The Best Furniture Paint, 2024 (24 Blind Tested & Reviewed!)

What Kind of Paint To Use On Wood Furniture

After blind testing and reviewing twenty-four top brands, here is the ultimate guide on the best furniture paint.

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You walk into a home décor boutique and see a gorgeous shelf full of colorful furniture paint jars in every shade imaginable. 

But when you look closely at the label, you see that little jar is close to $40.  You wonder if you are better off getting paint at the home improvement store…but which one?  And will it cover as well? 

Deciding on the best paint for furniture has been about as clear as mud until now, as there are SO many different paints on the market.  Not only are there chalk paints, milk paints, and latex paints, but there are furniture paints that don’t fit into any of these categories that some swear by. 

To clarify for us all, I have blind-tested 24 of the top brands of furniture paint to make a side-by-side comparison. 

After hours of research, spending a small fortune on furniture paints, and talking to furniture professionals across the country, I have found the best paints for furniture overall and by type.

In this blog post, I give you all the details to find the easiest paint to use to give you the most beautiful results on a budget!

(As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. Please see my full disclosure HERE. I only use affiliate links for products I use and love.)

Can You Use Any Paint to Paint Furniture? Why Quality Matters

Most furniture you refinish will fall into one of two categories. If you are painting a family heirloom, you want to get it the best finish possible to protect it for many years as a treasured furniture piece.

If you found an old furniture piece on the side of the road or in a used furniture shop, giving it a gorgeous paint finish will make all the difference in transforming your roadside rescue into a piece that looks like it came from Pottery Barn.

Painting furniture is so worthwhile, but it is still a lot of work. That’s why you don’t want to leave the results up to chance by using just any old paint.  Furniture paints are not created equal, and as you’ll see from my testing, the most expensive paints are not the best!

Picking the right paint is so essential when redoing furniture. The last thing you want to do is use low-grade paint that ends up peeling.

Repairing a lousy paint job means you have to sand off and repair peeling areas or, worse, repaint the piece all over again because your paint product didn’t adhere to or protect the furniture finish.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “If I have 6 hours to cut down a tree, I’ll spend 4 hours sharpening the ax.”

That’s why I believe choosing the right paint is the most critical prep work when painting furniture.  If you spend $40 on a can of paint with poor coverage, that means it will take several paint coats. Your time and money are much better spent on a higher quality paint that is cheaper.

Finding a durable paint that goes on smoothly with a paint brush and has good coverage is vital to the success of your furniture painting projects.  Fortunately, I’ve done all the research and testing for you to find the absolute best paint for furniture!

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My Top Picks for the Best Paint For Furniture, 2024

Overall Best Furniture Paint: Benjamin Moore Advance

This formula is furniture paint perfection in a can that gives you a finish just as smooth and durable as it is gorgeous. READ REVIEW

Best Budget Furniture Paint: Interior Cabinet and Trim Enamel by Behr at Home Depot

Don’t underestimate this low-budget wonder for your next furniture project!  It definitely gives the competition a run for their money. READ REVIEW

Best Splurge Furniture Paint: Inspired By U Pigmented Coating- Milesi (See Price)

This premium Italian coating is available to DIYers to give you a luxurious finish on your furniture. READ REVIEW

Best Low-VOC Furniture Paint: Dixie Silk Mineral Paint(See Price)

Not only is Dixie Silk a 0 VOC paint, but it also has incredible flow and leveling with a brush or roller. READ REVIEW

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Refinishing Furniture (The ONLY Guide You’ll Ever Need!)

What’s the Best Furniture Paint For Each Type?

Best Mineral Paint for Furniture:  Dixie Silk Mineral Paint (See Price)

The best mineral paint by far was Dixie Silk because of its excellent coverage, smooth finish, and great scrubbability. I’ve always been a fan of using a primer, but I’m impressed with all this paint has to offer. READ REVIEW

Best Chalk Paint for Furniture: Retique It Ultratique Chalk-Based Paint (See Price)

Chalk paints are not known for their durability and smoothness, but this chalky gives you a smooth matte finish with great coverage and NO brush strokes!  It was hands-down the best chalky paint in this category! * READ REVIEW

*If you like the matte finish of chalk paint, most of the furniture paints I tested have different sheen options, including flat and satin.  Flat paint is the least shiny and most resembles the matte finish of chalk paint.  Satin is still someone matte but is more durable than completely flat paint.  I opt for a satin finish on most furniture projects.

