Name: The Best Paint for Furniture: A Complete Guide, from Simple to Daring
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The Best Paint for Furniture: A Complete Guide, from Simple to Daring

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×Published: · Modified: by This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.Wood furniture can be painted in a multitude of ways. Learn about the various paint options and how to get the best results. We have been painting furniture for clients and friends for years. Even if you are a beginner, this guide makes it easy to know the what, why, and how.Table of ContentsI can’t think of anything more disheartening than a bad paint job. All the prep and work you put into a DIY project to watch it chip and fail is the worst. And, unfortunately, I have seen it many times with friends and clients.The truth is that over the many years of painting furniture and refinishing, not all paints are created equal.So, today, I thought I would take some time to share a guide to the best paints for furniture! I have used over 15 different paint lines not including the many more that aren’t meant to paint furniture with and, honestly, paint types are NOT all equal.When choosing the right paint for a furniture project, there are several characteristics that are important. I look for all of the following in the paints that I use:Pro Tip: NEVER paint furniture with so-called latex paint or wall paint. Latex is sort of a misnomer since there is no natural latex in today’s paint, although sometimes an altered synthetic is used. Wall paint is not designed to adhere well to furniture and it isn’t durable enough.I also won’t go too much into the prep-work necessary for painting furniture, but if you are interested, we have several articles on prepping your DIY project.The good news is it won’t take long to see your furniture painting project transform in a matter of a few hours. But first, you need the right products. I do not use the same furniture paint for every project, nor should you. To get the best results, there are a few considerations:Painting method – brush, spray, or rollerHow smooth and free of brush strokes do you want the paint to be?Durability Factor – How often will the piece be touched, banged, or used?Sheen Factor – What kind of sheen do you want? Matte, satin, or semi-gloss?To make this easy, here is a shortcut chart about the paints I usually recommend and the situations around them:All of the paints I recommend are also very low to no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), so I can paint them indoors with no fumes!I think it’s a fair disclaimer that I am not a big fan of chalk paint in general. It is simply a personal preference as I don’t like how it feels when dry and I have tried several brands for clients.I find that Chalk Paint is one of the least durable paints without a topcoat, and, in my home with boys, I need maximum durability and cleaning.However, chalk paint is great for things like home decor signs, picture frames, or furniture that doesn’t have constant handling. It does not require priming, is beginner friendly, and generally doesn’t show brush marks.Fusion Mineral is the paint I use most often. I love the matte sheen, which is still pretty flat but not quite as flat as chalk paint. You can learn more about Fusion Mineral here, but here are my general thoughts:This is my favorite satin and eggshell sheen paint. Here are the situations I would use this:All projects I have used this paint for have held up beautifully. It is also easy to wipe off dirty fingerprints.This paint does, in fact, come in a flat sheen. My store does not have it and thus, I have not used the flat. However, I will say that I wasn’t impressed with the high gloss. The cure time was far too long for me.The only trouble I have ever had with this paint is when I tried to thin it with water. There are very specific instructions on the paint can for how to thin BM Advance.Miss Mustard Seed Milk paint is a paint based off of milk proteins. It is all natural and has a specific finish style. It’s called “chippy” because rather than distressing furniture via sanding it off, the paint sort of chips off to give it that style. It authentically creates an aged finish that looks much more natural than other paints.If you are interested in learning more about how to use milk paint, I highly recommend watching this workshop on working with Milk Paint.Dresser Painted with Miss Mustard Seed Milk PaintThere are so many fun finishes out there! Finishes are like adding jewelry to your favorite little black dress. The dresser is wonderful on its own, but that extra touch enhances the whole package. Here are some of the finishing products that I love and where to buy them:Fusion Mineral Furniture Wax – Most tutorials show using wax as a protective finish, but it is also a great decorative finish. Here are some of the decorative finishes you can do with wax-Liming Wax – I love a good cerusing technique and liming furniture is a very beautiful, but specific finish.General Finishes Glaze – This is a beautiful product that beautifully layer colors for depth or aging. I also use it to tone down bright colors. Here is an example of a dresser layered with glaze.What kind of paint to use on furniture without sanding? While sanding will unquestionably give you the best bond and last longer, there are many paints that work well without sanding. I highly recommend the sanding method for high traffic surfaces such as around knobs and tabletops. You can use a high-bonding primer for surfaces that can’t be sanded such as laminate or MDF. Fusion Mineral and Rustoleum Chalk Paint work best without sanding. Do I need to sand between coats of paint? No. The only reason to ever sand between freshly applied paint is to remove imperfections or if it isn’t smooth to your liking. Don’t sand the final coat unless you plan to apply a top coat. What is the best topcoat for painted furniture? A water or solvent based polyurethane gives great protection for painted furniture. I have used several brands and explain more in detail the best furniture topcoats here. Do I Have to&nbsp;prime Furniture First Before Painting? Many paints today do not require priming so check the product. However, you may still need use a sealing primer if painting white or light colors, stains, or if you have heavy tannins (knotty pine, Brazilian cherry) in the wood. What is the best paint for cabinets? My go-to paint brand for painting kitchen cabinets is Benjamin Moore Advance in satin sheen. It levels beautifully for a smooth finish, is super durable against chipping and fading, and cleans up easily. What is the best spray paint for wood furniture? After spray painting many projects, my favorite brand of spray paint for wood and metal is Rustoleum Universal. Prep the surface well and you can add a topcoat if you wish. You can see our DIY painted refrigerator here.More Furniture IdeasPS I love seeing your creations! Be sure to take a photo and tag #cravingcreative&nbsp;on Instagram! You can also&nbsp;stay in touch with me through following me on&nbsp;Instagram,&nbsp;Pinterest, and&nbsp;Subscribing to the Newsletter!« Red Death Halloween Martini CocktailChicken Marsala Pasta »What’s your advice – paint or stain honey pine furniture about 20+ years old. Our furniture is Habersham products made in North Carolina. Very well made, I would prefer to refinish instead of replacing.Thank you – Tammy O’NeillReplyYour post is very helpful. Thanks a lotReply

×Published: · Modified: by This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.Wood furniture can be painted in a multitude of ways. Learn about the various paint options and how to get the best results. We have been painting furniture for clients and friends for years. Even if you are a beginner, this guide makes it easy to know the what, why, and how.Table of ContentsI can’t think of anything more disheartening than a bad paint job. All the prep and work you put into a DIY project to watch it chip and fail is the worst. And, unfortunately, I have seen it many times with friends and...

The Best Paint for Furniture: A Complete Guide, from Simple to Daring

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