Best Satin Finish Furniture Paint

There are plenty of paint finishes to choose from, but satin finish is one of the most popular and versatile for furniture. It gives a nice sheen and smooth texture that can really enhance the overall look of your piece. So for the best satin finish furniture paint options, we’ll share our top picks to help you get that beautiful satin look.

Many types of paint for furniture offer this kind of finish, but only a few really nail it. We’ll also share some tips on other ways you can change the sheen of your paint to satin.

The sheen of paint is how glossy or shiny the paint looks once it dries. There are different levels of sheen, ranging from matte to high gloss. Matte paint has no shine and is great for a more muted, subtle look. On the other hand, high gloss paint is very shiny and reflective, making it perfect for modern or glam furniture pieces.

Satin sheen hits a sweet spot between high gloss and matte, offering a nice balance of shine and durability. It’s got a bit of gloss, but not as much as high gloss paint. This makes it a great option for furniture, adding a touch of elegance without being too flashy.

That’s why satin is popular to DIY-ers for furniture makeovers. So we’re going to look into the top satin finish paints and help you decide which among them should you use for your project. Let’s dive in!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I also may earn from other qualifying purchases with other companies or get free product to review and use. All opinions are my own.

Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel

First on the list is Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel. It’s a water borne paint that offers excellent adhesion, durability, and scratch resistance, making it perfect for high traffic areas. It’s also self leveling and one of the best furniture paint for smooth finish, so you don’t have to worry about texture from brush or roller strokes.

Now for the finish, this Sherwin Williams enamel paint offers 3 options: semi gloss, gloss, and satin. The Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel in satin offers a subtle sheen that can give your furniture a richer look without being too glossy.

But if you’re working with light colors, it would be best to go for the semi gloss finish. The light colors don’t have as much sheen in them, so using a semi gloss finish will still give you that nice satin look. On the other hand, for dark colors, you can just go for the satin finish directly. It all depends on the base color and how much sheen you want in your final result.

Sherwin Williams products may not be as accessible though, because they are only available at their own retailers. But if you have one near you, or you’re willing to make the trip, then you can’t go wrong with this highly recommended satin finish furniture paint.

Pros

• Excellent adhesion, durability, and scratch resistance
• Self leveling for a smooth finish
• Offers 3 options for sheen: semi-gloss, gloss, and satin
• Can be used on high traffic areas

Cons

• Need to use semi gloss for light colors to get the desired satin look
• Only available at Sherwin Williams retailers

Check out our Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel review here for more of our personal experience with this paint.

Heirloom Traditions Paint

If you’re a fan of all in one paints, then Heirloom Traditions Paint is the perfect satin finish furniture paint for you. It’s one of the best all-in-one paints for furniture and you don’t even need to sand, prime, or add a topcoat.

It sticks very well to most surfaces, plus it dries quickly. You can see that it’s a convenient option, especially if you have a lot of furniture to paint. However, it’s not self leveling, so if you use a brush or roller, you may see some marks and texture. It’s best if you spray Heirloom Traditions Paint if you want a flawless finish.

We do love that it dries to a great satin sheen! This sheen won’t get dirty easily and it will be easier to keep clean. And with 30 beautiful colors, you get a lot of options to choose from to fit the style of your furniture and home.

Pros

• No need to sand, prime, or add a topcoat
• Sticks well to most surfaces and dries quickly
• Dries with a beautiful satin sheen that is easy to clean

Cons

• Not self leveling, so brush or roller marks may appear
• A sprayer is required for the smoothest finish

Our Heirloom Traditions All In One Paint review is up here if you want to learn more about this paint line. And here’s how to paint a wooden bench showing you how we used and sprayed this paint.

Benjamin Moore Advance

You’ll want to consider Benjamin Moore Advance too. It’s another top choice for painting furniture because it covers and self levels really well. It also has a waterborne formula that dries like an oil based paint, giving you the durability of an oil based paint without the strong smell and difficult cleanup.

You also don’t need a topcoat over it, but we do recommend to use a primer like BIN shellac primer before painting your piece so the paint will adhere better. Application is flexible – you can choose to brush, roll, or spray it. You have to wait as long as 16 hours between coats with Benjamin Moore Advance though, so take that into consideration when planning your project.

Benjamin Moore Advance comes in three sheen options: satin, semi gloss and high gloss. Of course, the satin sheen is the one we’re looking for, and this sheen adds a slight glow to your furniture that can make it stand out without being too shiny.

This paint can also be tinted to any color, so if you have a specific shade in mind, Benjamin Moore Advance can take care of you. However, it’s only available at locally owned stores, so it may not be as easily accessible. But if you can get your hands on this paint, give it a try for that beautiful satin finish.

Pros

• Self leveling and durable like an oil based paint
• No need for a topcoat, but recommend to use a primer beforehand
• Can be applied with brush, roller or sprayer
• Comes in three sheen options: satin, semi gloss and high gloss
• Can be tinted to any color

Cons

• Longer wait time between coats (up to 16 hours)
• Only available at locally owned stores

Here’s our Benjamin Moore Advance Paint review for a more in depth look at this paint.

Other Ways to Get Satin Finish on Furniture

But if you want to get a satin finish with paints you already have on hand, such as chalk paint, mineral paint, or acrylic paints, you can simply use a satin waterbased topcoat. This way, you don’t waste any existing paint.

Keep in mind as well that the application method will also affect the final sheen. Brushing and rolling the paint will usually result in a slightly shinier finish compared to spraying it on. So if you want a less shiny satin finish, spraying may be the way to go.

Whether you choose Sherwin Williams, Heirloom Traditions, or Benjamin Moore Advance, you can’t go wrong with any of these top satin finish furniture paints. Each of them can give you that beautiful satin finish, and it all depends on which one is more accessible or convenient for you.

But don’t forget, even if you don’t have access to these specific paints, you can just apply a satin topcoat over your existing paint for a similar effect. And don’t be afraid to experiment with different application methods to get the sheen you want!

More Furniture Painting Tips

• Best Enamel Paint For Furniture
• Best Milk Paint For Furniture
• Best Silk Paint Colors
• Best Sherwin Williams Paint for Furniture
• Best Mineral 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!