Choosing the right furniture paint is the single most important decision in any furniture painting project. The wrong paint means poor adhesion, a finish that doesn't look right, or a result that doesn't hold up to daily use. The right paint makes the whole process easier and the result more beautiful and durable.
This guide covers everything you need to know about buying furniture paint in Australia — the different types, what to look for, and our honest recommendations.
Types of Furniture Paint Available in Australia
Chalk Finish Paint
The most popular furniture paint in Australia. Chalk finish paint dries to a flat, matte, velvety finish that looks beautiful on furniture and photographs exceptionally well. It has excellent adhesion to most surfaces with minimal prep, is water-based and low odour, and is available in a wide range of colours.
Best for: Decorative furniture, bedroom pieces, distressing and layered finishes, any piece that gets light to moderate use.
Needs: A sealer or wax topcoat to protect the finish.
Mineral Paint
A step beyond chalk finish paint in terms of durability. Mineral paint is a primer, blocker and paint in one — it's self-sealing, water-resistant, UV-protected and dries to a smooth eggshell finish. It's the best choice for high-use pieces.
Best for: Kitchen cabinets, dining furniture, outdoor furniture, children's furniture, any piece that gets heavy daily use.
Needs: No separate topcoat required for most uses, though an additional sealer adds extra protection on very high-use surfaces.
Regular Acrylic Wall Paint
Not recommended for furniture. Regular wall paint is formulated for flat, porous wall surfaces — not the smooth, sealed surfaces of furniture. It has poor adhesion on furniture without heavy priming, lower pigment load, and doesn't hold up to the handling furniture receives. Full comparison here.
Oil-Based Paint
Very durable but slow-drying, high-odour and harder to work with than water-based paints. Cleanup requires mineral turpentine. Not recommended for most furniture painting projects — water-based mineral paint gives comparable durability with far less hassle.
What to Look for When Buying Furniture Paint
Pigment Load
Higher pigment load means better coverage in fewer coats. Cheap furniture paints often have low pigment loads, requiring four or five coats to achieve full coverage. Quality paints like Artisan Chalk Finish and Mineral Paint cover well in two coats.
Adhesion
Good furniture paint should adhere to most surfaces with minimal prep — a light clean and scuff sand. If a paint requires heavy priming on every surface, it's not formulated well for furniture use.
Colour Range
A wide, well-curated colour range matters. Look for a range that includes both neutrals and statement colours, with colours that are specifically designed for furniture rather than walls.
Australian Availability
Some international chalk paint brands are available in Australia but are expensive to import and can have long lead times. Australian-stocked ranges give you faster access and better support.
Our Recommendation: Artisan Paint Company
After trying many furniture paint ranges over the years, Artisan Paint Company is the range we stock, use and recommend without hesitation. Here's why:
- Exceptional colour range — 40 chalk finish colours and 46 mineral paint colours, including distinctly Australian shades
- High pigment load — full coverage in two coats on most surfaces
- Excellent adhesion — adheres to most surfaces with minimal prep
- Water-based and low VOC — safe to use indoors, easy cleanup
- Consistent quality — every tin performs the same way
- Australian-stocked — available now, not in six weeks
For the full story on why we chose Artisan: Why We Stock Artisan Paint Company
Chalk Finish vs Mineral Paint: Which Do You Need?
The most common question we get. The short answer: chalk finish for decorative pieces and light use; mineral paint for high-use pieces and kitchens. For the full comparison: Mineral Paint vs Chalk Paint: Which Is Better?
How Much Paint Do You Need?
- Small piece (bedside table, small cabinet): 250ml tin
- Medium piece (chest of drawers, sideboard): 1 litre tin
- Large piece (wardrobe, large dresser): 1–2 litre tins
- Kitchen cabinet refresh (10 doors, 6 drawers): 2–3 litre tins
When in doubt, buy slightly more than you think you need — having leftover paint for touch-ups is always useful.
Shop Furniture Paint at Sweet Pea Interiors
We stock the complete Artisan Paint Company range — chalk finish and mineral paint — along with brushes, sealers, waxes and hardware.
Not sure what you need? Get in touch — we're always happy to help you choose the right paint for your project.
