Hello, welcome! I am so happy to have you here today to talk about the best paint for cabinets you can use. I remember when I got my first apartment nearly three years ago, I was so excited about everything interior and I was obsessed with finding every piece of furniture in my aesthetic and style. And I am so glad you are here to look for paint for cabinets instead of getting a new one because just painting furniture can change the whole style of the furniture.

Best Paint for Cabinets

Introduction to Best Paint for Cabinets

Selecting the perfect paint for your cabinets can make all the difference in transforming a piece from old to new, boring to trendy, and tired to excitement. But with many options available, how do you find the best paint for cabinets? When it comes to finding one, there should be a checklist of qualities in mind.

In today’s blog post, we will go over what makes the best paint for cabinets, what you need to look for, and some of my recommendations. Also, I included a little tip on how to paint at the end because I didn’t know anything about how to paint furniture or a wall when I first started. I thought you just needed to… paint. But I got you, let’s start with what to look for in the best paint for cabinets. If you are specifically looking for paint for kitchen cabinets, I wrote a blog post about that.

Don’t like the look or the color of your current cabinets? Painting it can change the whole mood.

What to Look for in Best Paint for Cabinets

1. Low or No VOC

First and foremost, the best paint for cabinets should have low or no VOC. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds and the paint smell depends on the type and amount of it in the paint.

VOCs are hazardous chemicals that evaporate into the air and can cause a variety of health concerns. Eco-friendly paints either contain no VOCs or only a minimal amount, which means they have lower odor and faster drying times. The paint smell should disappear within a few hours or days, depending on the ventilation and humidity of the area. That means in the meantime furniture paint is drying, and you are inhaling all the dangerous chemicals into your body. You do not want these chemicals floating in your home.

However, it’s more than just finding furniture paint that is low in VOC. It’s about the ingredients used in the paint as a whole. Let’s take a look.

2. Eco-Friendly Ingredients

If you are looking for the best paint for cabinets, I strongly suggest looking for eco-friendly furniture paint especially if it is for indoors. Eco-friendly furniture paint is important for our home because it contains fewer or no harmful chemicals that can affect our health and the environment. Non-toxic paints can improve indoor air quality and reduce the risk of respiratory issues or other health problems. They also promote a more responsible approach to paint production by using sustainable or recycled materials.

Some harmful ingredients that you should look for in paint are pesticides, biocides, metals, and synthetic solvents. These chemicals can negatively affect human health and the environment by causing a lot of health issues such as allergic reactions, headaches, nausea, liver, kidney, and central nervous system disorders, and even cancer. When it comes to the environment, they can also damage the ozone layer and contribute to climate change.

The best paint for cabinets should be eco-friendly with natural ingredients and have little to no VOCs. Examples of natural ingredients include plant-based pigments and natural binders. Eco-friendly paints also have a wide selection of colors and finishes to suit your aesthetic and functional needs. Cabinets are furniture pieces that you will have physical contact with frequently, so let’s keep safety in mind as the first thing when looking for the best paint for cabinets.

3. Durability

Once you have the safe ingredients checked, the next thing you want to look for in the best paint for cabinets is durability. Furniture is subjected to wear and tear, especially the handles of cabinets, so we want to find paints that can withstand daily use and maintain their appearance over time.

There are some pieces of furniture that you might want to pay closer attention to than others, such as kitchen cabinets or tables. These are furniture pieces that would have frequent contact with water and heat, so you need paint that is more durable than the ones you are going to use on a drawer, for instance.

4. Adhesion

Like durability, adhesion is also a factor that you should have on your best paint for cabinets checklist. Some paint can chip or peel after it dries. It would be such a waste if that happened! So ensuring the paint adheres well to various surfaces without chilling or peeling is essential for a long-lasting finish.

When concerned, you can use a top coat or a primer before using paint. Also if you are planning to paint special materials like metal, look for specific metal paint.

5. Coverage

Paints can vary in coverage. Some furniture paints offer excellent coverage and require less paint and coats for you to save time and effort during the painting process. However, if your cabinets have vivid or dark colors to be painted over, it is recommended to use a primer before painting them with the furniture paint.

6. Color Range

Last but not least, you might be looking for a diverse range of colors for creativity and customization for your cabinets! If you are looking for white or black paint which are popular colors for interior, almost all furniture paint companies would have that. But if you want a more unique color for your furniture, there might be some specific paint brands you should take a look at.

Best Paint for Cabinets Recommendations

So I hope you found it helpful to learn a few things about the best paint for cabinets. Here are some of the best paints for cabinets based on the checklist I shared with you above.

1. Country Chic Chalk Style All-in-One Paint

• All-in-One
• Eco-Friendly & Safe Ingredients
• Premium Quality from 80 Years of Business
• Dries Very Quickly
• Matte Finish

Overall, I found this brand Country Chic to be a fantastic place to look for your paint for cabinets. They have All-in-One furniture paints that you do not need primer, wax, top coat, or a sealant. It makes our lives so much easier! It can be used indoors and outdoors as well as many materials such as wood, laminate, glass, metal, and even kid’s toys.

