The Best Low-VOC Paints, for Healthy Indoor Air   

One of the most exciting lines of paint is Freshaire Choice, said to release no volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It comes in 66 gorgeous colors and is available exclusively at the Home Depot. Made by ICI Paints, Freshaire Choice is certified at the highest level for "Children and Schools" by the Greenguard Environmental Institute.

Freshaire Choice was designed to be long lasting and durable, comes in recycled packaging and is backed with a lifetime warranty.

AFM Safecoat has been working for more than 25 years on nontoxic, environmentally friendly paints, stains, finishes, sealers and related green building products. Not only are the paints zero VOC, but they also eliminate other potentially harmful solvents that haven't been classified yet, as well as formaldehyde, ammonia and acetone. The products are said to create a "safe coat" on surfaces, sealing in emissions.

AFM Safecoat comes in more than a thousand different colors and is available at green specialty retailers, including Green Depot and the Environmental Home Store. To find a dealer near you, search afmsafecoat.com.

Dress up your dry wall with AFM's beautiful Ayurveda Essence line of paints. Based on the ancient Indian medicinal art of Ayurveda (which means "the science of life"), the line is said to be toxin free, while reliving stress and promoting holistic health in your most intimate spaces. The 108-color palette is said to inspire a person's organic "dosha," or energy.

Anna Sova paints are casein (milk protein) based and are made with up to 99% food-grade ingredients, which means the paint already has a faint vanilla smell. For an added bonus, you have the option of adding aromatherapy scents like orange and clove, fresh lemons or sandalwood to your paint. The light scent lasts about six months on your walls. How delightful!

Anna Sova offers three finishes — paint, texture and stucco. They're available at annasova.com and other stores listed on the site.

An early leader in the zero VOC world, Eco Spec paints by Benjamin Moore have been used by some of the most respected green designers. The acrylic-based paint is low odor and is popular with hospitals and other institutional clients. It has a limited color and finish selection, however.

Benjamin Moore has aimed its Aura line at the residential market, with a full array of rich colors. Aura is what President Obama painted with during his preinaugural "Day of Service" visit to the Sasha Bruce House. Not zero VOC but low VOC, Aura is rated at less than 50 g. of VOCs per liter.

For a more complete zero-VOC solution, check out Benjamin Moore's new Natura line of interior waterborne paint. It's said to be virtually odorless, fast drying with excellent adhesion, and has an unlimited color palette.

Ivy Coatings is manufactured in Brooklyn, NY, specifically for the Green Depot. The gorgeous paint is zero VOC and releases almost no odor during application. Ivy Coatings comes in a variety of delightful colors and finishes and is a durable paint for many surfaces. If you live in the New York City area, it's also a low-carbon choice.

With a palette of dozens of attractive colors, YOLO Colorhouse offers Green Seal-certified acrylic paint made to enhance your living space without tainting your air quality. This paint is made for durability but has low odor and no harmful chemicals. It's zero VOC!

It comes in a flat, eggshell or semigloss finish — and in June 2009 YOLO released a new palette of interior paints: reds, yellows, greens, blues, whites and neutrals.

Be sure to check out YOLO Colorhouses's zero VOC primer as well.

Completely VOC free, Harmony from Sherwin Williams is available in a wide range of textures, glosses and hues. Some colors are so natural they're even made from safe and sustainable materials like soy and sunflower oil.

Deliciously organic style doesn't have to come at a high price. The Harmony line stays true to Sherwin Williams's promise: quality at an affordable price. Find your color at sherwin-williams.com.

Stop being a wallflower. Sherwin Williams's Duration Home Interior Latex is specially formulated to be low in odor and volatile organic compounds. Best of all, the paint naturally resists mildew, and most stains wipe clean with mild soap and water.

With walls so easy to clean, you'll avoid harsh chemicals and frequent repaints. The Duration Home Line is available at all Sherwin Williams stores. Find one near you at sherwin-williams.com.

UK-based ECOS Organic offers a variety of products from varnishes and wood stains to wall paint and floor paints — and they're all free of VOCs. Great for bedrooms, kitchens or any room in your house you want free of nasty paint chemicals. ECOS Organic products come in 108 shades.

The family-owned and operated EnviroSafe offers VOC-free paints with no toxic fumes and no preservatives like formaldehyde or petroleum. If you already have a color palette you're trying to stick with, EnviroSafe can custom match any color.

Whether you want to improve your indoor air quality or find a durable outdoor paint, EnviroSafe is a breath of fresh air.

As the name suggests, Old Fashioned Milk Paint is made from milk — or at least the milk protein casein, which acts as the binding ingredient. Other natural ingredients include lime, earth pigments and clay, making this paint biodegradable and VOC-free. The original milk paint was formulated for porous surfaces like bare wood, but for those who want to paint walls and other nonporous surfaces, there's SafePaint. SafePaint is a polymer emulsion, but still VOC-free.

You can purchase Milk Paint products online at milkpaint.com, or check out the site for a dealer in your area.

C2's Lovo is a low-VOC paint that comes in 496 color options, in a variety of finishes. And if you don't see your dream color, then LoVo can custom make your perfect shade. They also offer a sampling program, in which you get a 16-ounce sampler, so you don't have to waste an entire can if you're not satisfied with the color.

To learn more or to find a dealer near you, visit c2paint.com.

These water-based paints contain no oils, no VOCs and no acrylic softeners. EarthBorn offers a variety of indoor and outdoor options — you can choose from Claypaint, Emulsion, Casein (milk) Paint, Wall Glaze and Pigments.

This brand is currently available only in the UK, but you can check out EarthBorn's products at earthbornpaints.co.uk.