Are you considering painting some furniture but dread the thought of all that sanding? You’re in luck! Here are the best paints for furniture without sanding.
Get more painting furniture tips and ideas here.
Yes! There are paints on the market specifically designed for painting furniture without sanding.
So, we’re going over the pros and cons of painting furniture without sanding, what the best paint is, and tips to make it successful.
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Table of Contents
The Pros of Painting Furniture Without Sanding
Saves Time – The biggest advantage of painting furniture without sanding 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 sanding, painting furniture without sanding is a great option.
Easy to Do – Painting furniture without sanding is also fairly easy to do. If you’re not experienced in painting furniture, this might be the best option for you.
Great Results – When done correctly, it can yield great results. Your furniture 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 of painting furniture without sanding is that the paint job won’t be as durable as one that was done after sanding. If you’re planning on putting your painted piece of furniture to heavy use, sanding first is probably your best bet.
Requires Specific Paint – Not all paints are created equal! In order to get good results when painting furniture without sanding, you’ll need to use a special type of paint specifically designed for this purpose. These paints can be more expensive and harder to get than regular paint, so keep that in mind before starting your project.
More Likely to have imperfections – Because you’re not sanding your furniture before painting it, there’s a higher chance that imperfections in the wood will show through once the paint job is complete. If you’re looking for a perfect finish, painting without sanding probably isn’t the best option for you.
Best Paint for Furniture Without Sanding
There are a lot of different types of paint 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.
Heirloom Traditions Paint
Heirloom Traditions Paint is my top pick for the best paint for furniture without sanding.
This paint has amazing durability and adhesion, even on slick, shiny furniture like laminate.
It also has a large color selection and dries to a satin sheen.
You can brush, roll, or spray Heirloom Traditions Paint onto your furniture.
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.
Check out my honest Heirloom Traditions Paint review here.
If you want to spray it onto your furniture for a perfect finish, check out this grey cabinet makeover.
If you want to brush and roll Heirloom Traditions Paint, check out this tall dresser makeover.
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 furniture.
Like Heirloom Traditions Paint, it also has a large color selection. (I LOVE Fusion’s color selection!)
However, Fusion Mineral Paint dries to a matte sheen, so I like to topcoat it to create a satin sheen. (Matte paint 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 Fusion Mineral Paint onto your furniture. If you use a Staalmeester paintbrush, you can brush it on without brush marks being left behind.
In this flat file cabinet makeover, I sprayed Fusion Mineral Paint for a perfect finish.
Check out how I painted IKEA furniture with Fusion Mineral Paint and a paintbrush. No Sanding!
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 furniture… 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.
Farmhouse Paint also has a good color selection and dries to an eggshell sheen.
You can brush, roll, or spray Farmhouse Paint onto your furniture. It’s truly self-leveling too, so even when you brush it on, you won’t have many brush marks left behind once the paint 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 (no sanding or priming!)
Where to Buy Farmhouse Paint
- Farmhouse Paint Website: Get the Farmhouse Paint HERE!
Chalk Paint
Chalk Paint is my fourth pick for the best paint for furniture without sanding.
(My favorite brand is Country Chic Paint)
It has good adhesion on wood furniture, without sanding… and that’s why so many people have loved it as a DIY furniture paint.
But chalk paint dries to a matte sheen that isn’t very durable without a topcoat and without sanding. (Yeah, even the brands of chalk paint that say you don’t need to topcoat… aren’t very durable on furniture without a topcoat.
So I like to topcoat chalk paint with a water-based polyurethane.
But you can brush, roll, or spray chalk paint onto your furniture.
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
- Matte Finish needs to be topcoated
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 chalk paint on furniture.
If you want to spray chalk paint, check out this post on spray painting a dresser with chalk paint.
The best chalk that I have found is this chalk spray paint! 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 to painting furniture without having to sand it first.
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 furniture to make sure it sticks. The last thing you want is for your paint job to start peeling soon after you finish!
3. If the paint passes a simple scratch test with your fingernail after drying for 24 hours, you’re good to go ahead and paint the rest of your furniture with 2+ coats of paint. You can brush, roll, or spray the paint on.
The Best Paint Brush for Painting Furniture
The Best Rollers for Painting Furniture
The Best HVLP Paint Sprayers for Furniture
4. Let the paint dry and be extra careful with it until the paint is 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 painting, make sure the surface is free of dust and debris to ensure a clean finish. This will help your paint adhere better and last longer.
- When painting furniture, 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 of paint dry completely before applying the next coat. 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 paint job.
More Painting Furniture Ideas
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 of furniture paints out, and Heirloom Traditions Paint, Fusion Mineral Paint, Farmhouse Paint, and Chalk Paint 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 furniture new again.
More Resources:
- Chalk Spray Paint Review
- Best Paint for Laminate Furniture
- Painting with General Finishes Milk Paint
- Best Matte Black Paint for Furniture
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!
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