Best Milk Paint for Furniture: Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint (See Price)

Actual milk paint is any paint that includes casein (milk protein) and has properties more similar to stain than paint.  Because of its ability to penetrate the surface of the wood, milk paint is the best paint for making a piece of furniture look old and worn.  Miss Mustard Seed’s Chalk Paint is the best choice in this category, hands down.  SEE REVIEW

Best Latex Paint for Furniture: Benjamin Moore Advance (See Price)

People define “latex paint” in several ways, but for this review, I’m defining it as “any water-based paint that you can find at a home improvement or paint store”.  The best brand of interior latex paint for furniture was also the best overall paint – Benjamin Moore Advance.  SEE REVIEW

Best Paint for Furniture from Home Depot: Behr’s Satin Cabinet and Trim Enamel (See Price)

Consumer Reports has always been a big fan of Behr’s paints on cabinets and walls so I included several Behr paints in my testing.  Behr’s Satin Cabinet and Trim Enamel tested not only as the best Behr paint for furniture but as the best Overall Budget Paint.  SEE REVIEW

Best Paint for Furniture From Lowe’s:  Sherwin Williams Showcase (See Price)

None of the paints from Lowe’s tested extremely well but the best option was Sherwin Williams Showcase at Lowe’s.  I’ve used it many times when I was already making a trip to Lowe’s. 

Best Paint for Furniture From Sherwin Williams:  Sherwin Williams Proclassic (See Price)

The traditional Proclassic water-based paint even beat out the Proclassic hybrid product making it the best Sherwin Williams paint for furniture.  See more info about furniture paint types below.  SEE REVIEW

Best High-Gloss Paint for Furniture: Benjamin Moore Advance High GlossY Finish (See Price)

For a high-gloss furniture paint, you want a hybrid formula because it has the benefits of oil-based paints without the negatives.  The best hybrid paint and best paint overall is Benjamin Moore Advance.  SEE REVIEW   *If you are painting a smaller furniture piece with lots of spindles (like a chair or small stool), go with a gloss spray paint to avoid drips.

Best Spray Paint for Furniture: Rustoleum Painter’s Touch 2X Ultra Cover (See Price)

When spraying small pieces of wood furniture that have lots of spindles like a chair or small stool, you can use a spray paint for furniture.  I have had excellent results with Rustoleum spray paints. 

Related:   Best Spray Painting Tips for Furniture | The Best Spray Paint For A Smooth Finish on Furniture

Best White Paint for Furniture – Benjamin Moore Advance in Sherwin Williams Pure White (See Price)

Benjamin Moore Advance is not prone to yellowing like traditional oil-based enamel paints.  Because it is a hybrid formula, it has the positives of an oil paint without the negatives like yellowing. 

My favorite “white paint color” is Sherwin Williams Pure White because it is a true neutral white without being too stark or too creamy.  Benjamin Moore has all of Sherwin Williams paint colors in their computer so you can tell them you want “Benjamin Moore Advance matched to Sherwin Williams Pure White.”  See My Best Tips For Coverage When Painting Furniture White.

RELATED: The Best White Cabinet Colors

What is the Best All-In-One Furniture Paint?

This is a hard question and I’ll do my best to answer it here.  Any furniture piece is going to take some kind of prep work.  If someone tells you that ANY furniture piece can be painted with their product without any prep at all, they are just trying to sell you paint.

Yes, there are some projects that don’t need any prep.  The problem occurs when you don’t know exactly what stain or paint was used on the furniture piece previously.  You can make a guess but the only way to know for sure if a piece of furniture doesn’t need prep is if you paint it and see! 

Of course, this is a really risky way to tell because the price of being wrong means you will have to strip off or sand off every bit of the peeling finish before you completely refinish it all over again. Trust me, I’ve been there and it’s not fun.

Because “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, I would much rather tell you to be proactive by taking a few minutes to do some prep:

1. SAND – Sanding furniture should not take you more than 5 minutes.  See why here – The Easy Way to Sand Furniture Projects.  Remember, when you are sanding a furniture piece to prep it for paint, you are just scuff sanding – not sanding off the finish!
2. PRIME – As I like to say, “primer stick to things and paint stick to primer.”  The same properties that make paint durable, hard and smooth aren’t great at making it adhere to surfaces.  That’s why you really need to prime.  The good news is that one coat of primer will replace one coat of paint you would already need to paint on your furniture piece to get full coverage.  But the primer coat will be cheaper than your paint – especially if you are using a speciality paint. That means using primer instead of one of your paint coats is likely to save you money.

