Paints, Lacquers and Finishes

No colour is safer than another in itself. What matters is the finish: in the United States, paints and surface coatings on children's furniture are subject to lead limits, and in the European Union articles within the formaldehyde regulation's scope must meet release limits (see the answer on choosing a luxury cot). Choose a colour you love and a finish that is documented, durable and easy to clean.

Why consider white

Reasons to consider white include a neutral background for changing textiles and decoration, and the way it reflects the room's light. The exact effect depends on the shade, finish and lighting. Ask how it should be cleaned and how its appearance may change with use and time.

Things to ask about a white finish

• How the finish resists yellowing with light and time.
• How it should be cleaned, and what to avoid.
• How chips or marks can be repaired.

At SUOMMO

A surface carries the work of the hands that prepare it. In AQUALOGY, the selected water, the application of each layer and the time allowed between stages become part of the clarity and depth through which the creation meets the light.

The White Edition follows our AQUALOGY water-based finishing approach, with extended curing periods and carefully selected mineral water. During development, we observed the white finish in a sunlit shop window for more than six months before adopting it. Explore other finishes in the Gold Edition and limited editions such as Dodo Sakura, and ask our Concierge about care for your chosen creation.

Paint on children's furniture is regulated in several markets. In the United States, paints and surface coatings on children's furniture are subject to lead limits; in the European Union, articles within the scope of the formaldehyde regulation must meet release limits. Ask what finish is used, which rules it meets for your market and what documentation is available. For an older cot, establish its history and ask the manufacturer or an appropriately qualified professional before disturbing or refinishing the coating; looking at the surface alone cannot establish what it contains. See the answer on choosing a luxury cot.

At SUOMMO

A surface carries the work of the hands that prepare it. In AQUALOGY, the selected water, the application of each layer and the time allowed between stages become part of the clarity and depth through which the creation meets the light.

The White Edition follows SUOMMO's AQUALOGY water-based finishing approach, with extended curing periods and carefully selected mineral water. Explore other finishes in the Gold Edition and limited editions such as Dodo Sakura, and ask our Concierge about care for your chosen creation.

Choose a coating intended for the surface and use, and follow its application, curing and ventilation instructions; labels such as ‘water-based’ or ‘low-VOC’ do not mean there are no emissions, and a water-based wall paint is not automatically suitable for a cot. For baby furniture, ask the manufacturer about the specified finish and any repair or refinishing before changing it, and which rules it meets: in the United States, paints and surface coatings on children's furniture are subject to lead limits, and in the European Union, articles within the scope of the formaldehyde regulation must meet release limits. Do not sand or strip old paintwork without checking for lead. See the answer on crib paint and the answer on when to paint.

Check the cot before thinking about paint. A new finish cannot correct a cot's structural or design problems, and an old cot may not meet current requirements: in the United States, for example, traditional drop-side cribs are prohibited, and cribs made before the 2011 federal standards may not meet current rules (see the answer on US crib standards). Before refinishing an heirloom cot, establish its model, history and suitability for use, including recall checks, and ask the manufacturer or a suitably qualified professional about the existing coating and any proposed work. Older paint may contain lead, and the US Environmental Protection Agency advises against removing lead-based paint yourself. Follow the drying and curing instructions of any new finish. See the answer on crib paint.

Paint on new cribs is regulated in several markets to limit harmful substances. In the United States, paints and surface coatings on children's furniture must meet a strict lead limit, and in the European Union articles within the scope of the formaldehyde regulation must meet release limits. Ask what finish is used and what documentation is available for your market, and take particular care with old cribs and old paint. See the answer on crib paint and the answer on lead paint.

In the US, paint and similar surface coatings on children's furniture must meet a 90 ppm lead limit, measured on the dried coating or its non-volatile content. That is a legal limit, not a claim of zero lead or proof that an individual product complies. Older cribs are a different matter: paint from earlier decades may contain lead, and the US Environmental Protection Agency advises against removing lead-based paint yourself. If you have an old painted crib, find out what the paint is before sanding, stripping or using it. See the answer on repainting an heirloom crib.

‘Lacquer’ and ‘varnish’ describe types of finish, not a guarantee of safety. Ask about the actual formulation, intended use, curing process and evidence for the finished creation, and which requirements it meets: these include lead limits for paints and coatings in the United States and formaldehyde-release limits for articles within the European Union regulation's scope, which are limits, not a certificate that every formulation is harmless. Follow the manufacturer's preparation and ventilation instructions rather than assuming that a dry or odourless surface settles the question. See the answer on crib paint and the answer on airing new furniture.

