How To Make Your Painted Furniture Look Better Than Store Bought

Have you ever finished painting a piece of furniture, stepped back to admire it, and then thought… well, it still looks homemade (like I painted it, duh)? You are not alone.

There is a big discussion about this online, especially on Reddit. A lot of you want to know why some painted furniture looks amazing and high-end, while other pieces just look, well… painted.

The good news is, there are a few simple things you can do to make your painted furniture look polished, professional, and even better than store-bought – personalized and uniquely you!

My motto is to make the furniture look “perfectly imperfect.” That doesn’t mean it looks unfinished or bad. It means the piece is unique and better than store bought.

Today I’m sharing all my best tips for getting that smooth, finished look without making your furniture look thick, streaky, or overdone. And I’m adding a few of my best painted furniture looks for inspiration.

Why Painted Furniture Sometimes Looks Homemade

This is the best place to start because it helps to know what goes wrong. Most of the time, furniture looks homemade for one of these reasons:

• It was not cleaned well before painting
• The surface was not sanded or prepped properly
• The paint was brushed on too thickly
• There are visible brush marks
• Paint puddled around corners and details (my pet peeve)
• The hardware looks old and tired
• The piece was never fully finished

How To Make Your Painted Furniture Look Better Than Store Bought

The difference between homemade and high-end usually comes down to the little details.

Start With a Good Piece of Furniture

You do not have to start with an expensive piece of furniture to get a beautiful result. I have painted plenty of thrift store and roadside finds over the years. But it does help if the piece has good bones.

Look for furniture that is:

• Solid and sturdy
• Made of real wood or quality veneer
• Interesting in shape or style
• Not falling apart
• Worth the time and effort to paint
• A statement piece
• Vintage but not dated

If a piece has a nice shape and feels solid, paint can completely transform it.

Clean the Furniture Really Well

This is one of the most skipped steps, and it just has to be done. Cleaning isn’t my favorite thing either. It definitely isn’t the fun part

Old furniture can have years of furniture polish, grease, dust, and grime on it. If you paint over all of that, the finish is not going to look its best.

Before doing anything else, clean the piece really well.

• Remove the hardware
• Take out the drawers
• Vacuum dust and dirt from corners
• Wash everything with a good degreaser or cleaner (White Lightning or Simple Green)
• Let it dry completely

Prep Before Painting is a Must

If you want painted furniture to look better than store bought, good prep work is what will get you there.

I know prep is not the exciting part. Everybody, including me, wants to jump straight to painting. But taking the time to do this step right gives you that smooth, professional finish.

I used to do custom painting, and sometimes when I priced a piece to the customer, they would say, “It costs that much just to paint it?” Then I would have to explain to them that just painting isn’t all there is to it.

The prep for painting furniture usually takes longer than the actual painting. That extra effort up front pays off big time in the end.

Before painting:

• Scrape off any loose finish
• Fill dents, dings, or old hardware holes
• Sand rough or glossy areas
• Smooth out repairs
• Wipe away all dust (paintbrush and tack cloth)

Sand Between Coats of Paint

This is one of my favorite tricks for getting a smooth finish.

You do not have to do heavy sanding between every coat. Just a light sanding with fine-grit sandpaper or a sanding sponge can make a huge difference.

It helps knock down little bumps, brush strokes, and rough spots so the finish looks soft and smooth. You can sand by hand or use an electric sander. I usually sand by hand because I have more control.

Light sanding between primer and paint, and between paint coats, can really take a piece to the next level.

When to Use Primer

I know some paints say no primer needed, and sometimes you can get by without it. But if the furniture is dark, shiny, stained, or prone to bleed-through, primer is your best friend.

I use white primer under white or very light paint, and I use gray primer under darker paints. The gray primer is easier to cover than white.

A good primer helps with:

• Adhesion
• Blocking stains and wood tannins
• Giving you even paint coverage
• Creating a solid color surface for paint

If you want the finish to last and look more even, primer is usually worth the extra step.

A Good Quality Paint is Required

The paint you choose matters.

If you want your furniture to look better than store bought, use quality paint. Latex paint is a great choice for furniture. A good brand of paint will level out and leave a smooth finish.

Special furniture paints are not required, although they can provide unique finishes and definitely have their place. I’ve finished furniture with chalk paint, milk paint, Beyond Paint, mineral paint, and more, and love the different finishes.

Don’t go cheap. The paint usually requires more coats, causes a lot of frustration, and leaves a sad-looking finish. You get what you pay for.

Apply Thin Coats

Thick coats of paint are one of the fastest ways to make furniture look homemade or hand-painted. Thick paint tends to leave drips, ridges, and a heavy finish that covers up the beauty of the furniture.

Thin coats always look better. Yes, it takes a little more time. Yes, you may need an extra coat. But the final result is so much prettier.

Use Good Tools

Your tools matter almost as much as your paint. The better the tools, the better the finish is going to look.

