The 6 Best Paint Types for Furniture

A fresh coat of paint can give your furniture new life and a new look, but depending on the item and its material, every project will require a different kind of paint. Among the popular types are oil, latex, acrylic, and specialty paints like chalk and milk. Some paint types work better with a brush, a roller, or a sprayer.

Whether you want to paint a chair, table, nightstand, or specialty piece, here are the pros and cons of the best paint for furniture.

Latex Paint

Best for: Pieces of furniture that won’t see a lot of action and when affordability is a top factor

Latex paint for furniture is a popular option because many brands can be easily found at your local hardware or big-box home improvement store. Low—or no-VOC (volatile organic compound) formulas are highly recommended for indoor painting projects.

For best results with latex paint, prep the surface with sanding and a primer—and remember that you might have to do touch-ups in the future. Use a protective finishing coat to make the paint last longer.

Special Features

Latex paint is also available in multiple finishes, so selecting the right one for your project is essential. You can choose from flat (matte), satin, semigloss, or gloss finishes.

• Flat: Without any resins in the formula, this latex paint will not reflect much light and will have a matte—almost velvety—appearance. It won't have a durable finish that can withstand a lot of bumping, touching, and washing. Do not use this finish on an object that gets heavy daily use. For a more durable matte paint, consider using chalky paint.
• Satin or eggshell: Paint with a satin or eggshell finish reflects little light. If you like the look of matte paint but need a more durable paint for furniture, satin paint is a good option. If you opt for a washable formula, you'll find it easier to keep clean.
• Semigloss: This is a better paint finish for furniture since it reflects light well, stands up to washing, and is highly used. The greater concentration of resins in a semigloss formula makes this paint more durable for the furniture you plan to put to work. Many people like the shiny finish, too
• Gloss: A glossy paint finish will be the most durable but demands the most prep. High-gloss paints reflect a lot of light, and their increased concentration of resins makes them withstand much use and cleaning. A high-sheen surface will amplify imperfections, so ensure it is prepped and remedy any flaws.
  

Cost

The average cost of a gallon of latex paint varies based on finish, brand, and quality, but you can expect to pay between $15 and $50 on average.

Popular Brands

Latex paint is made by all the big household paint names you likely know. Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, Behr, Valspar, and Farrow & Ball are just a few of the top brand names.

Chalky Paint

Best for: Refinishing antique pieces or achieving a rich, matte look on furniture you use every day

Reclaiming vintage furniture or giving newer pieces old-world charm has led to a rise in the popularity of chalk paint. This water-based paint gives items a sanded or distressed look. It typically has latex as its base but delivers a thicker, buildable texture.

Special Features

Chalky paint dries fast, which is a plus, but this also means brush strokes can be seen if you revisit an area for a touch-up once the paint has started to dry. For best results, practice on a scrap piece of furniture.

Cost

Chalk paint will typically run between $23 and $40 per quart.

Popular Brands

Chalky paint is available from specialty retailers, though it’s becoming more widely available. The original is Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, though you can also find it from other brands, including Rust-oleum, Joanna Gaines' line with KILZ, and Valspar.

Milk Paint

Best for: Furniture you want to appear antiqued, weathered, or distressed

Milk paint can be used on various surfaces, but the finish can vary and sometimes is inconsistent in saturation. You'll get a slightly thinner texture with milk paint than chalky paint. This is also important on smooth surfaces, such as glass or plastic.

You can age milk paint with light sanding—or leave it intact for a soft, matte look. Use a bonder with milk paint to ensure more consistent results (and less chipping, as this is a water-based paint).

Special Features

• Ingredients: This nontoxic paint is made from milk protein with an activator, typically lime or borax.
• Tint: Color pigments are added to change the shade of the paint.
• Formulation: Milk paint is often sold in powder form. Add water to mix up the amount of paint you need, and store the rest for later use or touch-ups.
• Affordable: It’s typically less expensive than chalky paint but yields similar results.
• Protective coat: A wax or oil top coat might be necessary to preserve the finish.
  

Cost

The cost can range from $20 to $200 a gallon.

