✨ A peek inside and my honest review

Hey Reader,

It's high-priority for us to do what we reasonably can to be healthy. That's why we eat plant-based, why we try to move as much as we can and a slew of other things. That includes choosing natural, non-toxic products, when we're doing projects around the house.

A year ago, I told you about the natural, zero-VOC paint we used in 5 spaces of our home.

How has it held up?

Is natural paint really as durable?

James Alexander Specialty Paint is known for their limewash, but they also make botanical, natural paint. We used their Thrive paint and I can't tell you how nice it was to be in full-blown "paint mode" WITHOUT the noxious fumes and worries about any lingering effects of invisible hormone-disrupting chemicals in our home.

Their premium natural paint is made from plants!!! 🌱 Thrive Paint offers high coverage and low splatter in curated architectural colors. This innovative, plant-based, zero VOC formula provides a smooth, durable finish that's gentle on the environment and indoor air quality.

Okay, I promised honesty, not just hype — so here's the real update.

The two big question marks with eco-friendly paint are always coverage and durability. Coverage impressed us right away, so we were good on that. Durability is the one only time could answer.

So, now that we're a year in, here's how each room actually held up:

Entryway (our highest-traffic spot): A soft wipe with a cloth was all it took to freshen the walls back up. I do have to be gentle, since this matte finish will transfer onto the cloth if I scrub too hard — but overall, it held up beautifully.

Bathroom: We have textured walls throughout our home, which chip easily no matter what paint you use (our Behr-painted dining room wall proves that). A few tiny touch-up spots near the light switch took all of 5 minutes to fix and look brand new again.

Kitchen & dining room ceiling: This one covered old water-stains a year ago, and it still looks fresh today — no yellowing, no flashing.

Bottom line: a year in, with a busy family of four (plus our new puppy, Theo!) putting it through real daily life, I'd still recommend James Alexander Thrive Paint without hesitation.

You can see the full review and after photos here: An Honest James Alexander Natural Paint Review: A Year Later

For your next paint project, definitely check out their Thrive Paint line and see if one of their beautiful colors will do the trick!