Style and enhance your furniture with our best splash brands.

BY Raphael Richard, Carion’ Tae Harris: Dec. 15, 2023

As a professional painter, I believe that the paint chosen for projects should reflect high quality pieces and display the beauty in each piece. Behind the scenes, determining the type of paint you will use plays a major role in how fast the paint dries. Not only that, but using a good primer helps the coverage and determines how well the paint sits on the surface of a piece. Many painters like me started off with cheap paint or paint that peels off easily. Because I bought cheap paint or skipped the priming step, I had to deal with the paint chipping and built-up frustration due to not following all necessary steps. I can proudly say that with growth, development, and experience, I mastered my craft and can now educate others, so they won’t make the same mistake.

After painting dozens of projects, I know painting can be extremely time consuming and it’s best to learn the pros and cons when it comes to the paint. If you are just beginning to paint, I know learning for the first time can be frustrating especially if you are constantly messing up and using the incorrect paint.

Here’s my top recommendations pointing to the best paint companies you should use in 2023 for your furniture! I personally used more than half the listed paints and wanted to give uncut reviews on these amazing paints. Let’s jump into the best paint that works well with furniture and I hope this answer any questions you may have.

Hoping you enjoyed!

I painted many projects with this Behr Premium paint. I can say this was the best paint used out of any paint to complete a project with. No matter how hard I hit something against my project on an accident, this paint does not go anywhere! Once its stable on the surface, it is firm! This paint is made of acrylic and primer in one, so it isn’t necessary to prime. To be on the safe side yes, I would prime all the time. If you are using a paint brush to paint this, it doesn’t leave any brush strokes or streaks. Overall, this paint is for interior and exterior surfaces and provides excellent results!

Pros: Premium paint that sticks well to the surface and mixes with primer.

Cons: This paint can get dusty fast if not wiped down once a day.

Container Size: 1 Quart, 1 Gallon

If you are looking to paint a farmhouse style on your furniture, you are in the right place! This chalk styled paint is very dry and thick. Chalk paint does not take long to dry and does not require any sanding or priming which makes it very efficient. Because of the finished texture, this paint has its own type of finish which allows it to stand out from other types. This Rust- Oleum paint has a matte finish upon completion of any project. You can use chalk paint for exterior or interior surfaces, floors, wood, metal, and even fabric!

Pros: This chalk paint sticks well to the surface and have multiple colors.

Cons: Can be chalky and thick.

Container Size: 30 FL OZ

Type: Interior and exterior paint

Looking for a paint with a smooth finish and an affordable price? Rust- Oleum Studio Color paint is your best friend! This amazing paint has a built-in primer with an eggshell finish. After painting dozens of projects, this paint made lots of clients happy and allowed them to build their trust in us! Rust-Oleum Studio Color paints are designed for exterior and interior use. The Studio Coloe paint is one of the best for drying quickly. Drying times can be fast as 10-20 minutes, but just to be on the safe side, I would let it dry for at least 2-3 hours. This paint comes in semi-gloss, flat, and eggshell finishes. Not to mention, but you can choose anything from a quart to a gallon to paint with.

Pros: Looks professional and have a smooth finish. Can hide dents and holes pretty well.

Cons: If the paint is not dried properly, the paint can peel off or chip.

Type: Interior paint.

The Dixie Belle paint has all resellers and painters out their minds! Most people know this paint is one of the best when painting projects. Not only is it easy to apply, but this paint has the best finish after painting. The paint can be use on wood, metal, brick, stone, glass, and more. Just like the Rust- Oleum Chalk paint, this creates a matte finish. Dixie Belle produces many paint colors in different sizes such as 1 quart, 4 and 8 fluid ounces. It also comes in 16 or 32 fluid ounces.

Pros: Only one coat needed to achieve smooth leveled finish and professional design.

Cons: Can be thick at times.

Type: Interior and exterior paint.

Glidden Fundamentals can be used on any furniture piece, wall, ceiling, and even living room areas. The Glidden paint can have a beautiful overall effect. Glidden is considered one of the best acrylic paints you can paint anything with. This paint can either leave an eggshell, flat, or semi-gloss finish. Glidden can be purchased as small as a quart or as big as a gallon. As a certified painter and reseller, my first sell was accomplished with this paint. The most amazing part is the paint is very affordable to purchase and could be used for many projects to come!

Pros: Smooth finish, fast dry time, and affordable. Can be used on multiple areas.

Cons: If not prepared right correctly, paint can chip and peel.

Type: Interior paint

All in all, Rust-Oleum paint is still in the tops when it comes down to painting furniture or any other item. The Rust-Oleum paint company makes plenty of paints for each specific item like outdoor things such as chairs, patios, equipment, and more. Although, this latex paint by Rust-Oleum can be thin which causes you to add more coats, you will still have a smooth and even finish. Don’t forget, this paint will leave your piece glossier than ever before!

Pros: High-quality finish and durable.

Cons: Can leave awful stains and cause respiratory tract irritation.

Type: Interior and exterior paint.

Usually, I do not use spray paint on big or small objects unless it’s furniture knobs or handles. This amazing, beautiful matte finish spray paint made us tons of money and left satisfied customers. Plenty of buyers are appalled at what type of finish this spray paint leaves. At RC Furnish Homes, we use this beautiful matte color for all handles and knobs. This paint can cover exterior and interior wood, metal, plastic, or whatever you plan on using it on. This spray paint is oil-based and can take anywhere from 30-40 minutes to completely dry. This spray paint creates amazing coverages on items and leaves a very professional look. Rust- Oleum created this 2x primer and paint together for a more secure finish.

Pros: Professional topcoat finish and easy to use.

Cons: Can sometimes take longer than usual to dry.

Type: Exterior and interior.

what paint should I use?

For recommendations, I would suggest using the Behr, Dixie Belle, or the Rust-Oleum Chalk paint. These paints leave the best finishes a client can have and also includes primer, so this saves a lot of time. If you are a client that are trying to stick to your budget, I recommend the Glidden paint or Rust-Oleum studio paint.

What finisher should I use?

Most professional furniture painters like us would choose a clear coat finisher like Polycrylic. This clear coat is one of my favorite finisher when it comes down to completing a project and also protecting a piece from damages!

What sized paint SHOULD I USE FOR MY FURNITURE?

When referring to sizing, it all depends on the furniture piece you are customizing. If you decide to paint a dresser, you should purchase a gallon of paint. I say this because dressers can be very large and spacious which uses plenty of paint. At RC Furnish Homes, we strive to have paint each piece professionally with our spray gun which can require lots of paint. Depending on the object and angle, we may switch directions and began painting with a special paint brush. Purchasing a quart of paint would be perfect for painting smaller pieces. If you have more questions or need more information, please reach out to us.

How can I get my furniture painted?

At RC Furnish Homes we are a local business that serves restoration for furniture in greater areas of Houston Texas. After painting dozens of items and flipping on Facebook marketplace, I can say we had lots of flabbergasted customers! Everyone loves our results and leaves totally amazed. From customizing old wooden furniture to brand new furniture, we can help find and match whatever color to your special request!

How can I contact RC Furnish Homes?

Please feel free to contact RC Furnish Homes through email at contact@rcfurnishhomes.com You can also contact us on our website, Facebook page, or Pinterest since we respond in minutes.