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.

Farrow & Ball Papers and Paint

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

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 Natura Renew

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.