All that to say, I don’t think any one paint is completely “ALL in one” for EVERY furniture project. So to be safe, it helps to do a little prep to potentially save you a lot of time and money later on.

ONE LAST THING…that 10 extra minutes of prep work will go so far in making your piece that much more beautiful. And if you have any damage on your furniture piece, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to fix: How to Easily Fix Furniture Damage Before Painting

FREE Checklist of My Best Tips for Painting Furniture

☑️ Want to get a professional finish on furniture the easy way?  To get my BEST time-saving tips for a gorgeous finish on furniture, don’t forget to download your FREE printable checklist here: Must-Have Painting Tips for Furniture

Furniture Paint Terms Defined

Reviews For The Overall Top 10 Best Furniture Paints

For a printable list of the results for all 24 paints, click here: The Best Paints for Furniture Results, PDF Printable

1. Benjamin Moore Advance Waterborne Interior Alkyd Paint

According to my blind tests, this formula excelled in every area.  Benjamin Moore Advance is a high-quality waterborne alkyd paint meaning it has the positives of oil-based paints in a water-based formula.

This interior paint not only brushed on well but also rolled beautifully to a satiny smooth finish (which is so important with furniture with open wood grains such as oak).   Benjamin Moore Advance cures to an extremely hard and durable finish.  I found that I could easily scrub off dried waterproof mascara without taking off any of the furniture’s painted surface.  It is rare to find so many positive attributes in one paint product.

As you can see in the video, this paint also levels out well on open wood grains and has outstanding coverage even over dark stained wood surfaces.  It’s available in almost an unlimited number of colors and is a Low VOC paint.  You also don’t have to worry about shipping prices because you can find Benjamin Moore stores all over the country.

POSITIVES

• Outstanding coverage
• Dries to a super smooth finish
• Excelled in the “Scrubbability” Test
• Low-VOC (Volatile organic compounds)
• Unlimited Color Options
• Low Price at $0.53 per ounce

NEGATIVES

• Slower drying time than some of its competitors 

2. Inspired by U Pigmented Coatings for Furniture and Cabinets (Milesi)

Inspired by U might be a product you haven’t heard of but their products are exceptional as they are Milesi premium Italian coatings made accessible in the US to DIYers. This formula is incredible as it settles well, does not yellow over time, and has a super smooth finish, especially with a brush or roller.

This product dries exceptionally hard on furniture without a long dry time.  Also, the VOCs are very low. 

This is the Best Splurge Option but honestly, it’s very reasonably priced for the quality you get and it’s less expensive than several other paints tested that didn’t perform nearly as well.

POSITIVES

• Exceptionally smooth paint job
• Fast dry Time
• Stain and scrub resistant
• Low-VOC’s
• Great coverage

NEGATIVES

• There’s a shipping cost its only available online
• Limited color options
• Paint comes only in quarts,
• A little pricier than other options but not the most expensive

3. Dixie Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint

I was impressed with not only how smooth Dixie Silk settled out but also how well it covered.  Dixie Silk is Dixie Belle’s newest formula of mineral paint that has a topcoat combined. 

I love the color options and it is NO-VOC so you can feel completely at ease painting around children and pets.  It also has a fast dry time and great “scrubbability.”  Dixie Belle Silk doesn’t only give your furniture a beautiful finish but is also fun to paint with.

POSITIVES

• Dries to a smooth finish
• Extremely durable
• Fast Drying
• Beautiful Color Options

NEGATIVES

• Comes in small containers
• A little pricey
• Limited Colors

4. Behr Interior Satin Cabinet and Trim Enamel (Home Depot)

You might be wondering why I have tested so many cabinet paints for furniture. It’s because any paint that’s a good cabinet paint for DIYer’s is also a really good furniture paint because they are the most durable and go on the smoothest. They are also usually the cheapest!

Behr’s Interior Satin Cabinet and Trim Enamel is an unbelievable paint for the price.  It has incredible coverage, durability and dries fast.  It wasn’t quite as “scrubbable” as numbers 1 and 2 but I don’t want that to minimize how well it performed in all categories at such a low price point of $0.36 an ounce!  That’s why I chose Behr’s Satin Cabinet and Trim enamel as the Best Budget Option!

