Best Paint for Furniture Without Sanding

Are you considering painting some furniture but dread the thought of all that sanding? Whether you’re a beginner or simply looking for a more convenient approach, you’re in luck! There are plenty of options available for the best paint for furniture without sanding.

These types of paint for furniture make the whole process quicker and easier, and you’ll still end up with a beautiful and durable finish. Let’s explore some of these best options, plus learn about the pros and cons of sanding.

Sanding is part of the painting process, but let’s be real: it’s time consuming and takes a lot of effort. Not to mention, it can create a huge mess, and you’ll need to deal with cleanup afterward. If you’re working with a large piece or multiple pieces, it can become an even more daunting task.

But what if you could skip it altogether? This can be a game changer for those who want to give their old or outdated piece a fresh look but don’t have the time or energy to do it. Well, yes, you can, with these best paint for furniture no sanding options!

So, we’re going over the pros and cons of not sanding, the best options, and tips for a successful DIY project, even when skipping this step. Let’s dive in!

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The Pros of Painting Furniture Without Sanding

Saves Time – The biggest advantage of this is that it saves a lot of time. If you’re short on time or just don’t want to deal with the hassle of this step, it is a great option.

Easy to Do – It is also fairly easy to do. If you’re not experienced, this might be the best option for you.

Great Results – When done correctly, it can yield great results. Your piece will have a smooth, even finish that looks like it was done by a professional.

The Cons of Painting Furniture Without Sanding

Not as Durable – One downside is that the paint job won’t be as durable as one that was done after sanding. If you’re planning on putting your updated piece to heavy use, doing this first is probably your best bet.

Requires Specific Paint – Not all paints are created equal! In order to get good results when you skip this step, you’ll need to use a special type of coating specifically designed for this purpose. These can be more expensive and harder to get than regular ones, so keep that in mind before starting your project.

More Likely to Have Imperfections – Because you’re not sanding beforehand, there’s a higher chance that imperfections in the wood will show through once the makeover is complete. If you’re looking for a perfect finish, sanding probably is the best option for you.

For more details, check our blog post about what happens if you don’t sand before painting!

Best Paint for Furniture Without Sanding

There are a lot of different types you can buy, and it can be overwhelming trying to decide which one is right for your project. Been there, done that!

But I’ve been on a mission to test out all of the paints, so I know which ones are the best. Here are my top picks for the best paint for furniture without sanding. If you’re working with wood, here’s what paint to use for wooden furniture.

Heirloom Traditions Paint

Heirloom Traditions Paint is my top pick for the best paint for furniture without sanding. It has amazing durability and adhesion, even on slick, shiny surfaces like laminate. It also has a large color selection and dries to a satin sheen. You can brush, roll, or spray it onto your piece.

Pros:

• Amazing durability
• Amazing adhesion
• Satin sheen
• Many colors to choose from
• Budget friendly
• Can brush, roll, or spray

Cons:

• Is not self leveling, so there is a lot of texture when you brush or roll it on

If you want to spray it for a perfect finish, check out how we did it in this redoing end tables makeover and this grey cabinet makeover in this all in one paint for furniture post. If you want to brush and roll it, check out this tall dresser makeover in this post about painting furniture without sanding or priming to see how.

Here’s my honest Heirloom Traditions Paint review, and here’s my guide for painting furniture with Heirloom Traditions Paint. I also have another makeover here, using it as a no sanding furniture paint hack!

Where to Buy Heirloom Traditions Paint

• Amazon: Get the Heirloom Traditions Paint HERE!

Fusion Mineral Paint

Fusion Mineral Paint is my second pick. It has great durability and adhesion on wood surfaces. Like Heirloom Traditions, it also has a large color selection. (I LOVE Fusion’s color selection!)

However, it dries to a matte sheen, so I like to topcoat it to create a satin sheen. (Matte finishes gets dirty and dusty just by touching it with clean hands.)

Pros:

• Great durability
• Great adhesion
• Many colors to choose from
• Can brush, roll, or spray

Cons:

• Matte sheen
• Levels out great if you brush with a high quality brush or spray it on

You can brush, roll, or spray it on. If you use a Staalmeester paintbrush, you can apply it on without brush marks being left behind. Get more tips on how to paint furniture without brush marks here. I also applied it with a brush in this painting IKEA furniture post.

In repainting this flat file cabinet, I sprayed it for a perfect finish.

Read through my comparison of Fusion Mineral Paint vs Heirloom Traditions Paint if you’re deciding between the two.

Where to Buy Fusion Mineral Paint

• Etsy: Get the Fusion Mineral Paint HERE!

Farmhouse Paint

Farmhouse Paint is my third pick for the best paint for furniture without sanding. It has good adhesion to wood… and seems to be durable as well.

