My Favorite Furniture Paint and Why

Are you in search of the best furniture paint to use on your next project? Here is my favorite furniture paint and why I love it so much!

There are so many furniture paint options on the market it makes it hard to decide which paint to use. In reality, you can always use a regular satin or semi-gloss sheen paint on furniture.

However, if you use regular paint then you have to use a clear top coat for protection – especially on the horizontal surfaces.

Top coating with polyurethane adds days to your project time. If you are looking for a paint you don’t have to top coat and dries to a smooth hard finish, I have the best furniture paint for you!

Guess what? That means it isn’t chalk paint!

Painting Furniture

Yes, I’ve been coined by my friends the “Queen of Painting Everything” and have quite a lot of paint expertise after working for Valspar (now owned by Sherwin Williams). 

You know what paint is not my favorite furniture paint? Chalk finish paints!

Shocking I know because the piece people love the most in my home was painted with Valspar’s Chalky Paint and you can read all about it in this post. 

Painted with Valspar Chalky Paint: Color Sharkfin + Custom Wash

Wall Color: Valspar CI191, Sea Salt Blue

Credenza Color: Valspar 34007-2A, Sharkfin, with custom wash

Why don’t I like chalk paint for furniture? Chalk paint is just like all typical latex paints and you must protect the chalk paint surface with either wax or polyurethane. Bottom line is a top coat adds time! Time to apply, dry and sand or buff.

This credenza I top coated with a matte polyurethane to protect it from scratches and wear, but that added 2 days to the project – not fun.

Who doesn’t want to shorten a paint project? This woman sure does!

To give you perspective, here are all of the furniture pieces I’ve painted in the last 24 months in my home:

1. 2 nightstands
2. French armoire
3. Bombay chest
4. Foyer table
5. Kitchen table
6. Coffee table
7. 4 chairs

Just a few things in my repertoire of painting projects 🙂 I used the SAME paint on every project. I’ve both sprayed on this paint with an airless sprayer and hand applied with a brush and foam roller.

This paint NEVER disappoints and has worn perfectly, with no top coat!

My Favorite Furniture Paint

What is this seemingly perfect furniture paint? It is Valspar’s Cabinet Enamel! What Tracey? You are using a cabinet paint on furniture? You bet I am!

I’m sure you are wondering why I love a cabinet enamel for furniture?

Why I am a fan:

• This is paint technology that acts like an oil and cures to a hard tough finish
• Water based, which means soap and water clean up
• Low odor, low VOC (gasses)
• Available in almost all of Valspar’s paint colors (2,000+)
• Flows and levels beautifully, which means virtually no brush marks!
• Non-yellowing like the old oil paints

#1 reason I LOVE this paint: NO TOP COAT NEEDED!

Valspar Cabinet Paint

This really is a new paint technology called alkyd oil. What that means in plain terms is there is a molecule of oil trapped inside the latex paint. So once the paint dries and cures, it ends up being as tough as an oil based paint. Cool!

Why don’t I like oil paint? They yellow over time, they are high in VOCs (volatile organic compounds), have a very strong odor, and require cleaning up with mineral spirits. 

Application Tips

1. IMPORTANT do not shake the can of paint! To mix ONLY STIR. 
   1. If you do shake it, don’t use the paint until it settles.
   2. Little air bubbles will get trapped in the paint and will leave marks on the surface of the paint.
2. When hand applying, use only a FOAM roller and nylon/polyester brush
3. Be prepared to apply 2 coats and possibly prime first (I always prime when going over stain)
4. Let the 1st coat dry OVERNIGHT, before applying 2nd coat.
5. Don’t place objects on the surface, until the 2nd coat drys 48 hours.

When making over my foyer table to a new color, I painted over the original paint that was also Valspar Cabinet Enamel. 

I’m happy to report that I didn’t have to sand or prime and could just re-coat again with Valspar Cabinet Enamel!

I was able to get full coverage in just one coat. This was a half hour project that completely made over a piece of furniture in my home.  See the final results of this project at the bottom of this post.

However, ALL other furniture paint projects I’ve painted directly over stain and PRIMED FIRST (look for a latex bonding primer – I recommend a few in this post).

Painted Furniture Review

Below is a nice review of some of the furniture I’ve painted with Valspar Cabinet Enamel.  I’ll link the posts associated with these projects, if you would like to read more about them.

I’ll share the paint colors I used too!

Master Bedroom Furniture Paint Makeover

Bombay Chest Paint Makeover

Pottery Barn Driftwood Faux Finish

Reveal: Modern Coastal Powder Room

See that beautiful smooth finish, with no brush strokes, and a hard finish? Yes, you can achieve the same results when you paint your furniture too!

Pin It for Later!

Do you want to see this paint in action on actual cabinets? Yes, I love it for cabinets too! Watch this video and read How-to Paint Cabinets and Get a Smooth Finish

Wagner Studio Pro Painter

Good luck on your next paint project! So you never miss a post, tip or trick please consider signing up for my weekly email newsletter!

Until next time…

Porch Daydreamer

Tracey