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31 Days of Decorating with Junk: My Favorite Paint


best paint for furniture

There are a LOT of choices when it comes to paint.  It can be really overwhelming.  But I’m going to let you in on a secret – there is one type of paint that adheres well, distresses well, gives an old fashioned look, and DOESN’T cost a fortune!

What is this magical paint, you ask?  It’s not a special brand.  You don’t have to go to a special retailer.  You can find it ANYWHERE that sells paint.

The answer – FLAT paint.  Regular FLAT latex paint.

I stumbled upon this discovery.  It started with two gallons of flat paint that I got at my local Habitat Restore for $6 each (the pink and aqua – aren’t the colors great, too?)
aqua and pink

I immediately noticed that it adhered well and dried quickly.  And when I used some furniture wax on it afterward, I had a gorgeous hand-rubbed finish.

A few weeks later, a friend gave me some leftover exterior flat paint, and I had the same great results on this sweet little dresser…
yellow antique dresserpaint antique furnituresweet yellow dresseryellow dresser distressed

Adhered well, distressed beautifully, and looks GREAT on my antique furniture.
paint antique furniture

From now on, when I buy paint for my furniture, it will be FLAT paint.

This post is part of 31 Days of Decorating with Junk: Vintage, Antique and Unique for your Home and Garden.

decorating with junk

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See you tomorrow!

i'm doing it! 
31 Days of Decorating with Junk Posts:

31 Days of Decorating with Junk Introduction
Farmhouse Style Front Porch 
Modern Farmhouse Design 
Repurposed Upright Piano 
Our Exterior Makeover Reveal
Adjustable Game Table Makeover (In a Ballard Designs Whitewashed Style) 
The HomeShed's September Sale & Fall Decor Inspiration 
Proof that I'm a HardCore Junker
My Gallery Wall
HomeShed Sale Preview and Christmas Inspiration
Cute Green Dresser with Chalkboard Labels
My Favorite Paint for Antique Furniture
Kris's Cabin Tour
Essential Tools for Repurposing
Making a Custom Glaze
Fixing a Stripped Out Screw Hole
How to Make Your Home Your Own
Spray or Brush?
Five from the Archives
Owning a Junky Business Part 1
Owning a Junky Business Part 2
1840 House
Simple Vintage Halloween
Five (More) from the Archives
Crib Spring Repurpose
Owning a Junky Business Part 3
Quick Chair-Do
Pallet Wall Art
Not So Junky Basement
Owning a Junky Business Part 4
31 Days Wrap Up



Shared at: Funky Junk Interiors Party Junk  
Home Stories A to Z Tutorials and Tips

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  1. Great tip! I get a lot of el-cheapo paint in fun and funky colors from our Habitat store and the return rack at the hardware store. I'll totally keep my eye out for FLAT paint now :)

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  2. Love the series Katie! Catching up on everything on this rainy day. Do you ever use spray paint on things like chairs? I would like to paint my kitchen chairs and I was thinking spray paint would be easiest. Advice is welcome!

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  3. I have been using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, which I love, but it is expensive especially when you have to order online. I have wondered about using flat latex which I have a bunch of sitting in the basement. Thanks for this post - I won't hesitate now to repurpose what I have.

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  4. Do you have problems with the flat paint marking up easily? Does it wear well?

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    Replies
    1. I put paste wax on top of the paint, so that protects the surface and makes it easy to clean!

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