Let’s jump right to it: there is no one best paint for furniture. The truth is that all of them generally work equally well.
But when you’re a newbie looking to buy furniture paint it can be overwhelming, right??
Well, it doesn’t have to be.
It really comes down to what style of furniture you’re painting, what’s the look you’re going for, and how much money are you able to cough up.
All furniture paints nowadays will let you be the biggest slacker. READ: no sanding, no priming.
Woo hoo! [Insert DIY happy dance here]. It really has turned the wonderful world of DIY upside down! Thank God for that!
Furniture paint as has really turned the wonderful world of DIY upside down! Thank God for that!
You have to ask yourself:
Do I want a more contemporary, modern look with paint that is more “hearty” and full-coverage, or do I want a more chippy, distressed, rustic, aged look?
Am I looking for something more budget-friendly, or can I splurge a little?
Do I want something with low-VOCs (volatile organic compounds) or do I prefer one that is no-VOC or VOC-free that is safer for my family and me?
Well, my friend, this post has been a long-time coming. I really wanted just one simple place where newbies (or even just people that have never heard of some of these brands) can find out more about the different options.
I have used most of these, but not all of them. I’ll be using them throughout the year so that I can do more comparisons and help you make a smarter buying decision! 
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Best Paint for Furniture – 12 Options
Top 12 Best Paints For Painting Furniture
Use the chart below to find the best paint for your project!
Paint Name
PROs
CONs
Projects I've Used It On
Where to Buy
Folk Art Chalky Paint
Cheaper at only $6-$8 for 8 ounces. Comes in smaller bottles for small projects. Can easily order it from Amazon or HomeDepot.com. Sticks very well! They've got a whole FAQ section to show you how to use their paints and products.
None that I have found so far!
How to Paint a Bathroom Vanity
BUY HERE
Amy Howard at Home
Totally free from methanol (toxic stuff). Comes in 52 pretty colors. No-VOC. Covers well. Can easily buy it from ACE Hardware online. Is self-sealing so it doesn't need wax unless it's a high-traffic piece. Made in the USA. Best for pieces of furniture that you will be painting with full-coverage. Amy herself has a whole collection of YouTube videos that show you how to use her paints and products.
It's pricey at $34.99 for a quart and 8 oz. for $15.99. Also, this paint doesn't sand very well if you're trying to achieve a "distressed" look. Not really a "con," because this paint was actually developed for distressing with their Antiquing Glaze instead of sandpaper. But some people have complained about not being able to sand it.
How to Build a Bench With Storage
BUY HERE
Annie Sloan Chalk Paint
Probably the most well-known of furniture paint. Comes in 32 colors. Covers well in 2 coats. Great for furniture that you plan to distress with sandpaper for a "shabby chic" look or for layering together.
It's pricey at $34-$38 a quart. Sample pots are about $12 for 4 oz. but that's not enough to do a piece of furniture. It has methanol, which is toxic, even though the paint says "non-toxic." Very-low VOC. Needs a new coat of protective wax every 6-months.
Tons of them. Just check out my Project Gallery.
BUY HERE
General Finishes Milk Paint and Chalk Style Paint
Has nice, thick coverage in 28 bright, contemporary colors. Can easily buy it on Amazon. Low-VOC.
None that I know of yet!
DIY Knife Block
BUY HERE
RECLAIM Beyond Paint
Thick with nice coverage. Has a bit of sheen. It's self-sealing so it doesn't require a top-coat or sealer unless it's a high-traffic piece of furniture. Can easily buy it on Amazon. They also make a countertop paint. Low-VOC.
Most expensive at $49.95 for a quart and $29.95 for a pint. Has only 12 color options.
Thrifted China Cabinet
BUY HERE
Shabby Paints
I've used this once and really liked it. It's thick and goes on nicely with 1 coat, although I'd recommend 2 coats. Non-toxic, and is the only paint out of all of them to be completely VOC-free (absolutely no VOCs), and is suitable for people with allergies. Comes in 46 bright colors.
You have to search for a "stylist" (aka retailer) on their website and if there is none near you, you've got to find one that ships.
Thrifted Dresser Makeover
BUY HERE
Heirloom Traditions
I haven't ever tried Heirloom Traditions, so I'm not sure what the PROs are to using this paint. The good news is that you can easily buy it on Amazon or directly from their website. A little cheaper directly from their website at $30 for a quart and $20 for a pint. Low-VOC.
None that I know of yet!
None. I haven't tested it out yet.
BUY HERE
CeCe Caldwells
Comes in 36 pretty colors. You can easily find a retailer on their site that ships online and one retailer will even ship internationally. No VOCs.
I have used this paint once, a long time ago. I remember not liking it because it seemed not to cover well, but it could very well have been the chair I was working on.
Only used it once, a long time ago.
BUY HERE
Rust-Oleum Chalked
Can easily be purchased on Home Depot online. Low VOCs.
Only comes in 6 colors.
I haven't tried it yet.
BUY HERE
Americana Decor Chalky Finish
Can easily buy it from Home Depot, Michael's, and other craft stores. Comes in small containers for small projects. Comes in 29 colors. Low-VOC.
It worked okay, but I found it a little hard to slather on. It was too thick and dried too fast. Probably should have used a bit of water to thin.
Office Desk Top
BUY HERE
BB Frosch Chalk Paint Powder
Allows you to use your own high-quality FLAT finish paint and just mix with this power to get a chalky finish for a fraction of what it would cost to buy chalked paint from one of the other brands. Only mix as much paint as you need to use for a project. Comes in 4 oz. for $10 or 16 oz for $32.00. Says it's 100% natural.
