What Kind Of Paint Is Best To Use On Wood Furniture

If you are looking at giving new life to your old wooden furniture, there’s no better way than repainting them. Not only will painting give it a new look, but it’ll also hide imperfections brought by the wear and tear, trap wood moisture, keep it durable, and prevent potential wood furniture problems from recurring. Painted wood is also easier to maintain and becomes impervious to water, preventing easy rotting. With all the benefits of painting wood furnishings, it truly is the way to go when thinking of restoring those longstanding furniture at home. But what kind of paint to use on wood furniture? Do you just pick what suits your taste, or is some paint better for wood furniture? We’re here to find out.

Water-based or Oil-based?

Now that you’ve figured your furniture could use painting, the next thing to decide is what kind of paint to use on wood furniture? Generally, there are two kinds of paints, water-based and oil-based. Wood can receive both kinds of paints. So, that shouldn’t bother you a lot. What’s confusing, though, are the myriad types of paint with varying degrees of sheen that you'll be presented in a hardware store. Here's how you can be like a pro when choosing what kind of paint to use on wood furniture.

Narrowing Your Paint Choice

After deciding which kind of paint to use, water or oil-based, you’ll still have to narrow your options. Here are the different water-based and oil-based paints that you can choose from.

Water-based Paint

The following are paints with water as its primary liquid base.

1. Latex- Latex paints, despite its name, is now water-based with vinyl and acrylics in it. It’s quite flexible as it can resist movement. When used on wood, it prevents moisture from getting in, hence, deterring the growth of mildew on the surfaces. Traditional latex comes in a multitude of colors and sheens, making it a suitable choice for various home projects. It dries quickly post application but may not cure immediately. There are three types of latex paint.
   
   • Flat: It does not contain resins and doesn't reflect much light. It has a matte, velvety look. It is not suitable for heavily-used furniture as it's not touching and wash-resistant. It’s best applied in cabinets in non-moist spaces as it’s not able to resist moisture.
   
   • Satin: It reflects a tiny quantity of light, making it appear a notch shinier than flat, but is still on the matte side of the scale. Satin is better than flat for wood furniture as it is more durable.
   
   • Semi-gloss: If you're looking to paint a highly utilized furniture, then semi-gloss should be on your list. It reflects light well and can withstand washing.
   
   • High-gloss: For a more elaborate effect on your wood furniture, use high-gloss latex paint. It's the most durable latex paint as it contains the highest concentration of resins. It also reflects a lot of light so that it may highlight the imperfections in your furniture. Be sure to smoothen the wood before applying high-gloss paint.
   
   
2. Milky- This type makes an excellent wood furniture paint if you want to achieve a thinner texture. It's eco-friendly and is best to be used to produce an antiqued, weathered look for furniture. To prevent chipping, use a bonder when painting with milk.
   
   
3. Chalk Varieties- Like milky paints, chalk varieties are also used to give new furnishings a vintage look. Using chalky paint for the first time can be challenging as it dries quite fast, and retouching leaves traces of brush strokes.

Generally, latex paints are affordable, but some types are not the best option for heavy-duty furniture use. So what kind of paint to use on wood furniture that is subject to constant beatings? Let’s find out.

Oil-based Paint

Oil-based paints are more durable, which also makes it more expensive. Further, oil-based have higher levels of volatile organic compounds, so be sure to work in areas with adequate ventilation when using these products. There are two types of this paint.

• Alkyd-based- For furniture that's subject to constant beatings, alkyd-based is best used as it is a highly durable type of paint. When applied to wood, it becomes a rigid coating over time, making the furniture less prone to scuffing and denting. It also dries up real fast, so you're frequently use furnishing doesn't have to go out for long. Being water and rot-repellent, alkyd is best applied over kitchen and bathroom furnishings.
  
• Plant-oil-based- Drying may take time with this type of paint, even reaching up to 3 days. You can choose varying levels of sheen where semi-gloss and high-gloss being the smoothest. It's highly durable; it can resist harsh scrubbers, which may damage other lower luster types of paint. Avoid using plant-oil based in high moisture areas as it results in yellowing after some time.

Overall, oil-based are best for furniture exposed to moisture and are frequently used. The downside is the cost and the limited color offering.

Conclusion 

Whether you're painting a piece of old wood furniture or a new one, both can be fun and challenging. But remind yourself to choose the best type of paint suitable for the project you have at hand so as not to turn your DIY into a disaster. With this guide in deciding what kind of paint to use on wood furniture, you are off for a better start with your next painting job.

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