For any scale of project, keeping the planet in mind while decorating a space can be a challenge. Many of the products that are commonly used in the painting and decorating industry aren’t necessarily compatible with the term ‘eco’...

But it’s not all bad news! Things are changing, and there are plenty of products and tools out there that are designed to keep a negative impact to a minimum, without sacrificing on quality.

Here are five tips to help you keep the environment a priority when sprucing up your space.

Avoid Using Plastic

This may seem like an obvious one for anyone with an interest in looking after the environment, but in the decorating world, plastic is particularly hard to avoid. It’s commonly used for protecting surfaces and furniture, leading to an unfortunate abundance of plastic waste.

Plastic can take up to 500 years to decompose, making it a particularly problematic pollutant. It’s highly likely that any plastic you bring home will ultimately end up either in a landfill or in the sea - which is, of course, bad news for the environment!

However, there are some simple swaps you can make to lessen your personal impact when undertaking a decorating project. For any furniture protection, you could buy a cotton dust sheet from any decorating shop, and simply wash it after each use.

 Alternatively, there are now biodegradable plastic dust sheets on offer that decompose much more quickly than typical polyethene plastic protection.

Use Water-Based and Low-Emission Paints

Many common paints contain chemicals called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). VOCs from paint is released into the air, generating emissions and contributing to the formation of ‘greenhouse’ gases.

Since only water evaporates from them, water-based paints have less of an environmental impact than oil and solvent-based products.

This means they are also less likely to damage your home’s air quality (which is particularly important if you have allergies) Water-based paints are low-odour, quick to dry, easy to apply and come in a wide range of finishes. What’s not to love? Some of our favourite brands include Graphenstone (some of their paints even absorb CO2!) and Edward Bulmer, who offer plastic-free and responsibly made natural paint.

When shopping for water-based paints, simply look for ‘acrylic’ and ‘quick-dry’ on the label. Another hint to look for is that the instructions say to wash out your brush in water rather than white spirit.

Make The Most of Leftovers

If you can, it’s best to try and accurately estimate how much paint you’ll need for your project, to avoid over-buying and wastage. However, this can sometimes be easier said than done, so you occasionally might find yourself with some leftover paint.

Paint is notoriously tricky to dispose of, so it’s best to use it up if you can! You can keep paint for any touch-ups you might need to do - the classic: ‘I missed a spot!’, or an annoying scrape along the corridor where a rogue teen has knocked their bike…

If you have a larger volume of paint left over, consider getting creative by breathing new life into some old furniture. For inspiration and tips, check out founder Phil’s advice on DIY upcycling!

Dispose of Waste Responsibly

Finally, if you can no longer find a use for your paint, be sure to dispose of it responsibly to ensure it doesn’t end up contaminating water sources, or as a pollutant in a landfill.

Contact local charities to see if they could use the paint or offer it to community groups who might appreciate a donation. Failing this, get in touch with your local council which will be able to provide advice on how to safely and responsibly dispose of paint in your area.

With some simple changes to the way we decorate, we can all play our part in driving positive change to help the environment.