POSITIVES

• Low price for great quality
• Available locally at Home Depot
• Unlimited color options
• Impressive Coverage and Durability
• Smooth Finish with both a brush or roller (Be sure to use this microfiber roller with this paint as Behr doesn’t recommend a foam roller.)

NEGATIVES

Leveling Ability and scrubbability are not quite as good as the top two.

5. Wise Owl One Hour Enamel Paint

Wise Owl’s One Hour Enamel is a really unique furniture paint.  It’s somewhat viscous without being too thick. As seen in the video, this paint’s free-flowing nature makes it really fun to work with, and somehow it has the ability to fully CURE in one hour. 

This is a water-based alkyd enamel hybrid but most paints in that category don’t dry fast making Wise Owl One Hour Enamel the Best Fast Dry Option.  This paint will give you a smooth, abrasion-resistant finish in no time for DIYers and professionals alike.  It’s a little pricey but worth the splurge!

POSITIVES

• Fast drying and curing
• Cures to an extremely hard, non-abrasive finish
• Excellent cover and leveling capabilities on furniture

NEGATIVES

• Pricey
• Shows minimal brush strokes

6. INSLX Cabinet Coat Trim & Cabinet Enamel

INSLX Cabinet Coat is a urethane-acrylic formula meaning it falls into the hybrid category.  This paint gives cabinets a hard, durable finish with great coverage.  It also adheres well to surfaces and levels into large open wood grains really well. While it doesn’t leave many brush strokes, it left more roller marks than some of its competitors.

POSITIVES

• Super durable
• Adheres well
• Great Coverage
• Available at any Benjamin Moore store or online
• Unlimited color options

NEGATIVES

• Leaves some roller marks
• Twice the price of Benjamin Moore Advance

7. Behr Urethane Alkyd Satin Enamel (Home Depot)

Behr’s Urethane Alkyd Satin Enamel is another hybrid enamel with the benefits of water-based paints.  It has great flow and leveling abilities and good adhesion. 

Several reviewers said that it was easy to use in a sprayer.  While it didn’t perform quite as well with a brush, it left no roller marks on the surface.  Also, you can find this paint at any Home Depot for only $0.30 an ounce.

POSITIVES

• Quality paint at a very low cost
• Great for use with a roller or paint sprayer
• Unlimited color options
• Available at any Home Depot

NEGATIVES

• Leaves minimal brush strokes
• Doesn’t level as well as some of it’s competitors

8. Pro-classic Waterborne Interior Acrylic Enamel (Water-based Latex Version)

This has been my go-to paint for years and it has never let me down.  I got the idea for the waterproof mascara scrubbability test from using this paint on my grandmother’s vanity.  It levels well with great flow but its coverage is lacking compared to some of the top paints.   Also, since it’s a traditional latex it is fast drying and easy to use.

POSITIVES

• Great scrubbability
•  Very smooth finish when brushed or rolled
• Unlimited color options

NEGATIVES

• Doesn’t cover as well as some of its competitors
• Slightly more prone to brush marks and roller marks

9. Retique It Ultratique All In One Paint

This paint can be used on furniture, cabinets or even concrete.  It is said to be an all-in-one product but I always like to prime my furniture projects first.  This has a chalky finish but is really smooth with both a brush and roller which is why I selected it as the Best Chalk Paint for Furniture.  It’s not quite as scrubbable as its competitors but you could add an optional topcoat.  It’s also durable and has low VOC’s.

POSITIVES

• Chalk paint finish that is super smooth
• Durable
• Adheres well
• Ultra-Low VOC

NEGATIVES

• Pricey
• Not as scrubbable as some of its competitors

Want To Learn More About Why I Don’t Use Traditional Chalk Paint?

For more information about painting furniture with chalk paint, click here: 7 Reasons I Don’t Use Chalk Paint on Furniture | A Better Alternative to Chalk Paint | How to Paint over Furniture That Has Been Chalk Painted and Waxed

10. Behr Marquee Interior Paint (Lowe’s)

Behr Marque has been my go-to paint for trim as its coverage is great and it will not show brush strokes.  Although it does show some roller marks, they are minimal.  You can also find Behr Marque at any Home Depot store and it comes in unlimited color options. Because it is also wall paint, if you need a small amount of paint, Home Depot sells sample sizes in Behr Marquee.

