Create a Natural Baby Nursery

If you're expecting a baby, you may be looking for ideas on how to decorate the nursery. While we tend to focus on finding interesting themes and color schemes, many products commonly found in a nursery, like fresh paint, plush carpeting, and new furniture, can emit chemicals such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air.

VOCs, also found in paint thinners, dry cleaning solvents, gasoline, and nail polish, contribute to indoor air pollution. This may not be the best thing for a baby's lungs or skin and it harms the environment by contributing to ground-level ozone.

But when looking for natural, eco-friendly alternatives, two of the biggest complaints people often have are that they cost more and don't look good. So here are some great options for different budgets that can make your nursery stylish as well as safe.

1) Paint

• One of the least expensive no-VOC options is Olympic paints. Their standard Premium Interior Paint is a low-odor, no-VOC paint ($17 per gallon). It's available through Lowe's. (www.olympic.com)
  
  
• San Diego-based AFM Safecoat ($30 per gallon) paint has no VOCs or other potentially toxic substances commonly found in paint, such as solvents, heavy metals, chemical residuals, formaldehyde and other preservatives. The company offers over 900 colors. Some people have found that the paint tends to separate in the can. This may be due to the different binding agents used and just means that you'll have to mix the paint in the can more often. (www.afmsafecoat.com)
  
  
• Yolo Colorhouse, based in Portland, Oregon, was started by two artists. They have a wonderful selection of designer colors. Their zero-VOC paint comes over 40 nature-inspired shades, including Leaf, Air, and Water. Yolo isn't as widely available as other paints, but it can be ordered online ($39 per gallon). (www.yolocolorhouse.com)
  
  
• Another option is American Pride. According to their website, American Pride paints were developed by scientists at the University of Southern Mississippi for the U.S. Department of Defense, who wanted a low-VOC, low-odor alternative to traditional paints. The company offers 940 colors and will match other paint company's colors. ($36 per gallon). (www.americanpridepaint.com)
  
  
• Sherwin Williams' Harmony line is free of VOCs. It comes in their full range of colors ($36 per gallon).
  
  
• Benjamin Moore has a low-VOC line called Eco Spec ($23 per gallon). One of the drawbacks is only light or medium toned colors, which have a "1" or "2" on the color chip, are available. Darker colors, which have a higher VOC content, aren’t available in this line. Also, this paint is a low-VOC, rather than a no-VOC paint. The company's new Aura line also minimizes VOCs, but it’s more than double the cost ($52 per gallon). (www.benjaminmoore.com)
  
  
• If you live in Europe, UK-based Ecos Organic Paints (£30 per five liters) has a range of paints and finishes, with 109 paint colors available. It's free of other solvents, heavy metals, pthalates, and other potentially toxic substances. (www.ecospaints.com)
  
  
• Other manufacturers with low- or no-VOC lines include: ICI Dulux, Devoe, Devine, Kelly Moore, Duron, Earthborn, Redona, and Sico.
  
  
• An excellent option: BioShield Paints, Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company, and Auro are non-toxic natural paints.

• After the nursery is painted, make sure the room is well-ventilated. Keep windows open and fans on until any smell is gone.
  
• Children and pregnant women should avoid recently painted rooms for at least 72 hours or until there is no odor.
  
• If painting after the baby comes home, keep him or her in a crib in another bedroom for a few weeks or until there is no odor.

2) Flooring

• Cotton hand-loomed rugs are relatively inexpensive. Many of them come in fun colors and patterns, which helps to hide spills and spit-up. The drawbacks: these rugs aren’t plush, so you’ll need to use a thick underlay, and the surface isn’t as soft as tufted rugs. Also, some cotton rugs may contain pesticide residues.
  
  Some of the more popular makers include Pottery Barn ($169 for an 8 by 10 rug) and Massachusetts-based Dash and Albert ($344 for an 8 by 10 rug). (www.potterybarn.com, www.dashandalbert.com). Better yet, look for one made using vegetable dyes.
  
  
• Nature’s Carpet from Colin Campbell & Sons in Canada (starting at $35 per square yard) offers biodegradable, 100% wool carpets and rugs. Instead of chemical latex, these products are made with a latex adhesive from a natural rubber source. The backing is made of jute, a natural fiber, and they aren't sprayed with pesticide. Only vegetable dyes are used.
  
  The main drawback is the colors are either solid light neutrals, which show stains easily, or dark colors, which might not fit with your color scheme. (www.naturescarpet.com)
  
  
• Earth Weave's Bio-Flor carpets are also 100% wool and biodegradable. They're free from dyes, pesticides, and stain protection, and are backed with jute and natural latex.($40 to $50 per square yard).
  
  The company also makes wool-based carpet and rug underpadding and natural rubber non-skid rug pads that can be used with any rug. (www.earthweave.com)
  
  
• Carpet tiles are another option. Although they’re often made with synthetic fibers and cost more than regular carpet, individual tiles can be easily be replaced when they’re worn or stained, which makes them an eco-friendly option.
  
  A popular brand of carpet tile is FLOR by Interface. Their 19.7 square inch, low-VOC carpet tiles, which come in a variety of fun patterns, textures, and materials, are a great option if you live in an apartment, because they can easily be removed when you decide to move.
  
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