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We’re continuing our paint review series today… a series for you all about different brands of furniture paint. Many of you know I’ve been a General Finishes fan for years, and that hasn’t changed. But there are so many other fantastic brands out there, I wanted to give them a test and do it with you!
Be sure to check out the other reviews if you missed any of them: Dixie Belle Paint Review, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, Fusion Mineral Paint Review, Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint , General Finishes Milk Paint
I worked with Rust-Oleum to bring you this video, they sent me free product to create this review. All opinions are honest and my own. Some affiliate links are included in this post, to see my full disclosure policy, click here.
I wanted to be sure to review Rust-Oleum furniture paints because they are very accessible to most of you. I’ve seen these paints in the big box hardware stores, and wanted to try them myself to see how they compare to some of the more boutique brands. Here’s the rubric I’ll be using as we search for the best paint for furniture.
ABC’s of Rust-Oleum Furniture Paint
A – APPLICATION
What is the recommended application of each type of paint – and are there any tips or tricks to give a better finish.
Chalked Paint & Milk Paint – The application for both of these paints were the same with the recommendation of a synthetic brush, no roller. I use a Purdy XL Cub in this video (it’s the brush I use all the time!
B – BEFORE YOU START (PREP)
What prep is required before you start painting? Lot’s of paints are boasting “no prep” these days, so I want to see how that actually works. And yes, while I love a good scuff sanding to get the piece ready to paint, perhaps it’s not always necessary.
Chalked Paint – Soap and water clean up if necessary and light sanding. I use 220 grit sandpaper to rough up the piece a bit before cleaning and painting.
Milk Paint – Clean piece, remove any loose paint. No sanding is required.
C – CONSISTENCY
What is the consistency of the paint itself? Is it thin and runny or thick and smooth? This matters and affects how you choose to apply the paint.
Chalked Paint – Really thick, but a nice smooth paint that goes on well. The paint does have a bit of an odor as it’s being applied. Easy to work with and move around.
Milk Paint – Thinner than the Chalked paint but still thicker than latex, nice and smooth.
C – COVERAGE
How does the paint cover? Do you need multiple thin coats, one thick coat, etc. This is a BIG deal in the painting world. As much fun as painting is, as a refinisher, we really want as much coverage per coat as possible. This makes the refinishing process quicker!
Chalked Paint – Adheres well. Not a one coat coverage paint, needs a second coat or at least a bit of touch-up after the first coat is dry. Dried a bit streaky, not sure if that was just the first coat or the way the paint turns out as it dries. It did self level and dried to a very smooth finish.
Milk Paint – Covers well, better than the Chalked Paint, goes on really smooth and levels itself nicely. May be able to get away with one coat if you are using it for a more decorative finish. If you want a solid color, a second coat would be needed.
C – COLORS
The availability of colors matters to us creatives. We want unlimited colors to choose from, am I right?
There is not a huge selection of colors in either of the lines of paint. They do have the classics though, and the colors are very pretty.
D – DURABILITY
Durability of a product is one of the most important factors to me, especially when I’m refinishing furniture for clients or to sell – you want your work to last and stand the test of time! I’m going to be honest, and say this is a harder element to test. Durability happens over time and with some use. We can look at durability quickly and see that the paint isn’t chipping, flaking or lifting, but much more than that and we need to take the time to test it.
Chalked Paint – I would seal this paint because of it’s matte finish, it’s not required however to add a bit of shine and wipe-ability I would recommend a topcoat. It does seem like it would be durable over time.
Milk Paint – Dried really flat but not as chalky as the Chalked Paint. The Milk Paint dried with a bit of texture to it. I would add a topcoat to this finish as well, just to increase the durability and feel of the finished product.
Wasn’t that fun?? I hope you enjoyed it!
If this is a paint that is available to you, I’d recommend you’d try it! I think it may not be quite as quality as some of the more boutique decorative paints, however for small projects this paint would be great. You can find more info and Rust-Oleum products here.
Be sure to check out the other reviews if you missed any of them: Dixie Belle Paint Review, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, Fusion Mineral Paint Review, Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint , General Finishes Milk Paint
Until next time,
Jenni