POSITIVES

• Low-Cost Quality Paint
• Good Coverage
• Few brush strokes

NEGATIVES

• Doesn’t roll as well as some competitors
• Not as durable as some of the top paints

The Best Furniture Paint, 2024 – The Full Results

Here is all the data from the furniture paint testing. Be sure to check out the YouTube Video HERE to see exactly how I tested to find the best paint for furniture.

For a printable list of the results for all 24 paints, click here: The Best Paints for Furniture Results, PDF Printable

Unsure About How To Buy Paint At A Paint Counter?

When I first started painting furniture, I was intimidated about ordering paint at the paint counter of my local hardware store or paint store.  I was concerned about ordering the wrong paint or not knowing the answer to any questions they asked.  But here is exactly what you need to know to get paint at the paint counter.

1. The people at the paint counter are not always paint gurus.  So don’t be intimidated.  You probably know more about the best paint for furniture now than they do!
2. Tell them the brand of paint and the amount.  Ex: 1 quart of Benjamin Moore Advance A quart of paint is plenty for most furniture pieces.
3. Tell them the finish, otherwise known as sheen. You can pick from gloss, semigloss, eggshell, satin or flat finish.   I paint all furniture with a satin sheen because it’s not too shiny but also more durable but if you want a chalky farmhouse look, you can go with an Eggshell or Flat Sheen. 
4. Tell them the color. Did you know that most paint and home improvement stores have the color codes for other paint brands in their computer.  Say you are at Home Depot but you really like Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray (see why I love it here!).  Just tell them the “Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray” and they have that same code in their computer.
5. It will probably take 5-10 minutes for them to mix your paint so you can wait at the counter or wander around the store until they are done.

And that’s it!  You are ready to buy your paint.

What to Consider When Picking The Best Paint for Upcycling Furniture

There are several considerations when picking the best paint brand for refinishing furniture like coverage, smoothness, durability, and cost. I think it’s important to note that what one person defines as the best furniture paint might not be what someone else does. For example, I like for the surface of my furniture projects to be super smooth and not show brush strokes. But someone else might like the look of brush strokes! The best part of doing my own review is that I can break down the results by category. That’s why I included all the results in the table above – so you can pick the best furniture paint for you!

How I Tested Furniture Paints With The Best Coverage

As I mentioned in the introduction, coverage has a huge effect on how many coats of paint you have to apply which also affects your application time and the cost of paint.  Also, the more coats you have to add, the least likely you are to have a smooth finish. That’s why coverage is one of the biggest considerations when picking the best furniture paint.

To test coverage, I painted a black line down the length of two sides of the line after painting on a couple of coats of a good primer – Zinsser Bullseye 123 (See the current price here).  Then, I painted each sample of paint in 10-inch bands on the board.  After the second coat of paint, the brands that no longer showed the black line had the best coverage.  The paints where the black line was most prominent had the worst coverage.

How I Tested Furniture Paints With The Smoothest Finish (With a Brush and Roller)

When it comes to a smooth finish, I’m a stickler!   Oak and some pine furniture has a really open wood grain.   In other words, you can see lots of small indentions on the entire surface of the wood.   To specifically test for which paint finishes would settle into the wood grain to make smooth surfaces, I painted a sample of each on the back of one of my own oak cabinet doors.

You also want to make sure that your paint doesn’t show brush strokes or roller marks.  To test for a smooth surface, I painted one side of the board I mentioned above with a brush and the other side with a roller for every paint sample.  I’m glad I tested both because some paints that did great with brush strokes did not go on very smoothly with a roller – or vise versa!

How I Tested “Scubbability” and Stain Resistance of Furniture Paints

In a furniture refinishing group online, I got the idea to test for stain resistance on furniture.  This is more of a concern for high-use furniture items like a kitchen table. Apparently, the two most notorious substances for staining white paint are coffee and tomato sauce.  

However, the test I learned the most from was the mascara test.  I got this idea when I got waterproof mascara on the surface of my grandma’s vanity I painted.  I assumed I would have to repaint it but to my surprise, it scrubbed off with a microfiber cloth and none of the paint rubbed off!

So, I put a stroke of water-proof mascara on each sample to see:

1. Which painted surface the mascara could be completely removed from with dawn, water and a microfiber cloth
2. Which paint would not rub off along with the mascara

I used black microfiber clothes so I could easily see if any white paint was coming off with the mascara.

