There are multiple considerations when painting furniture but something often overlooked is how the color of paint can have an impact on the process. This post will help you to paint your furniture easily according to how light or dark your paint color is.
When we painted our kitchen cabinets, we didn't know what we were doing. Because we were on a budget we picked the cheapest paint we could find. But because the cheapest paint isn't the cheapest paint, we found out the hard way that it's better to buy a higher quality paint and you will spend much less on fewer cans that provide better coverage.
The paint that we selected although cheap was very thin. It reminded me of milk (skim milk!). As I painted on layer after layer, 5 coats turned into 10 and before I knew it I had put 13 coats on those awful cabinets.
What I didn't realize was that white paint is notorious for not covering well. This is because there is no (or very little) pigmentation in the paint color. So, picking a paint with good coverage is critical to getting a good finish. Also, the more coats, the more brush strokes and the more brush strokes, the more uneven your finish.
Also, the added brush strokes add more dimension to the surface which reflects more on white paint, making it look less...well, white.
I learned the hard way through our kitchen cabinets and several white furniture pieces that white is one of the toughest colors to paint with. Fortunately, I sum up my best tips and tricks in this post: How to Paint Furniture White (The Right Way).
The post shows you time-saving tips and ways to get a perfectly smooth finish even with white paint. I also share about paint brands and clear coats that will not yellow over time as many white paints often do.
Did you know that there are considerations you should take while painting furniture dark colors as well? In my post where I refinished my grandmother's antique dresser, I painted it in Benjamin Moore Hale Navy.
To do this I used a dark primer so save on the number of coats of paint since white primer has little pigmentation. Also, I used a product called Floetrol to help any brush strokes to settle out in my final coat. Last but not least, you want to use a clear coat on dark painted surfaces. Unlike lighter colored furniture, dark furniture can more easily show fingerprints because the oil from your hands shows up more on dark pieces.
I go into more detail about these tips and several more in this post: Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Dresser Reveal. I also show this paint color on other furniture pieces and in various rooms to show how versatile it is.
These furniture painting hacks will go a lot way in not only saving you time and money but also to ensure that you get a flawless finish on your newly painted furniture piece.