I am just now testing it, so I will update you as I know more. But I think it has better adhesion and durability than chalk paint does. It also has a good color selection and dries to an eggshell sheen.

You can brush, roll, or spray it on. It’s truly self leveling, too, so even when you brush it on, you won’t have many brush marks left behind once the coating dries.

Pros:

• Many colors to choose from
• Can brush, roll, or spray
• Eggshell sheen
• Levels out beautifully!

Cons:

• The adhesion and durability aren’t as good as Fusion or Heirloom Traditions

Check out this end table makeover with Farmhouse Paint in this post on how to paint wood furniture without sanding or priming.

Where to Buy Farmhouse Paint

• Farmhouse Paint Website: Get the Farmhouse Paint HERE!
• Etsy: Get the Farmhouse Paint HERE!

Chalk Paint

Chalk paint is my fourth pick for the best paint for furniture without sanding. Check out my list of the top chalk paint brands, but my favorite brand is Country Chic. Check out my honest and detailed Country Chic Paint review here.)

It has good adhesion on wood without sanding… and that’s why so many people have loved it as a DIY product. But this way, it dries to a matte sheen that isn’t also very durable without a topcoat. (Yeah, even the brands that say you don’t need to topcoat… aren’t very durable without one.) So, I like to topcoat it with a waterbased polyurethane.

Pros:

• Many colors and brands to choose from
• Can brush, roll, or spray

Cons:

• The adhesion and durability aren’t as good as Fusion or Heirloom Traditions
• Doesn’t level out unless it’s thinned out a lot
• The matte finish needs to be top coated

You can brush, roll, or spray it. Check out this makeover to learn more about how to chalk paint furniture and what you can expect if you don’t sand before using it.

If you want to spray it, check out this post on spray painting a dresser with chalk paint. And this is the best chalk spray paint I have found! It’s oil based, so it’s durable on its own.

Where to Buy Chalk Paint

• Amazon: Get the Country Chic Paint HERE!

How to Paint Furniture Without Sanding

Here’s a step by step guide if you’re set on skipping this step:

1. Clean with a degreasing cleaner like Krud Kutter. This will help the paint adhere better and create a smooth surface.

2. Test a sample of the paint on a small area of the piece to make sure it sticks. The last thing you want is for your finish to start peeling soon after you’re done!

3. If it passes a simple scratch test with your fingernail after drying for 24 hours, you’re good to go ahead and coat the rest of your piece with 2+ coats. You can brush, roll, or spray it on.

Check out the best paint brushes for painting furniture here, the best rollers for painting furniture here, and the best HVLP paint sprayers for furniture here.

4. Let the finish dry and be extra careful with it until it’s cured in 30 days.

Tips for Painting Furniture Successfully

Here are some more tips to make sure your project turns out to be successful! Don’t worry, they aren’t hard things to do, but they’ll make a big impact.

• Before you start, make sure the surface is free of dust and debris for a clean finish. This will help your new paint adhere better and last longer.
• Thin layers are better than thick ones to help each layer adhere better. Thin layers also create more of a brush free finish.
• Let each coat dry completely before applying the next. This will result in a more even finish and will make sure the paint job is successful.
• Using high quality brushes, rollers, and sprayers can also help give you a more even finish and improve the overall quality of your new finish.

How to Paint Glossy Furniture Without Sanding

What if your piece has a laminate surface? This is actually tricky, as the glossy material makes it difficult for the new paint to adhere well. But you can learn how to paint laminate furniture without sanding here!

Here’s the trick: after cleaning your glossy piece, use a good primer like clear shellac or BIN shellac – they stick so well to slick surfaces! They both dry quickly, too, so you can get to your new color in no time. Learn more about these best bonding primer for laminate furniture options in this post.

Then, you’ll want to use these options for the best paint for laminate furniture and best chalk paint for laminate furniture so you get the best results! They have better adhesion and are more durable on these glossy surfaces.

If you’re working with particle board, here’s how to paint particle board furniture without sanding.

There are a lot of products on the market that claim to be the best paint for furniture without sanding. I’ve tested a lot, and Heirloom Traditions, Fusion Mineral, Farmhouse, and chalk paints are all great options depending on your project needs.

If you’re nervous, test out a few samples before committing to one product. And don’t forget to have fun! Painting furniture can be a great way to express your creativity and make old pieces new again.

More Furniture Paint Resources

• Chalk Spray Paint Review
• Best Black Matte Paint for Furniture
• Best All-in-One Paints for Furniture
• Best Chalk Paint for Kitchen Cabinets

Follow us on YouTube to get more tips for painting furniture. Or share your project with us on our Facebook Group and be part of our community. See you there!