How I Tested the Most Water-Proof Furniture Paints

When I tested the best clear coats for furniture, I put a cold drinking glass on different surfaces to see which clear coats would leave a ring.  I did the same test with furniture paints and to my surprise, they all of them did really well.  No painted surface of any paint brand bubbled up after having a cold glass on the surface for 48 hours!

There was one paint (Rustoleum Chalked) that peeled. Annie Sloan Chalk Paint’s unwaxed sample showed that the paint can partially reliquify when sitting in contact with water. That’s why you should always use a protective cost like Varathane’s Waterbased Polyurethane on top of chalk paint. You can see why I much prefer it to wax here: The Absolute Best Clear Coats for Wood, Tested and Reviewed

How I Tested Leveling Ability on Furniture Paint

To test how well a paint leveled out on an uneven surface, I used the back of one of my oak cabinets, which have a very open grain. After the paints cured, I looked at each sample to see which leveled out the most on such an uneven surface.

Complete List of Furniture Paints Tested and Reviewed (In Alphabetical Order)

All of the below brands were allowed to cure for a full 30 days before any testing:

• Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (waxed)
• Behr Interior Satin Cabinet and Trim Enamel (Home Depot)
• Behr Marquee (Home Depot)
• Behr Premium Plus  (Home Depot)
• Behr Urethane Alkyd Satin Enamel (Home Depot)
• Benjamin Moore Advance 
• Dixie Silk 
• General Finishes Milk Paint
• Glidden Premium
• Heirloom Traditions
• INSLX Cabinet Coat aka Benjamin Moore Cabinet Coat
• Inspired By U (Milesi)
• Rethunk Junk
• Retique It Ultratique
• Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Enamel
• Sherwin Williams Proclassic Acrylic Alkyd Waterborne Hybrid
• Sherwin Williams Showcase (Lowe’s)
• Sherwin WIllliams Proclassic Water-based
• Valspar Ultra Cabinet Paint
• Wise Owl One Hour Enamel

Behr from Home Depot has always done well with Consumer Reports which is why I tested different types of paint from Behr and I’m glad I did. 

What Kind of Paint to Use On Wood Furniture

Traditional Oil-Based Furniture Paints

Furniture paints have come a long way in recent years.  Initially, furniture and cabinets were painted with old-school oil-based paints.  They were durable and hardened quickly but this would also sometimes lead to cracking or even chipping.  They settled well making for a really smooth surface, but unfortunately, they had a really slow dry time, and the VOC levels were much higher.  Also, some white oil-based paints are prone to yellowing over time – which is less than ideal for white furniture projects.  Also, oil paints have to be cleaned up with mineral spirits as opposed to water with latex paints. Oil paints, also known as enamel paints, are still used today but are less common.

Traditional Latex Water-Based Furniture Paint

Latex or water-based paints began to come on the scene.  They had more flexibility than oil-based paints which led to less cracking but this also make them less durable and not quite as smooth.  They had lower VOCs and easier clean-up, but the surface wasn’t as buttery smooth as their oil-based counterparts.  

Hybrid Furniture Paints

Then, hybrids came on the market often called “acrylic-alkyd formulas”.  These hybrids are special furniture, cabinet and trim paints that have easy clean-up, low VOC’s and fast-drying times of latex paints BUT also have the durability and smooth finish of oil-based paints. Examples of hybrid paints I tested were Benjamin Moore Advance, Behr Interior Satin and Cabinet Paint, Wise Owl One Hour Enamel, and Sherwin Williams Acrylic Alkyd Waterborne Enamel.

Specialty Furniture Paints

These are paints usually sold in small amounts in boutiques or online from independent retailers.  Most of the paints are also marketed for home decor and some for cabinets. Chalk paints, mineral paints and resin paints fall in this category. I would also add General Finishes Milk Paint to the category even though it’s an acrylic paint for furniture.

What makes it difficult is that it’s not obvious what paints are in which category.  If you are looking at an oil-based paint, it usually includes the words “enamel paint” or “alkyd paint”. The hybrid paints will usually have one of these words but also include “water-based” or “water-borne” in the title.

Want To Learn More About the Difference Between Furniture Paints?