You cannot tell from the word ‘lacquer’ alone. Ask the maker for evidence covering the finished surface and its intended use. EN 71-3 concerns migration of certain elements from toy materials; DIN 53160 concerns colour transfer under tests with saliva and perspiration simulants. Neither establishes that a coating is safe to swallow. In the United States, paint and similar surface coatings on children's furniture are subject to a lead limit. Check the rails regularly for chips or wear, and ask the maker about repairs rather than covering or sanding the surface yourself. See the answer on lacquer and varnish.

At SUOMMO

A surface carries the work of the hands that prepare it. In AQUALOGY, the selected water, the application of each layer and the time allowed between stages become part of the clarity and depth through which the creation meets the light.

SUOMMO's AQUALOGY finishes are tested to the requirements of the applicable European and British standards, including those for finishes that children may put in their mouths, and beyond. These tests concern the finish. Each creation is prepared following the hygiene standards of an operating theatre: tools and surfaces are cleaned before every coat so that no trace of a previous finish remains, and each finish, white, gold or a limited-edition colour, has its own dedicated tools, kept apart and never mixed. Our Concierge can tell you more about the process.

Do not assume the rail is safe to chew simply because it belongs to a cot. Check its condition and the maker's information on the finished surface. If there are chips, cracks or loose material, prevent further contact and ask the maker how to proceed; do not sand it or add an improvised cover. See the answer on chewed lacquer.

Neither a lacquered cot nor one in untreated wood is better on the label alone. Consider the actual wood, construction, adhesives and finished surface, together with the maker's evidence and care instructions. Both can be safe if the wood and its surface suit a cot. Untreated wood has no coating but can absorb moisture and stains, and must be smooth and splinter-free; a lacquer or varnish protects the wood and makes it easier to clean, provided the finish meets the requirements for children's furniture and is fully cured. Ask what finish is used and which tests it meets. See the answer on lacquer and varnish.

The actual formulation matters more than the label alone. Water-based finishes can still contain volatile organic compounds. For a cot, ask for evidence covering the finished surface and its intended use, and follow the maker's curing and care instructions. Advice about avoiding paint fumes during pregnancy concerns exposure during decorating; it does not certify a finished cot. See the answer on lacquer and varnish.

Babies can chew on cot rails, especially once they can pull themselves up and when they are teething. That is why the rail finish matters: see the answer on chewed lacquer and chewing the cot rail.

A water-based label alone does not predict yellowing. Colour stability depends on the resin system, the wood and preparation beneath it, application and exposure. Ask about the particular finish's ageing behaviour. Keep furniture out of strong direct sunlight and follow the maker's care instructions. See the answer on why white furniture turns yellow.

To reduce the risk of changes in tone, choose a finish formulated to resist yellowing, keep the furniture out of strong direct sunlight, avoid placing it near heat sources, clean it only with what the maker recommends, and keep the room ventilated and smoke-free. Some change in tone over many years can be natural; ask the maker about care and restoration. See the answer on why white furniture turns yellow.

Suitability depends on the particular formulation, application, curing and evidence for its intended use. Check the finish's condition and ask how damage or wear should be handled; the word ‘lacquer’ alone does not establish safety. See the answer on lacquer and varnish and chewed lacquer.

In a water-based system, water forms part of the formulation; its specification depends on that system. Ask the maker about the water and preparation it uses, and separately about the handling of cleaning water and other process waste. See the answer on water-based and solvent-based varnish.

At SUOMMO

In AQUALOGY, SUOMMO uses carefully selected mineral water in its water-based finishing process. Evian has long been the house's preferred choice. The preparation of each surface and the time allowed for curing are part of the work that gives the finish its depth. Discover AQUALOGY on Moveo Mini Crib, or ask our Concierge about the finish of each creation.

The safest finish for a crib is one that meets the requirements for children's furniture in your market, is fully cured before use, resists chipping and wear where a baby can reach it, and comes with documentation. Ask what the finish is, which tests it meets and how to care for and repair it. See the answer on chewed lacquer and water-based and solvent-based varnish.

A varnish that is safe for a baby's cot is one that meets the requirements for children's furniture, is fully cured before the baby uses the cot and resists wear. Before refinishing a cot, ask its maker whether this is appropriate and how it should be done. A varnish described as suitable for toys does not by itself establish suitability for that cot. Do not sand or strip an unknown old coating without assessing the risks, including lead, and arranging qualified help where needed. See the answer on painting a cot and the safest finish.

Several changes can alter a white surface. The finish itself may change colour, and substances from some woods can stain the coating. The cause depends on the actual system and exposure; ask the maker before trying to remove the mark or refinish it. Smoke, cooking fumes and some cleaning products can also discolour surfaces. Finishes formulated for colour stability, and care that avoids strong sun and heat, help a white surface stay white. See the answer on preventing yellowing.