What I love the most is their eco-friendly and safe ingredients; there are no harsh chemicals like phthalates, formaldehyde, heavy metals, or solvents. Also, it has a very low VOC which means it has little odor. It is certified safe as per European Toy Safety Standards and we know how European standards are generally more strict and conservative when it comes to ingredients. If I’m looking for the best paint for cabinets for my home, it has to be the most eco-friendly and safe for my family.

This Country Chic paint is in a chalky matte finish, so if you want more gloss such as satin sheen on your furniture you might want to apply a top coat for that.

2. Jolie Paint

• Green Wise Certified
• No Primer Needed
• Offers Color Card 40+ Colors
• Offers Paint & Wax Bundles
• Dries Very Quickly
• Super Matte-Finish

This premium paint has great coverage and therefore you need less paint than other paints with Jolie Paint. I love that! That is eco-friendly in itself. This is also a beautiful paint that offers more than 40 colors for your cabinet and dries very quickly and gives you a very matte finish. You can also get their color card before painting your furniture to make sure which color you would like.

This paint works as a two-step system and therefore needs a finishing wax after you paint it. You can check out the paint and wax bundles for a great deal if you plan to choose to use Jolie Paint.

Lastly, this paint is also eco-friendly with water-based paint and therefore easy to clean the paint brush with soap and water once you are done.

3. Heirloom Traditions All-in-One Paint

• All-in-One
• Low VOC
• Good Price
• Velvet-Sheen Finish

This is a great all-in-one paint that requires no sanding, priming, or top coat. You can use it on interior or exterior furniture including walls, doors, cabinets, counters, metal, and glass. It also has a velvet sheen finish, so if you are looking for a slight shine on your furniture, this might be the best paint for cabinets for you. The brand Heirloom Traditions offers some discounts sometimes, so check it out!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much paint do I need for my furniture?

Usually, furniture paints can come in these volumes. Look at these general guidelines to see how much paint you might need for your project. Some paints have a better coat and can require less.

4 oz /120ml for 15m² 

A chair, side table, small home decor furniture, or products

16 oz / 470ml for 60m²

A cabinet, dining room table, or a dresser

32 oz / 945ml  for 120m²

A dining room set, kitchen cabinets, or a wardrobe

Painting Steps for Furniture

It is very important to clean the surface before applying the furniture paint even if it says “no primer needed.” It doesn’t mean any preparation before painting is needed! So let’s learn a few simple steps that can make your paint last long on your furniture.

1. Clean the Surface

Remove any chips or debris on the surface. If there is any dirt, grease, or dust on the surface, we need to wash it. Take a soft cloth and rinse thoroughly with clean water and soap. Allow the surface to dry completely.

2. Remove Hardware

Take off any knobs, handles, hinges, or any other hardware attached to the furniture. I know it’s a little bit of work, but trust me! Once you remove the hardware you can paint very quickly and it will have a beautiful finish.

3. Fill Imperfections

If there are any visible holes or scratches, use a filler for the material of the furniture and fill them in. Allow the filler to dry completely. You can send the filled area once it’s dried to ensure a smooth surface.

4. Prime the Surface (if necessary)

Some paints don’t need a base coat or primer. But unless it is stated that it is an all-in-one product or you do not need a primer, it is recommended to prime the surface. It helps to seal the surface, make it easier for the paint to show its color better, and improve paint adhesion. Leave it to fully dry.

5. Apply Paint

Use a high-quality furniture paint that is safe and has great application and colors, and apply. If the furniture is small, you can use a brush. If the furniture is bigger with a large flat surface, using a roller can give you an even coat and will make your job easier and faster! You might need two to several coats before you achieve the final color.

6. Apply Top Coat (if necessary)

Depending on the desired finish – matte, satin, or gloss – choose the top coat of your choice. Now many paints have a top coat included in the product so you don’t need to apply a top coat. But when applied, the top coat can provide better protection from wear and tear and thus can make your furniture last longer. If you followed this step and applied the top coat, let it dry completely. This step is recommended for high-traffic furniture like tables and kitchen cabinets as I wrote in my last blog post about the best paint for kitchen cabinets.

7. Reattach the Hardware

Now it is the last step! Once the paint and any topcoat or sealer are fully dry, reattach the hardware to your furniture. Your furniture is now ready to use!

My Thoughts on Best Paint for Cabinets

I hope you found this article on the best paint for cabinets, a checklist of what to look for in furniture paints, and the recommendations helpful! When I was starting a home project for the first time, there was so much work to do and so much information I had to learn before starting. It was overwhelming at times, but it was also very rewarding to see the final project. Now I also know a few things about home renovation projects so I could talk about this as a topic like how looking for a great ingredient list on paint is as important as choosing a color for your cabinets.

Sustainable & Aesthetic Interior Design

If you are interested in learning more about how to accomplish a sustainable and aesthetic interior design, check out my other blog posts on the interior and home design topic. I blog about a vegan and sustainable lifestyle and achieving a green and beautiful interior is also my great passion!

You might be interested in my last blog posts about…

Tropical House Plants | Recommendations and Tips for Home Interior

Tall House Plants 2/5ft | Try These as Sustainable Decorations!

Valentine’s Day Home Decor | 7 Sustainable & Aesthetic Ideas

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