Not sure yet, since I haven't tried it out.
I have never tried it, but I'm super curious to see how it performs. I'll keep you posted on an upcoming project! Be sure to subscribe by email so that you don't miss updates on this project.
BUY HERE
Miss Mustardseed Milk Paint
Can leave furniture with a "chippy" vintage look. The wax smells great (less "chemically" than Annie Sloan's furniture wax). Comes in 18 colors. Costs about $22. No VOCs.
None that I know of.
Haven't tried it yet!
BUY HERE
Answering Some of Your FAQs
I won’t go into a full tutorial on painting furniture, but instead, I’ll answer some of the common questions I get on how to paint wood furniture. It’s a lot easier than you think!
Q: Is “chalk” or “chalked” paint the same as chalkboard paint?
A: Nope! Chalkboard paint is the stuff that you would use if you’re making a blackboard or something that you plan to write on. Chalk or chalked paint is the kind of paint that you’re using on furniture for decorative purposes. Not quite the same.
Q: Do I have to sand first?
A: For the most part, no.
But….what if your piece of furniture looks like this?
Then yes, you’ll need to (see the AFTER dresser makeover here to see how I sanded the top on this dresser).
Unless, of course, you want an old yucky, bumpy surface with old stickers on it. LOL
Your surface would be jacked up.
Same goes for chippy paint. If you’re trying to paint something that has chipped paint, you’re going to have to sand.
Just be careful when sanding. Wear a respirator mask (I recommend this one by 3M, see below), and if needed, make sure that you’ve tested to make sure there’s no lead in old chipped paint. You can get lead testing kits from Amazon.
Q: What About Priming?
A. Generally–no. You won’t have to prime. But occasionally you’ll come across pieces of furniture that bleeds through (I hate these kinds of pieces!!!).
This has happened to me a few times.
Some readers have recommended an oil-based primer. I haven’t tried that method yet.
I have tried applying a clear top coat to the piece first to “seal in” the stain so that I can paint over it. This has definitely helped!
Normally, you shouldn’t have to prime, though! Try to do a little test area to see if you have a “bleeder.”
(The pic below is of my thrifted china cabinet that gave me the worse time with bleed-through! Notice the yellowing moments about applying the paint?)
Q: Can I Just Use Regular Paint on Furniture?
A. By regular paint, you probably mean the same latex paint that you would use on your walls. Technically, you can, but you’d have to sand and prime first. And you’d want to use FLAT paint because the other finishes get “gummy.” Lots of people have been making their own DIY chalk paint, too, mixing plaster of paris or sanded grout. But if you want to use regular paint, it might be worth checking out the chalk paint powder I mentioned in the chart above. I haven’t tried it before, but it sounds interesting.
Q: What About Spray Paints?
A: I almost forgot about these!! Yes, there are options of spray paints, like regular spray paint that you get from the hardware store, and Amy Howard Furniture Lacquer. I actually haven’t used it yet, but I’ve been dying to get my hands on some to use for lamps. If you’re using regular spray paint, opt for the spray paint that has primer in it. And for the spray lacquer, it doesn’t require priming and can be used for both indoor and outdoor use. But there’s not much else I can say about the spray lacquer until I have tested it out. Subscribe to my email list to Subscribe to my email list to get the updates!
Q: How Do I Fix Broken Parts and Scratches Before Painting?
For scratches, if the piece is wood, add a dollop of wood filler, wait until it’s dry, and then sand it smooth (I like to use an orbital sander for that). If it is a laminate piece, I’d recommend bondo putty.
For broken pieces, try to either glue it or use a nailer to fix it. For gluing, wood glue works well, but for a tough-as-nails bond, I love Gorilla Glue. Watch my video here on how to use Gorilla Glue so you learn to use it properly! It’s a little tricky.
Q: How Many Coats of Paint Should I Use?
A: Two is good. One coat is usually not enough. Some brands of paint of paint I have used, like General Finishes, may not require two, because the color is so “hearty.” But generally, plan for two coats. Let the first coat dry before adding the second coat.
Q: What Brush Should I Use?
I absolutely love Purdy brushes. Use the angled ones because they’re so precise that most times I don’t even need to tape off. They have amazing “cutting-in” abilities! Plus, the bristles won’t come off in your painting.
These Purdy brushes are good for painting furniture, but you’ll need different brushes for waxing furniture. Make sure you use one wax brush for clear wax and a separate wax brush for your dark wax.
Resources
If you’re hungry for more furniture paint and DIY, here are some great resources that will get you on your way!
The Lazy Girl’s Guide to Furniture Painting
Furniture Makeovers: Simple Techniques for Transforming Furniture with Paint, Stains, Paper, Stencils, and More
Other Paints Mentioned by Readers
This section will be updated to include other brands and products of furniture paint mentioned by readers. More reviews will be coming on these paint. Stay tuned!
Americana Decor Maxx Gloss
Conclusion
There really is no best paint for furniture. It really just depends on the furniture you’re painting and the look you’re going for. All of them require little to no sanding, no primer, and work on everything from wood, plastic, metal, glass–you name it. It’s easier than ever to paint furniture today! My advice would be to try your hand at all of them and see what you like best. If you already have a favorite furniture paint that you think is best, leave a comment below and let’s chat about it!
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