Just like everything else in your home, your furniture and your kitchen cabinets will eventually go out of style. Luckily, when you want to refresh your interior design style, you don’t need to head straight to the store to buy all-new furniture. Instead, consider painting your metal or wood-based pieces with the best paint for furniture.
Painting works to revamp and renew a variety of furniture and fixtures throughout most homes. For example, you might be able to paint the following in order to provide a fresh and updated appearance:
- Kitchen Cabinets
- Dressers
- Chairs
- Tables
- Headboards
- Kitchen Counters/Splashbacks
- Windowsills
- Shelves
But before you buy one of the best paints for furniture, there are a few considerations to take into account. Keep reading to learn the differences between oil and water-based paints as well as the various application methods available for painting furniture.
Oil-Based vs. Water-Based Furniture Paint
When shopping for the best paint for furniture, you’ll notice that there are several types available, including matte, satin, semi-gloss, chalky, milk, metallic, etc. Most of these names refer to the finish on the paint and come down to personal preference.
However, you’ll also notice terms like acrylic, latex, etc. These types of paints can generally be placed into two broad categories, water-based and oil-based. And, you’ll want to ensure you choose the type that’s most appropriate to the project you’re working on.
Oil-based paint, which usually contains an alkyd base, is long-lasting and dries to a hard finish, so it won’t peel off. This type of paint is best for metal surfaces. However, lighter colors tend to yellow with age, and it takes longer to dry than water-based paint. Keep in mind that oil-based paints also contain compounds that are bad for the environment.
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On the other hand, water-based paints or latex paints dry quickly and contain no volatile organic compounds, which are considered toxic. Water-based paint also tends to be easier to apply. These paints are the best choice for wooden surfaces. But, water-based paints tend to be less durable than oil-based options, and using water-based paints means you will need to prime your furniture first.
How To Paint Kitchen Cabinets
There are a number of application options when it comes time to paint your furniture and your kitchen cabinets. Here are the three best methods:
- Brush – Using a brush makes the end result look hand-painted, but this may be beneficial if you’re going for a textured look. Using a brush is ideal for small areas that require precise painting.
- Roller – If you have a large amount of area to cover, a roller can help with flat surfaces. Rollers are ideal for cabinet doors, tables and bigger chair seats.
- Spray – Spray paint can also be beneficial for painting furniture. Spraying creates even coverage and eliminates brush strokes. This is the best option for furniture with rungs or spindles.
Below you’ll find our top eight best paints for furniture of all kinds. We’ve included options for both indoor and outdoor use, as well as paints that require no preparation before being applied to surfaces. Scroll down to find the right paint for you.
1. Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Latex Paint
BEST OVERALL
With over 16,000 five-star ratings, this Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Latex Paint is one of the best-reviewed and most tried-and-tested options available. It’s a great choice for a number of different surfaces, including wood, metal, plaster, masonry or unglazed ceramic. The easy-to-apply, water-based formula is low odor, resistant to chips and dries to touch in as little as 30 minutes. It also offers long-lasting protection and comes in your choice of 25 colors, two different can sizes and a gloss or a satin finish.
2. Americana Decor Metallic Vintage Brass Paint
BEST METALLIC
By utilizing patent-pending, advanced technology, this Americana Decor Metallic Vintage Brass Paint delivers an attractive, reflective finish that is also durable. The versatile paint can be used on a range of materials, including metal, ceramic, wood, glass and even some plastics. Each eight-ounce jar includes enough paint to cover 12 square feet twice. The water-based, non-toxic low odor formula is great for accenting or full-furniture coverage as it creates a rich, metallic shimmer on surfaces. In addition, it dries to touch in under an hour.
3. Majic Paints DiamondHard RePurpose Enamel
BEST OUTDOOR
This Majic Paints DiamondHard RePurpose Enamel is another reliable, multipurpose option for breathing life back into your trim, cabinets, doors and other home furniture. It’s also suitable for interior and exterior use and requires no sanding or priming before it’s applied to surfaces, which can include everything from glass to wood. You’ll also have 10 different colors to choose from and more than 2,400 five-star ratings from existing customers to give you confidence in any purchase you make.
4. Rust-Oleum Linen White Ultra Matte Chalked Paint
BEST CHALKED
If you want a beautifully smooth, no-shine finish on your home furniture, this Rust-Oleum Linen White Ultra Matte Chalked Paint could be the choice for you. It’s made for interior use and only requires a single coat. This paint arrives ready to use, meaning there’s no need for messy mixing. Once applied and dried, it’s also possible to create a distressed look on your surfaces using sandpaper and a glaze. Additionally, this low-VOC, water-based formula paint is available in a range of colors, including charcoal, farmhouse red and serenity blue.
5. Country Chic Paint Chalk Style Paint
BEST COLOR RANGE
With over 30 options to choose from, we’re confident there’s a color of this Country Chic Paint Chalk Style Paint to suit every style of home interior. The impressively reviewed paint has been specially formulated for use on furniture and home decor, making it a great all-purpose choice that can even be used on crafting projects. The all-in-one formula also includes both a primer and topcoat, meaning there’s less need for multiple applications. Furthermore, it’s available in four, 16 or 32-ounce cans, letting you choose the right can for the amount of painting you have to undertake.
6. Beyond Paint All-in-One Cabinet & Furniture Paint
EASIEST TO APPLY
This Beyond Paint All-in-One Cabinet & Furniture Paint is a great option if you don’t want to deal with stripping, sanding or priming surfaces before applying a coat. This water-based paint can be used by beginners and professionals alike and comes in 10 different colors. Even though the formula includes a bonder, primer and finisher, to achieve the best results it’s recommended that you apply two coats of this all-in-one treatment. In addition, the finish, which dries in around 120 minutes, is resistant to mildew and washable, making for longer life and easier maintenance.
7. General Finishes Interior/Exterior Milk Paint
MOST VERSATILE
The General Finishes Interior/Exterior Milk Paint’s formula is made with a strong mineral base which delivers a high-quality finish on everything from wood to fiberglass. The fast-drying paint only takes 30 minutes before it’s ready to touch, although full curing does take around 21 days. It can be applied through brushing or spraying methods and produces a finish that is resistant to UV damage. Handily, because of the paint’s water-based makeup, cleaning up any spills or drops can be done using only soap and water.
8. NuVo Black Deco Cabinet Paint Kit
BEST KIT
The NuVo Black Deco Cabinet Paint Kit is popular with users because it comes with everything you need to give your cabinets a fresh look. In addition to the NuVo acrylic modified urethane paint, you’ll find a roller arm, two roller covers, one brush and an illustrated instruction manual. Each can of this durable, low-odor paint is enough to cover 100 square feet, equal to the surface area of cabinets found in the average household kitchen. Furthermore, the kit is available in multiple color options and comes with positive reviews from over 95% of Home Depot customers.
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