How to paint your home responsibly

Painting your home can be a big task, but the aesthetic results are well worth it. Whether you opt for a neutral hue like Resene Half Akaroa or take things up a notch with Resene Jalapeno, there are so many ways to spice up your living room or bring a fresh vibe to your kitchen. Perhaps your property's exterior is in need of a fresh coat of paint, in which case a shade like Resene Triple White Pointer could be a wise choice.

One thing to consider is how you brighten up your home in an environmentally conscious fashion. There are a few ways to ensure your home decorating choices are in line with caring for the environment.

Buy the right products

It's always a good idea to invest in high-quality paint, rather than opting for a cheaper option in the first instance.

While it can be tempting to go for the cheapest deal in order to cut your renovation costs, this could well end up costing you. Cheap, low-quality paint will break down much quicker than paint with a longer shelf life. So while you might save a few bob now, you'll have to invest in more paint and labour costs in the future, making the seemingly cheap option not that cheap at all!

Aside from the costs issue, it's preferable to paint your home less often to reduce the environmental burden.

Clean up properly

Once you've completed the painting process, you might be wondering how to clean up. 

There are a few ways to make sure you do this in an environmentally friendly fashion. If you use waterborne paints, wipe any excess on the brush onto old rags, cardboard or newspapers. Allow these materials to dry, then discard. In terms of cleaning painting equipment, such as brushes and rollers, you can wash these in a container of water, preferably using a water spinner. Then rinse them off in a second container filled with water.

But what happens to the containers? Pop a lid on them and leave overnight. The paint solids will settle, so you can pour the water away before disposing of the paint solids. When pouring the water away, be sure to do far from rivers and streams – pouring it into the garden where there is absorbent soil is a good bet.

Once you've used all the paint, bring the empty containers to the Resene PaintWise service available at most Resene ColorShops (NZ) for recycling or ask your local council for advice in your area.

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