Peelable Paint is an Incredible Accidental Discovery

Painting a home, a room, or even just a wall is one of the most fun parts of moving into a new place or just changing up a living space for a bit. The way a home looks can have such an impact on a sense of comfort and well-being. 

Now, a new type of paint that simply peels off a wall can make things easier for renters, holiday decorators, or even just people who have trouble sticking with one color for any amount of time, reported Fast Company.

Started as a mistake

This new type of paint, called Unpaint, was created by the Colombian company Glasst Innovation by mistake. The company was originally trying to replace single use plastic in construction. Instead, what they found was a liquid plant-based polymer with unique properties. That polymer eventually became Unpaint.

“Serendipity also played a role… we realized its potential to form the basis of a peelable paint, which ultimately led to the creation of Unpaint,” Juan Comilo Botero, the CEO of Glasst Innovation told Fast Company in regards to the paint’s origins. 

Clings to the surface
So how does Unpaint work? According to CoolThings, Unpaint can be applied like regular paint, using brushes and rollers. However, instead of absorbing into the corners, nooks, and pores of walls like regular paint, Unpaint dries into a durable, elastic film that clings to the surface it is being applied to. 

This means that when the time has come, the paint can easily be peeled away from the wall or any other surface it is on and then discarded. 

The manufacturers recommend applying two to three coats of paint, with an hour’s wait time between applications. Once it is fully applied, Unpaint takes 24 hours to solidify into an elastic film. 

Currently, Unpaint comes in 5,000 colors, and could be a boon for renters who want to change the color of their living space, but do not want to have to repaint when they leave the apartment. It could also be used for seasonal decor: a pale yellow wall in the spring could turn into a moody dark green one in the winter. 

Additionally, FastCompany reports, it could also be used by professionals. Real estate agents could apply a quick coat of Unpaint to a house they are trying to sell, sprucing it up without spending a lot of money or time. Likewise, set and film designers could find it useful for their work as well.

However, the most impressive thing about Unpaint, is the fact that it is environmentally friendly.The production process is carbon negative, and according to CoolThings, is completely biodegradable and will begin to break down in a landfill within three years. 

This means that there is no long time commitment to a paint color. And this is really good news for renters, homeowners, and holiday decorators everywhere.