Home Improvement: True Colors

Nothing transforms a room as quickly and easily as a fresh coat of paint. Some of the world’s leading paint manufacturers recently introduced a fresh batch of colors, all in eco-friendly formulas.

 

The UK brand launched past fall, all created using the same age-old production methods that its factory in Dorset, England, has been employing since the company’s beginnings in 1946. The pigments – in bold shades like Yellow-cake – complement the ex-listing palette, which totals 132 interior and exterior finishes ($95–$126.50/ gallon), all of which have minimal volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Last winter, Farrow & Ball also unveiled four new wallpaper patterns. Each is available in find colorways. The new additions are hand-crafted using real paint, giving them a uniquely tactile appearance.

 

Sherwin-Williams’ Enhanced Harmony (from $48.99/gallon) delivers great coverage and a durable finish that can withstand frequent washings. But it also does something people don’t expect from paint: Once it has dried, the paint’s odor-eliminating technology reduces ambient odors of organic origin, such as those from cooking, smoke, and pets. The result is a beautiful room that stays fresher, longer. Enhanced Harmony also contains antimicrobial agents to inhibit the growth of mold and mildew on the paint film.

 

Benjamin Moore’s new Natura Renew ($67.99/gallon) is an industry first. Made from a plant-based formula containing up to 40 percent bio-renewable materials, it has zero emissions and low odor but still goes on easily. Durable and washable, Natural Renew comes in thousands of colors with an eggshell and semi-gloss finish.