Best White Paint for Furniture
White furniture is an elegant and timeless style to elevate any space. Whether you’re looking for a crisp, fresh look or something with more of a cottage chic feel, there’s a white paint that can match your vision. But what is the best white paint for furniture? There are many types of paint for furniture to choose from after all!
It can be overwhelming trying to decide which white paint is right for your project. So to help you narrow down your options, we’ve broken down various types of white paints available, along with their pros and cons.
White painted furniture can create an open, airy feel and make any room appear larger. It will also go with almost any decor style or color palette.
But not all white paints are created equal, especially when it comes to painting over wood. When painting furniture white, you want one that will be durable and won’t yellow over time.
Whether you’re looking for an all-in-one paint, a chalk style paint, or an acrylic paint, there is something for everyone.
For this blog post, we will be looking at General Finishes Enduro Poly in White, Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel in Pure White, Heirloom Traditions Paint in Cashmere, Waverly Chalk Paint White, General Finishes Milk Paint Snow White, and Fusion Mineral Paint Picket Fence.
General Finishes Enduro Poly in White
General Finishes Enduro Poly in White is an excellent choice for painting furniture. It provides a durable and long-lasting finish that won’t yellow over time, making it ideal for creating a classic white look.
No thinning is required before application, making it very easy to use. It’s thin enough to be sprayed on with a paint sprayer but does require a primer for best coverage and adhesion. Here’s our list of the best Wagner paint sprayers for furniture.
Its tinted topcoat means you don’t have to topcoat it, plus it’s water-based so cleanup is a breeze with just soap and water. General Finishes is known for their excellent products, so you can rest assured that this paint will live up to your expectations.
While it can only be purchased online or at certain local retailers, the convenience of shopping from home often outweighs the need to find one in person.
Pros
- Dries to a durable satin finish
- Does not require thinning before application
- Requires only a primer for best coverage and adhesion
- No need to topcoat it due to its tinted topcoat
- Easy to clean up with just soap and water
- Won’t yellow over time
- Excellent product from General Finishes
Cons
- Must be sprayed on with a sprayer
- Requires a primer for adhesion and best coverage
- Can only be purchased online or from certain local retailers
Check out how we painted a dresser white with General Finishes Enduro Poly in White here. We also have this painted display cabinet with its shelves painted white using Enduro Poly.
Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel in Pure White
Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel in Pure White is a fantastic choice for painting furniture white.
It is incredibly easy to apply, as it can be brushed, rolled, or sprayed, and it levels out very well on its own no matter the method you use.
This is the best way to paint furniture especially if your furniture will be used regularly.
Here’s our list of the best paint brushes and best rollers for painting furniture to help you decide which paintbrush or roller would be the best for your project.
It acts like a water-based paint when wet, but dries to the durable finish of an oil-based paint so there’s no need to topcoat it or worry about yellowing over time. But hey, before you start using this paint on your furniture, make sure to prime it first.
This will help the paint stick better and stop stains from coming through the paint.
Its light colors may have less sheen than other paints so you may need to choose a sheen higher than what you would normally choose.
And you do have to buy this product online through the Sherwin Williams website or from a local retailer, so availability could be an issue depending on where you live.
Pros
- Waterborne enamel paint (acts like a water based when wet, dries to oil based finish)
- Will not yellow over time
- Comes in a variety of white shades and sheens
- No need to topcoat it
- Easy to apply with brush, roller, or sprayer
Cons
- Requires priming for best coverage and adhesion
- Light colors have less sheen
- Can only be purchased online through Sherwin Williams website or from certain local retailers
Read our Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel review to see how this paint performs and get helpful tips on using it.
For painting furniture white, I also have this TV stand makeover using Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel in Pure White.
Heirloom Traditions Paint in Cashmere
Heirloom Traditions Paint in Cashmere is like an all-in-one superstar! It’s got the paint, primer, and topcoat all in one package. Plus, you won’t even need to sand those laminate surfaces – it adheres like a boss!
You can apply it with a brush, roller, or sprayer, but for that extra fine finish, go ahead and give it a spray for that professional look.
It won’t yellow with time and has a satin sheen that doesn’t need an extra topcoat. It’s also water-based and easy to clean up with soap and water. Unfortunately, you can only buy it online on the Heirloom Traditions Paint website or Amazon.
Pros
- All in one paint, primer, and topcoat
- Sticks to laminate surfaces without sanding
- Can be brushed, rolled, or sprayed on
- Does not yellow over time
- Dries to a satin sheen
- Water-based paint, easy to clean up with soap and water
Cons
- Can only be purchased online
If you haven’t tried painting furniture with Heirloom Traditions Paint, follow our step-by-step guide here! We also have this Heirloom Traditions Paint Review so you can get a better idea on how this paint works.