Popular Brands

Popular brands of milk paint include Miss Mustard Seed's, Real Milk Paint Co., Rust-Oleum, and Old Fashioned Milk Paint.

Acrylic Paint

Best for: Small furniture or accent pieces that need a quick, affordable coat of paint

Acrylic paint is a versatile, water-based type of furniture paint that is closely related to latex paint. Color particles are suspended in an acrylic polymer and offer rich pigment with a smooth finish. Use a primer as a base layer if you want the paint to adhere better to the surface.

Acrylic paint has more elasticity to resist chipping or cracking than water-based paint but is still best suited for light to moderate-use pieces.

Special Features

• Easy to apply: Acrylic paint goes on evenly and is self-leveling, making it easy to work with.
• Drying and curing time: Acrylic paint's drying times are short, so you can apply several coats relatively quickly. However, you must give it plenty of time to cure once the project is complete.
• Clean-up: Clean-up is easy with just soap and water, as it’s a water-based paint.
  

Cost

Expect to pay between $36 and $50 for a quart of acrylic paint.

Popular Brands

Some of the most popular brands of acrylic paint include Amy Howard, Rust-oleum, General Finishes Milk Paint, and Beyond All in One.

Oil Paint

Best for: Any type of furniture that is heavily used and needs a durable finish

Oil-based paint is one of the most durable paints for furniture. However, this durability comes at a cost. Oil-based paints are usually expensive, take a long time to dry, and have high levels of VOCs that require ventilation. Due to its components, they are banned in some areas.

Special Features

• Good adhesion: Despite its drawbacks, painting furniture with oil-based paint adheres well to most surfaces.
• Durable: It has a resilient finish and won’t chip or scratch easily.
• Easy application: It saturates any porous surface and is self-leveling. Oil-based paint can also be applied successfully over either water- or oil-based paint.
• Tougher clean-up: You’ll need a natural bristle brush and mineral spirits or turpentine on hand as paint thinner and for clean-up.
• Cure time: It takes up to 24 hours to dry, but it cures more quickly than water-based paints.

Cost

You will typically pay between $30 and $60 for a gallon of oil-based paint.

Popular Brands

Behr and Valspar both make oil-based paint for use on furniture.

Alkyd Paint

Best for: High-traffic locations because it is resistant to damage; can stand up to humidity

Alkyd paint is a water-based paint that dries to an oil finish. It is a popular choice for easy-to-apply furniture paint that doesn't show brushstrokes and has a durable finish that doesn't require a top coat. You can also get it in multiple sheens, including matte and semi-gloss.

Special Features

Alkyd's finish is durable and does not need an additional topcoat. And you don't need to prime the piece if it has been appropriately sanded using 220-grit sandpaper.

Cost

Alkyd paint is more expensive than other types, but it is easy to use and durable. A gallon of alkyd paint costs between $45 and $85.

Popular Brands

Behr, Benjamin Moore, Dutch Boy, and Valspar all make alkyd paints.

Worst Paint Types for Furniture

Certain paints are not ideal for painting furniture. That's not to say they can't be used, but they may not last as long, go on as evenly and smoothly, or adhere as well.

Spray Paint

Cans of spray paint should not be used on furniture unless the material is plastic. The paint doesn't spray evenly, and shows spray patterns when painted on a porous surface.

Latex Paint

While latex paint is a viable paint type for furniture, its primary use is for painting walls. It's not the best choice for high-touch furniture. If you use it, you'll succeed better with semi-gloss and high-gloss options. Also, use a protective top coat so it lasts longer.

Tips for Applying Furniture Paint

Certain types of paint require different application methods.

• Using brushes: Select natural bristle brushes for oil or synthetic bristle for water-based paint. A brush will give you broad coverage but might show strokes more easily (especially with water-based paint).
• Try rolling or sponging: In specialty applications, cloths, paint rollers, or sponges can create a special textural effect. A roller offers less control but even coverage.
• Get a paint sprayer: For larger projects or to avoid brush strokes, use an HVLP (high-velocity, low-pressure) or airless sprayer.