When Is It Safe to Sleep in a Newly Painted Room?
Posted on March 9, 2022
If you’re thinking about repainting your bedroom, you’re also probably wondering when it’s safe to sleep in the room after you’re done painting. A couple of different factors affect sleeping in the bedroom after a painting project, like how long it takes to dry and what type of paint you use. That’s because paint emits harmful chemicals called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) during and after the painting process, which means you don’t want to go in there before the chemicals have had time to dissipate.
Due to these chemicals, it’s best to wait until the paint is completely dry before attempting to sleep in the bedroom. If you want to err on the safe side, wait a full day or two before sleeping in your bedroom after a painting project. Pregnant women, children, and people with asthma should take extra precautions since VOCs can cause headaches, fatigue, ear, nose, and throat irritation, and other health problems.
Drying Times for Different Types of Paint
There are different types of paint you can use to paint your bedroom. Each of these paints has varying drying times and levels of odor and chemicals released during the process.
Water-based paint: Water-based paints are typically latex and sometimes acrylic. This kind of paint is suitable for the interior and exterior of your home because it has easy application, low odors, and dries relatively quickly. The average drying time is 4 hours. Because there are still VOCs in regular water-based paints, you should wait until the next day to sleep in the bedroom.
Oil-based paint: Oil-based paints are used on molding, cabinets, trims, and furniture. Though it’s known for its protective coating and smooth finish, it also emits stronger odors. The average drying time for an oil-based paint is 24 hours. If you’re using oil-based paint on your bedroom’s furniture, trim, or molding, it’s best to wait 1-2 days to sleep in the bedroom.
Low or Zero VOC paint: Paint with low or zero VOCs are the safest options for interior painting projects. These eco-friendly paints emit fewer harmful VOCs, have low odors, and can feature antimicrobial properties which prevent the growth of mold, mildew, and other bacteria. When you use zero VOC paint, you have little to no wait time to sleep in the bedroom (around 2-6 hours after drying). You can usually sleep in the bedroom the same day or 24 hours later when you use low VOC paint.
Keep Your Bedroom Ventilated After Painting
No matter what type of paint you use to refresh your bedroom, make sure that you keep it ventilated during and after the painting process. Keep the air circulating by opening windows, running ceiling fans, plugging in floor fans, or turning on your HVAC system.
Work With Professional Bedroom Painters in Northwest Florida
When you’re ready to have your bedroom painted, trust the expert painters at CertaPro Painters® of Northwest Florida to get the job done safely and efficiently. We can use low or zero VOC paint to ensure you’re back in your bedroom and ready for a good night’s sleep in no time. Contact us today for your free estimate.
