Types of Paint for Furniture
Paint for Furniture
What type of paint should you use when painting furniture? There is no right or wrong answer to this question! And it is honestly, all preference!
I prefer to use something a little more durable, but it is up to you. In this post, I will discuss 5 different types of paint that you can use on furniture. I am sure there are more, but these are the ones that I have experience with.
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Chalk Paint
Chalk Paint is a great durable paint that adheres very well to almost everything. It gives a chalky matte finish and is mostly used to give a farmhouse feel to the piece of furniture.
PROS:
- Minimum prep work for the piece of furniture
- Budget Friendly if you make your own chalk paint – I have used Natalie @MyVintagePorch ‘s chalk paint recipe and would recommend for others to use.
- Easy to distress
CONS:
- Can be expensive if you choose to go with the pre-made chalk paint (Annie Sloan, Waverly, Rust-Oleum, Folk Art, etc.)
- Needs to be sealed. (usually wax or polycrylic)
I have used chalk paint many times, and I love how easy it is to make to make it very budget friendly! It dries quickly and very easy to use. And, when you make your own, there are hundreds of color options that you can use!
Fusion Mineral Paint
Fusion Mineral Paint is a mineral based acrylic paint that is extremely durable and requires minimal prep work. It has a beautiful matte finish, and the coverage is excellent.
PROS:
- Easy to use and with very little to no prep work needed
- No need for a top coat (although I have put a top coat for high traffic pieces of furniture)
- Extremely durable paint
CONS:
- Can be expensive if painting a large piece of furniture
- May be hard to find a dealer who sells the paint
Fusion Mineral Paint is probably one of my favorite paints to use. I love the coverage and color options. And I absolutely love the coverage one pint of paint can cover. I can usually complete multiple projects with one container of paint before needing to purchase another.
Spray Paint
Spray Paint is a very viable option for painting furniture. There are many options of colors and finishes and is widely sold.
PROS:
- Easily Available
- Lots of color options
- Multiple Finishes (matte, gloss, satin)
- Probably does not need a top coat
CONS:
- Learning curve – You need to have an even spray to avoid drips and do multiple, thin coats.
- Need a space to spray paint to avoid getting overspray on anything
- Unable to mix colors together
Spray paint is not usually a choice that I choose to go with, mainly because of the overspray. I do not have a good area to spray, and it is usually too windy to do outside.
Latex Paint
Latex Paint is another option that you can use for painting furniture. This can be handy when you want a specific
PROS:
- Hundreds of Color Options
- Available at hardware stores and anywhere else that sells paint
- Easy to use
- Comes in different size containers
- Multiple Finishes (flat, eggshell or satin, semi-gloss, gloss)
- Many different types of paint available (interior, exterior, enamel, and more)
- Can be used to make DIY Chalk Paint
CONS:
- Needs a lot of prep work
- It can be hard to pick a color with so many choices
- Will probably need a top coat
- And because it needs to be said again, it needs a lot of prep work ☺️
Latex paint is not my first choice, due to all the prep work that it needs. I tend to be an impatient painter, and just want to get to the fun part and skip all of the prep work. So I usually only use latex for when I am making DIY Chalk Paint.
Oil Based Paint
Best used for anything that you want to have a very durable finish.
PROS:
- Very Durable
- Ideal for trim and moldings
CONS:
- Needs mineral spirits or turpentine for clean-up
- Very strong odor – needs a well ventilated area
- Long Dry Time
- Can crack or yellow over time
I have used oil based paint once, and I would not recommend using. It is very stinky and because of the long dry time, it takes a lot longer to put on multiple coats of paint.
Milk Paint
Milk Paint is made of natural and eco-friendly substances. I have never personally used this type of paint, so I can’t give any insight. But I have seen some beautifully painted items with this type of paint!
PROS:
- Beautiful Matte Finish
- Can create a chippy, distressed look
- Ability to create custom colors
CONS:
- Must be mixed up fresh
- Needs to be used within a day or two after being mixed
I would love to use this type of paint, and I have a project in mind that I would love to try it out!
Stain
Alright, not paint – but another option for finishing a piece of raw, wood furniture. There is a good color selection, and you can always mix stain colors to get the color that you desire.
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