It can be concerning to let someone sleep in a room that still smells of paint, as you don’t know what type of effect it could have on their health. This concerns most homeowners during their bedroom painting projects, especially if children or pregnant women are involved, as it can cause developmental issues and even miscarriage.
Unprotected exposure to paint fumes for a long period of time can produce serious health issues in the long-term, but being exposed to it for just a moment can also come with certain risks, depending on what paint and protective equipment you have used.
However, there are a few variables that change the circumstances and these must be taken into consideration when answering a question like this in order to get it right.
You can sleep in a newly painted bedroom the same day as long as you ventilate the room and paint it using Zero-VOC or Low-VOC paint, two types of paint that are either ridden off or have reduced levels of volatile organic compounds, which are hazardous chemicals. Latex or oil-based paints are worse alternatives as they can release toxic chemicals for up to 2 weeks after painting, any bedroom painted with these should not be used prior.
It’s always best to go with the safest alternative even if it sounds like you’re overdoing it. You can’t reverse any damage you may expose yourself or your family to and you will always have more control of the situation the longer you wait.
If you have a disease or a condition: Consult a doctor before you decide to sleep in the room. I cannot speak for every person as it will affect us differently depending on our current health status.
There are a couple of tweaks that can be done to minimize the time you have to wait before you can start using the bedroom again. Let’s take a look at the different circumstances and how you should approach the project.
Is It Safe To Sleep in a Bedroom That Still Smells Like Paint?
There are a ton of things that need to be taken into consideration but the main thing that we’re going to focus on first is the paint you’ve used when painting said bedroom. There are different types of paint available on the market, some are more suitable than others when it comes to painting a bedroom.
Because we’re painting indoors, our main goal is to minimize the amount of volatile organic compounds but also the odor emitted from the paint. The odor is often produced by the volatile compounds and can, therefore, be seen as an indication of their presence.
Using Zero-VoC paint will create an odorless environment quite rapidly after painting and it’s also safe as it doesn’t contain any of the compounds found in regular latex or oil-based paints.
Some manufacturers claim that a room that’s been painted using Zero-VOC paint can be used the same day as long as it’s been ventilated. It should even be odorless within a couple of hours if not immediately. That’s incredibly fast. I’ll give you something to compare it to so you can create your own frame of reference.
Zero-VOC: You’re safe to sleep in the room the same day. The paint does not contain volatile organic compounds, which means it does not emit fumes or smell.
Regardless of what room you are painting, Zero-VOC paint is the best option when it comes to painting indoors.
Low-VOC: This paint still contains volatile organic compounds but at greatly reduced levels. When using low-voc paints it should be harmless to sleep in the room the same day the paint is applied, but there will be odor as a result of the few compounds that still remain.
The odor will usually be neutralized in just a few days if the room is kept ventilated.
Oil-based or latex: These paints are not eco-friendly and contain regular levels of volatile organic compounds. Inhaling it can lead to health-related problems, both short and long-term.
The paint may release odor and fumes for up to two weeks through a process called off-gassing, and any room painted using oil-based or latex paint should not be used during that time. The fumes can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, and irritation on the skin, eyes, and throat.
Now, with the most suitable paint in our hands, it’s time to look at the problem from another angle. What else can you do to minimize the fumes and the odor in a newly painted room?
I have written an article where I show you how to speed up the process of neutralizing the odor – you can find it here. However, one of the main takeaways of the article is that you should invest in an air purifier with a HEPA-filter if you’re serious about painting and care about your health.
The air purifier will pick up the fumes and the odor in the room along with dust, particles, and much more – providing the best air possible for you to breathe.
The second takeaway is that you should keep the room well-ventilated at all times throughout the painting process and afterward too. How long depends on the paint you’ve used. Refer to the list above if you’re unsure about the lifespan of the paint fumes.
What Happens If You Sleep in a Room With Paint Fumes?
If the room has paint fumes lingering in it, it has probably not been painted with low or zero-voc paint, as these alternatives stop off-gassing chemicals rapidly in comparison to oil or latex paint.
Nevertheless, if you should happen to sleep in a room that contains paint fumes, the damage done will vary depending on the level of volatile organic compounds.
The next thing to take into consideration is you. Generally, the paint fumes have similar effects when inhaled but some of us don’t have the resistance and should be much more careful when exposing ourselves to it.
I’m primarily talking about pregnant women and children, as the paint fumes may cause developmental issues in children and could, in extreme cases, lead to miscarriage for women.
Still, regardless of who you are, I would never sleep in a room where strong paint fumes may be present and neither should you. I strongly advise against it.
If you happen to fall asleep in a room where minimal levels are present you may wake up with a headache, feeling dizzy, soreness in your throat, and perhaps a little nauseous. Sleeping in a room with high levels of VOCs may, on the other hand, be much more dangerous both in the short and the long-term.
In very extreme and rare cases, inhaling paint fumes for a long period of time can be lethal. Some compounds, such as Benzene, are established carcinogens and can be found in certain oil-based paints.
It’s highly likely that high levels of Benzene exposure for a long period of time are required in order for it to develop further. However, exposure to it will still lead to elevated levels, which should be prevented to be on the safe side.
Other common health effects that can be triggered by exposure to paint fume include respiratory problems and breathing problems. Damage to the nervous system and organs is also something to worry about.
Be careful.
How Long After Painting a Room is it Safe For Pregnant Woman and Children?
Toddlers, children, and pregnant women shouldn’t sleep in a room as long as paint fumes are present. Depending on the paint used, it could take quite a while (2+ weeks) or just a couple of hours. However, it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to things of such importance.
With that said, I would wait a couple of hours when using low or zero-voc paint for older children and women, and 1-2 days for toddlers. Toddlers have lowered immunity which makes them more vulnerable to the negative effects of paint fumes.
Now, this is only true for water-based paints. When picking the right paint for your child’s room, be sure to use paint that’s friendly to both the environment and your family’s health.
If oil-based or latex paint is being used you shouldn’t sleep in the room for at least 2 weeks as the paint could be off-gassing fumes for just as long. Applying the safety measures we talked about earlier in the article can reduce the time needed to get rid of the fumes.
What is Considered Low or Zero-VOC Paint?
We’ve talked about the most suitable choice of paint for indoor painting earlier in the article. – Zero-VOC Paint. The low-voc alternatives are much, much better than oil-based or latex options, but what is truly considered low levels of volatile organic compounds? How can you identify these products in store?
Low-VOC paints still contain volatile organic compounds but compared to traditional paints they contain much lower levels and as a result, they don’t off-gas as many fumes. As far as I know, there are no regulations regarding how low the levels must be in order to allow the manufacturer to call it a low-voc product.
You can find information regarding the levels of volatile organic compounds within the can by reading the label. Products that are considered non-toxic or natural shouldn’t contain more than 5g/L but preferably less.
Simply reading the “low-voc” label doesn’t really do the job so take your time to analyze the contents of the product. Look for added solvents or additives in the product you’re purchasing – knowing what the product contains is the first step.
How Long After Painting a Room is it Safe To Sleep in It?
If this article has taught us anything, it’s that the time needed before a newly painted room is safe to sleep in varies quite a lot depending on the circumstances surrounding the project.
The least amount of time it can take for a newly painted room to be considered safe is a couple of hours, and the most is a couple of weeks.
The two strongest driving forces are the choice of paint and ventilation. Simple adjustments, such as picking a more suitable paint and opening windows, can cut the times substantially.