To understand the different uses and benefits of various difference types of furniture paint, click here: Milk Paint vs. Chalk Paint vs. Latex or A Review of General Finishes Milk Paint

What If You Have Already Bought One of The Low Performing Furniture Paints? What Now?

If you have already bought one of the paints that weren’t at the top of the list, never fear!  You know that Bible verse, “Above all else, love one another because love covers a multitude of sins.”  Well, so does a good clear coat!

If you bought paint and are concerned about it’s durability, just cover it with this clear coat:  Varathane Water-based Polyurethane (click here to see the price). 

After testing tons of clear coats, it’s the best one to go over any painted surface to give it incredible durability without streaks or cloudiness.

If you have a piece of furniture that’s a little too shiny, you can easily change that by adding a coat of the matte version of this clear coat (click here for the current price).

When Do You Need a Clear Coat for Furniture?

If you are using a good quality paint, you don’t need a clear coat because good paints will be hard and durable enough to protect your furniture’s finish.  However, if you have a piece of furniture like a dining tabletop or coffee table that gets lots of use, it won’t hurt to add a clear coat for extra protection.  I would forgo a clear coat on console tables. You can see the best way to apply a clear coat here:  How to Add A Clear Coat to Painted Furniture

Pro Tips For Applying A Clear Coat

Furniture pieces that endure a lot of use can benefit from a clear coat. Before you apply the clear coat, wipe down the surface with a moist rag or tack cloth to remove any dust. Use a foam brush and brush in the direction of the grain. The most important thing to remember when applying a one is to apply several light coats and don’t sand in between.

What is the Best Paint Finish for Furniture?

The paints coming from the big box stores and paint stores all have different options as far as sheen ranging from flat (or matte), eggshell, satin, semi-gloss paint, and gloss.  The shinier or glossier a paint is the more durable it is.  However, glossier paints show defects most easily.  For that reason, I like to use a satin finish on cabinets because they are more on-trend than glossier paints but also are durable.

The Best Brush and Roller for Furniture Painting

For painting furniture, you can either brush, roll or spray with a paint sprayer.  You can also do a combination of two.  I personally like to roll and brush my furniture projects so I don’t have to worry as much about drop cloths on vertical surfaces.

Although several furniture painters use a foam roller, my favorite roller for painting furniture is this microfiber roller from Home Depot. It gives you an incredibly smooth finish without roller marks and is very forgiving when painting over defects in the painted surface.  I absolutely love this brush and use it on my own DIY projects.  You can see the current price here:  Home Depot 3/8″ Microfiber Roller

As far as brushes go, there are a lot of great ones on the market for furniture but my hands-down favorite is the Zibra brush (click here for the current price). You will absolutely love this brush. Not only does it leave a super smooth paint finish but it is fun to use because of how it glides on the surface of the furniture.

The Best Paint for Chairs and Tables

Some pieces of furniture will endure more traffic than others. Wooden chairs, dining room tables and other flat wooden surfaces are probably subjected to more wear and tear than any other furniture pieces. For that reason, you want a really durable paint brand for heavy use surfaces. I recommend Benjamin Moore Advance as the best paint for chairs and tables because it is so durable but also leaves a gorgeous finish. For my best tips on painting chair spindles and table legs, check this post: How To Paint Table Legs Quickly and Easily

The Best Way to Paint Wood Furniture

Every time I paint furniture, I use this tried-and-true process that is easy for any beginner but will give you professional results every time. You can also see how my grandmother’s vintage vanity turned out: A Beginner’s Guide to Furniture Painting

RENOVATE YOUR FAITH: Overcoming Worry About Future Events

For more spiritual encouragement, click here for the rest of my project posts that also include Renovate Your Faith devotionals.

FAQ’s: The Best Paint for Wood Furniture

Can furniture be painted without sanding? 

If you are looking for the best paint for furniture without sanding you can use any of the paints above but just make sure you use a good deglosser before you prime to get good results.  I will be doing a post on this soon but in the meantime, I recommend this deglosser: Liquid Sander (Click here for the current price.)

Why is milk paint not in the table of reviews?

I tested Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint which is in powder form.  It’s the dark gray sample you see on the boards.  I didn’t include its results in the table because true milk paint works more as a stain than a typical furniture paint.  It has the ability to penetrate the pores of the wood instead of just sitting on top.  It’s the absolute best product for making a piece of furniture look aged.  Because it is so different than the other products, I didn’t include the results.  But if you want it to have the same smoothness and durability of the top contenders, you can always just add this clear coat on top:  Varathane Water-based Polyurethane

What is a good paint to use on furniture that is peeling?