Waverly Chalk Paint White
Waverly Chalk Paint White is a great choice if you’re looking for an affordable option to paint furniture white. It’s a chalk-style paint that dries with a matte finish and works best with a topcoat.
Personally, I like to topcoat with Varathane water based polyurethane because it won’t yellow as time goes by. But if you want to try other types of topcoat, here’s our list of topcoats for painting furniture.
This paint actually adheres well, but here’s a friendly tip: using a primer before painting can help it stick even better and block any pesky bleed-through stains.
You’ve got options when it comes to application – brush, roller, or sprayer – and thanks to its acrylic composition, it levels out like a champ. We do suggest to mix it with 10% water before applying and watch it level out even more beautifully.
You can grab Waverly Chalk Paint White at Walmart, either in-store or online.
Pros
- Affordable option for painting furniture white
- Dries to a matte finish
- Adheres well but use a primer for added adhesion and stain blocking
- Can be brushed, rolled, or sprayed on – and levels well with the help of 10% water
- Can be purchased in store or online from Walmart.com
Cons
- Requires a topcoat to be applied
- Can only be purchased in Walmart stores or online
Here’s everything you need to know about Waverly chalk paint, and here’s our Waverly chalk paint review where we put this paint to the test!
Check out our list of the best white chalk paint for furniture here to find the right one for your white chalk painting projects.
General Finishes Milk Paint Snow White
General Finishes Milk Paint Snow White is a great choice if you’re looking for a durable and long-lasting finish. The paint levels nicely, sticking well to wood surfaces, but for best results pair with a stain blocking primer.
It’s an acrylic based paint that you can brush, roll, or spray on, and it dries to a matte finish that benefits from a topcoat for extra durability on surfaces that will get lots of wear and tear.
Check out this post to learn more about painting furniture with acrylic paint.
It’s water-based too, so it’s easy to clean up if you make a mess. You can buy this paint online through Amazon, or Etsy, but if you want to purchase locally, you can check their website for local retailers.
Pros
- Great for durability and long-lasting finish
- Levels nicely on wood surfaces
- Can be brushed, rolled, or sprayed on
- Dries to a matte finish
- Water based paint, easy to clean up
- Can be purchased online via Amazon or Etsy, and possibly from local retailers
Cons
- Requires a primer for adequate adhesion and stain blocking
- Needs topcoat for extra protection on high traffic areas
Painting with General Finishes Milk Paint? Take a look at our handy guide to get you started! We also have a General Finishes Milk Paint review where you can read more on its pros and cons.
Also, we used General Finishes Milk Paint in this paint furniture black dresser makeover!
Fusion Mineral Paint Picket Fence
Fusion Mineral Paint Picket Fence is another great option if you’re looking for a paint that offers durability, and you don’t want to worry about topcoating. It has a built-in topcoat that’ll give furniture surfaces an extra layer of protection against dust, dirt, and everyday use.
We do like to add an extra layer of protection with Varathane water based polyurethane for a satin finish, but that’s totally up to you.
We suggest to use primer for added adhesion and stain blocking, though it’ll still stick to wood surfaces without one.
This paint can be brushed, rolled, or sprayed on and you can get a brush free finish by thinning this paint out a bit using water and then applying it with a Staalmeester paint brush. It’s a mineral paint that dries to a matte finish, and it is water based so clean up is easy.
You can snag this awesome paint online from Amazon or Etsy, or you can go to their website to find local retailers.
Pros
- Durable with built-in topcoat protection
- Can be brushed, rolled, or sprayed on
- Dries to a matte finish
- Water based paint, easy to clean up
- Can be purchased online via Amazon or Etsy, and from certain local retailers
Cons
- Require primer for added adhesion and stain blocking
- Needs a topcoat if you want better durability, or don’t want a matte finish
Our Fusion Mineral Paint review will tell you more about this paint and its capabilities. And we have also used Fusion Mineral Paint in this repainting furniture makeover to turn a flat file cabinet workbench into a fab storage cabinet.
Can’t decide between Fusion Mineral Paint vs Heirloom Traditions Paint? Our comparison post on these all in one paints should help you!
And that’s it! We’ve listed a few of our favorite ones that we’ve used for furniture makeovers here, and we’ve also shared our thoughts on each of them in our reviews.
Just think about what your project needs and go from there. Consider the durability, ease of use, topcoating requirements, and application techniques. All these factors will help you make a better decision when choosing the best white paint for your furniture.
More furniture Paint tips
- Best Blue Chalk Paint For Furniture
- Best Green Chalk Paint For Furniture
- Best Black Paint For Furniture
- Best Chalk Paint for Kitchen Cabinets
Follow us on YouTube to get more tips for painting furniture.
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