, clay paint comes in colors ranging from earth tones to blues, oranges and white. It generally covers in two coats, but attempts to scrub or wipe away dirt or stains from walls or furniture could result in damage to the finish that requires touch-up painting.
Lime wash – This is basically limestone mixed with water. It comes in many colors and can be used indoors or outdoors. However, you can apply it only to porous material such as brick, wood, plaster and concrete. It is not suitable for drywall however. The high pH level, (alkaline), acts as a fungicide, but generally lime wash is not as durable as conventional paints.
Milk paint – This paint is made from casein, a protein found in milk products, along with clay and natural pigments. It's sold in powdered form and mixed with water when ready for use.

Shopping Know-How

Here are some things to consider when you shop for painting supplies for your project.

Finish the Job

Painting or staining a piece of furniture is only part of the project. Cleaning up afterward is just as important as making your bookcases and tables look like new.

Don't start washing your brushes and roller covers until you use a brush comb or other tool to remove the excess paint from them. You also can wipe or squeeze excess paint onto old rags, shredded newspapers or cardboard boxes.
Clean your brushes and roller covers with a biodegradable soap. Dish soap is a good option.
Using three buckets will save water. Clean your equipment in one bucket, rinse it in a second and rinse it once more in a third.
Never pour leftover paint down the drain. If you're not going to save it for your next project, find a place that will recycle it. You also could give the paint to a friend or neighbor or donate it to a community group such as Habitat for Humanity.
If you must use oil-based paint, take the leftovers to a hazardous waste collection site.
You can get rid of leftover latex-based paint with your regular trash. Before you throw it away, take off the lid and let the solvents in the paint evaporate.

Giving your old furniture a fresh coat of paint rather than a trip to the dump is the green thing to do. The way you attack this project can make a big difference in your health and in the health of the environment.