When is it Safe to Sleep in a Newly Painted Room?

After your home is painted with ordinary paint it will take time for the fumes and the smell to leave. If you are about to have your home painted, particularly a bedroom, you may be wondering how long you need to wait before sleeping in that room. The scary truth is that paint fumes can have a negative impact on your health. This is due to the VOC’s or Volatile Organic Compounds found in paint. They are what lead to headaches, dizziness, trouble breathing, etc. So when is it safe to sleep in a newly painted room? Keep reading to find out!

First, it’s important to state it is dangerous to sleep in a freshly painted room. It is particularly dangerous for babies, young children, or pregnant women. The paint fumes can cause developmental issues in babies and young children. If pregnant women inhale these fumes it can cause birth defects or even miscarriages.

So how do you avoid all of this? As long as you take proper precautions you will be fine.

• Opt for Low VOC, Zero VOC, or Oil-Based paint. Luckily paint manufactures are catching on and making way safer alternatives. These paints are the safest options and will ensure that you will not need to worry about you or your family’s health.
• Low-VOC paint is a safe option. You can even sleep in the room the same day that it is painted. It still has an odor though, that typically lasts a day after the painting is complete.
• Zero-VOC paint is odorless and does not emit toxic chemicals.
• Latex paints have fewer VOCs than some other types of paint.
• Natural paints are made from ingredients such as casein, chalk, citrus oil, and linseed oil. However, they may emit some VOCs.
• Oil paints are the most durable, but they emit the greatest number of VOCs.
• Ventilate. Keep windows open and make sure to have a large fan in whatever area is being painted.

Let us know if you need help navigating your paint options we would be happy to help or if you are looking to start a painting project contact us today for a free estimate!