If the furniture is peeling, you want to either remove all of the paint that is loosely peeling OR sand off all of the old paint.  If you go with the first one, it will be easier to refinish but you might not have the smoothest surface.  If you go with sanding off the old finish, it is time-consuming but you will be able to start from “ground zero” again and will be able to get a smooth finish with your new paint.

What is chalk painting furniture?

“Chalk painting” is just a term that describes painting furniture with chalky paint.  Several specialty paints fall into this category.

What is the best brand of paint that is scratch resistant for wood furniture?

I tested durability in terms of water permanence and scrubbability but didn’t do a scratch test on wooden furniture because it’s hard to perform consistently.  All of the top posts from this review are extremely durable against scratching.  If you are painting a high-use piece of furniture, cover the surface with a clear coat after painting and you’ll never have to worry about scratches.  This is my hands-down favorite clear coat:  Varathane Waterbased Polyurethane

What kind of paint do you use on a dresser? 

If you want to find the best paint for a dresser any of the above paints in the top categories would be great.  For high-use furniture pieces, you can use the top coat I mention above for extra durability (see my favorite top coat here). Different colors of paint cover differently. For example, it can be hard to get coverage with really light and ironically really dark colors. To see how to paint a dresser a dark color, check out these tips: Tips for Painting Furniture in Dark Colors

What is the best way to paint already painted wood furniture?

You can see my full tutorial on how to paint furniture here:  A Beginner’s Guide to Painting Furniture   You can get ideas here:  Before and After Furniture Makeovers from Renovated Faith

What kind of paint is Valspar furniture paint?

Valspar makes a hybrid cabinet and furniture paint that I wanted to test but it only comes in gallons so there wasn’t a simple way to get a small amount.  Based on what professional furniture painters have told me, Benjamin Moore Advance as well as the other hybrid products I tested.

What is the Best Paint For Laminate Furniture?

The best paint for laminate furniture is Benjamin Moore Advance as it tested to be the best paint on wooden and laminate surfaces like IKEA furniture. Be sure to use a thick coat of primer on laminate pieces and sand the laminate really well in order to scuff it up. You can see how I do that here: How to Paint Laminate IKEA Furniture

What Kind of Paint to Use on Wood Furniture

If you are still wondering what kind of paint to use on wood furniture, try a few of the top paints and see what paint you enjoy working with the most. The best paint for you is the one that gives you the look you love easily!

Related Posts To The Best Furniture Paint for Wood

Renovated Faith’s Best Painted Furniture Projects (Before and After Makeovers)

Why I Don’t Use Chalk Paint on Furniture

Milk Paint vs. Chalk Paint vs. Latex (The Best Type of Paint for Furniture)

How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets Like A Pro

The Ultimate Guide to The Best Clear Coat for Furniture

A Beginner’s Guide to Furniture Painting (Vintage Vanity Makeover)

How We Sold Our House in Less Than 24 Hours

Easy Turned Leg Coffee Table Tutorial

The Easiest Way To Transform Acrylic Paint Into Fabric Paint

The Best Paint for Cabinets

How to Paint a Door With Exterior Latex Paint to Look Like Stain

How to Get the Look of Bare Wood With Paint

Why I Use a Spray Primer on Furniture Legs

Final Thoughts on The Best Wood Furniture Paint

Don’t forget to download my most popular printable of Best Furniture Painting Tips and Tricks to ensure you get a gorgeous finished product any time! It’s will not only help your furniture painting project to turn out beautifully but the tips will also save you lots of time in the process: Free Must-Have Tips for Painting Furniture

Choosing the right furniture paint is tough but a fresh coat of the “right” paint will make all the difference in bringing new life to your piece. Not only are there so many options to choose from but it’s hard to know which is the right product for your furniture piece and style. Not only do you want the best results but you want the finish to last a long time. In this post, I tested 24 of the best furniture paints side by side by comparing coverage, smoothness, water permeability, staining, scrubbability, and leveling. Now you can decide the best furniture paint for your budget and style while getting the look you want to achieve.

I love to hear your thoughts and questions!  Scroll down to leave a comment and I WILL reply! ❤️

Blessings,

 

 

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Best Wood Furniture Paint