What Type of Paint Do You Use to Paint Furniture?

Update old furniture by using latex (water-based) paint.

Breathe new life into outdated furniture with a fresh paint finish. Furniture that no longer fits with a new color scheme can be refinished at a much lower cost than buying new pieces.

Types

Paint furniture with a selection that is clearly marked for indoor use. Indoor paint is created to stand up well to stains.

Base Coat

Use latex (water-based) paint to apply coats to furniture. Latex paint is versatile and it is much easier to correct mistakes than acrylic and oil-based paints.

Sheen

Some popular paint sheens available for furniture are gloss, semi-gloss, satin and flat. According to the do-it-yourself professionals at Lowes Home Improvement, the best sheen to use on furniture is gloss or satin. These sheens are more stain resistant than such low-gloss sheens as flat.

Topcoats

Brush on one or two coats of water-based polyurethane after the paint is dry to protect the finish from stains and other damage. This is especially necessary if a less-resilient paint sheen is used.

Tip

Do not use steel wool to sand furniture that will be painted with a water-based paint as this can result in the appearance of rust.

References

• Lowe's Home Improvement