Thursday, January 12, 2012

Green Paint for Safer House

Paints add beauty and elegance to your house. However paints have negative impact to air quality because of presence of chemicals called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and other toxic components that evaporate into air at room temperature and can cause a variety of health problems like nausea, dizziness, irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract and more serious illnesses like heart, lung or kidney damage and even cause cancer.

VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are the fumes that you smell while you paint, and sometimes several days after. A VOC is an organic chemical that becomes a breathable gas at room temperature. Some examples are benzene, ethylene glycol, vinyl chloride and mercury. VOCs in paint usually come from additives to the paint, such as fungicides, biocides, color, and spreadability agents. High levels of VOCs in paints can cause headaches, allergic reactions, and health problems in the very old, very young and in those with chronic illnesses.
Concerns about air pollution and hazardous waste have greatly reduced the use of oil-based paints, which can release high amounts of VOCs and contain toxic solvents. Alkyd-based paints and latex paints are much safer, but some still have high levels of VOCs.

Because of health and safety concerns, paint manufacturers around the country have made great strides in formulating paints that have no or low-VOCs and that provide excellent results.
Some older buildings, particularly if they are pre-1960, many have been painted in the past with a paint made with lead pigments. Special care is needed in the safe preparation and removal of these coatings.

Via - (www.indiahometips.com)

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Vastu Tips for Painting

Colorus according to Feng Shui and Vastu Shastra play a vital role in bringing balance to our minds as well as bodies and to stimulate our energy. Therefore colours in our home, shop and office should be coordinated with the colours of respective planets and elements associated with different directions.

This will help in enhancing the energy flow around every individual in the house. Here are some guidelines on particular colours, which will help you to choose the right Vastu and Feng Shui colours for every room.
Every Navagraha planet has been associated with every color. By following colors according to their favorite colors, people get good relief and peaceful life in their life. These are only guidance and wherever possible can be followed.

Red Color:
Red and pink color is the favorite color of Lord Sun or "Surya" of the Navagraha planet as per jyotish Shastra. The colour red represents power and bravery. It is the most dramatic, emotional and active colour comparing to other two primary colours blue and yellow.
It is known for evoking a seductive atmosphere of passion and desire. With its versatile effect it enlivens the interior space by creating excitement, warmth and elegance. It should not be used in bedrooms because of its energizing quality, although some red can be used to enhance sensuality. It can also be exhausting or overpowering and stressful for those who are anxious.

Orange Color:
Orange color is the favorite color of Lord Jupiter or "Guru Bagawan" of the Navagraha planet as per jyothish shastra. This colour inspires spirituality as it represents transcendence and an otherworldly aspect. It encourages happy, joyful and social gatherings.
An orange coloured dining room will help to stimulate good appetite. So, if you want to enhance parties, communication, positive feelings and cheerfulness in your daily living, paint your dining room or living room in orange. Peach can also be used as it gives a cool effect.

Green Color:
Green color is the favorite color of Lord Mercury or "Budhan" of the Navagraha planet as per jyotish shastra. This colour represents nature. Green helps in bringing a harmonious atmosphere that generates calm and inner peace with an energizing quality within the house. It brings balanced harmony, quick healing and rejuvenation to a room.
It can be used as a calming place for people who are disturbed or in need of refreshment. Today most of the hospitals use it because of its quick healing aspects. It can also be used in study room as it enhances intelligence.

Yellow Color:
Yellow color is the favorite color of Lord Jupiter or "Guru Bagawan" and also for Lord Moon "ChandranĂ¢€Å“ of the Navagraha planet as per jyotish Shastra. Yellow colour nurtures mental alertness and clarity of mind. It represents sunlight. Remember, if a room gets direct sunlight; do not paint the walls with yellow or peach.
Choose its placement with care, as it is bright and very energizing. However this colour inspires intellectual clarity, comprehensible associations, articulate thinking and joyful energy. For prayer room, yellow or sandal wall colours are just perfect. It is a recommended colour for the logical left side of the brain. It is intellectually beneficial and you might use it with yellow accents instead of painting each wall yellow.

Blue Color:
Blue color is the favorite color of Lord Saturn or "Sani" and also for Lord Venus or "Sukiran" of the Navagraha planet as per jyotish Shastra. This colour represents Sky.
It gives a sense of space and expansion that relaxes body and mind. It can be used for bedrooms or meditation rooms because of its calming and spiritual energy. It enhances meditative quality and it is believed that blue acts like a colour therapy to reduce blood pressure.

Purple Color:
Purple color is the favorite color of Lord Saturn or "Sani" of the Navagraha planet as per jyotish Shastra. It helps in reflecting positive reflections and stimulates meditation.
This rich colour inspires faith, intuition and trust. It is very protective, spiritual and comforting. Never paint an entire room in purple as it could be overpowering. However an additional light violet colour can provide a very healing and calming atmosphere.

White Color:
White color is the favorite color of Lord Moon or "Chandran" and also for Lord Venus or "Sukiran" of the Navagraha planet as per jyotish Shastra. White is an elegant colour and works fine anywhere when combined with accent colours. It has an uplifting and cleansing aspect, however too much white can reflect a sterile and isolating quality.
White ceilings are widely suggested by most of the scholars as they reflect light and brighten the room. A room in Northwest direction representing the room should use white and other bright colours like blue and green. Avoid grey and black colours specifically.


Via - (www.vasthurengan.com)