A cheap brush can leave streaks, loose bristles, and heavy brush marks. If you want a smooth finish, use a quality brush, a small foam roller for flat areas, or a paint sprayer if you like spraying.

Tool for Painting:

• Paintbrush for details and curves
• Synthetic brushes are best (for water-based paints)
• Foam roller for flat surfaces (quality dense foam)
• Sprayer for the smoothest overall finish 

Watch the Corners and Edges

One thing that makes painted furniture look obviously DIY is paint buildup around corners, trim, and edges. As you paint, keep an eye on those spots and immediately smooth the paint or wipe away the excess.

I really dislike those little puddles of paint in corners. Also, when painting the front of furniture and then the side, watch the edge where the front and side meet for that hated double or triple layer of paint.

Check for excess paint:

• Drawer fronts
• Edges
• Molding
• Legs
• Corners

Don’t Forget the Hardware

Sometimes, all a piece needs to look more up to date is new hardware. Hardware is like the jewelry on a piece of furniture. It really can make a big difference.

Fresh knobs or drawer pulls can make a painted piece look more modern and customized. If the original hardware is nice, you can always clean it up or spray it to give it a new look.

Finish the Whole Piece

If you want your furniture to look polished, do not stop with just the outside. Take a look at the drawers, the inside, the back, and all those little areas people still see.

You may want to:

• Stencil the drawer bottoms or the outside of the drawer
• Line the drawers
• Decoupage the drawers
• Paint visible interior areas
• Paint the back if it shows (examples: cedar chests and trunks as coffee tables)

Those little finishing touches make the piece feel complete.

Pick a Color That Feels High-End

Color can make a big difference. Picking the color is the fun part of the makeover.

 

Of course, you should paint furniture any color you love. But if you are going for a more expensive, designer-style look, classic colors usually work best.

A few colors that tend to look high-end are:

• • White
  • Cream
  • Greige
  • Black
  • Navy
  • Charcoal

These colors tend to feel timeless and sophisticated.

Add a Protective Finish if Needed

Depending on the piece and the type of paint you use, a topcoat may be a good idea.

Dressers, tables, cabinets, and other furniture that sees heavy use should be sealed with wax or a quality topcoat.

Products for sealing furniture:

• Water-based polyurethane
• Polycrylic
• Furniture wax
• Hemp oil

Just make sure your topcoat is compatible with the paint.

Let the Paint Cure

DIYers tend to rush this part, me included. Just because the paint feels dry does not mean it is fully cured. If you start using the furniture too soon, you can end up with scratches, accessories sticking to the top, and peeling paint.

Giving the piece plenty of time to cure helps protect all that hard work.

Style It Like a Professional

Once your piece is finished, style it in a way that shows it off.

Often, furniture looks best when it is paired with a few simple accessories. A lamp, a small stack of books, a vase, or a simple seasonal touch can make your finished piece feel extra special.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

If you want painted furniture to look better than store bought, try not to:

• Skip the cleaning
• Rush the prep work
• Use thick coats of paint
• Ignore drips and buildup
• Use cheap tools (paintbrushes and rollers)
• Forget the hardware
• Stop before the whole piece is finished
• Use the piece before it has cured

FAQS

How do I make painted furniture look smooth?

Clean it well, prep the surface, use thin coats of paint, and sand lightly between coats.

What kind of paint is best for furniture?

Furniture paint, latex paint, cabinet paint, or trim paint with good leveling properties usually works best.

Should I sand between coats?

Yes, light sanding between coats helps create a smoother and more professional-looking finish.

Do I need a topcoat?

Not always, but it is a good idea for furniture that gets heavy use.

Why does my painted furniture still look homemade?

Usually, it comes down to prep, paint application, brush marks, or skipping the finishing details.

Where do I Find Inspiration?

Well, right here on the blog. But all kidding aside, search magazines, visit furniture stores, scope out your friends’ homes, peruse Pinterest, just keep your eyes open!

Furniture Inspiration! Painted Furniture That Doesn’t Look Store Bought

Paint Fake Wood Furniture Easily

You would never know the above white furniture piece is made of fake wood. Why? Because the furniture was finished with a plan in mind and a lot of care. See the makeover details for this Fake Wood Furniture Transformation

Paint Vintage Furniture

Vintage furniture has great lines and character. You can modernize an old cedar chest with a great paint makeover that doesn’t look homemade. Turquoise Cedar Chest Makeover

Paint Large Furniture Pieces

Giving your furniture a whitewash finish will make it look professionally painted and not like it was painted at home. Whitewashed Buffet

Now You Are Ready to Paint Like a Pro

You do not have to be a professional furniture painter to get a beautiful finish. You just need to slow down a bit and not skip the important steps.

Good prep, thin coats, quality paint, and attention to detail can completely change the outcome of your furniture makeover.

The extra effort is what turns a simple painted piece into something that looks custom, beautiful, and completely one-of-a-kind. Time to paint!