The Great Paint Debate: How Do You Choose?
New to flipping? Start here: ValFrania.com/LearnToFlip
Everyone wants to know what the “best paint” is.
And honestly, that question is probably responsible for more confusion among beginners than almost anything else in furniture flipping.
Spend a little time in online groups and you’ll quickly see why. One person swears by one brand, another says never use it, and before long, beginners feel like they need a chemistry degree just to paint a dresser.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to choose products, this episode is for you.
We’re talking about how to think through paint choices based on your project, your goals, and the type of finish you actually want—not just what’s highly promoted online.
Prefer to listen? Hit play below.
Paint Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All
One of the biggest mindset shifts you can make as a furniture artist is realizing that paint is a tool, not a universal answer.
Different paints are designed to do different things.
So instead of asking:
“What’s the best paint?”
…it’s often more helpful to ask:
- What kind of finish do I want?
- How durable does this piece need to be?
- How do I personally like to work?
Once you start thinking that way, things begin to clear up.
It’s an old word that basically means clarity of thought and expression. And honestly, it fits furniture flipping surprisingly well: "Perspicuity."
Because when things become clearer, we stop wasting motion. We stop second guessing every decision and chasing every opinion online.
Popular Doesn’t Always Mean Better
Years ago, when I first started my blog Love My DIY Home, I reached out to paint companies and asked if they’d be willing to send products for me to try and review.
Some said yes.
Over time, I was able to experiment with all kinds of paints and finishes, and that experience taught me something important:
A highly promoted product isn’t always a better product.
At one point, I finally tried a paint that everyone online seemed to rave about. It looked nice enough in the end, but the actual experience didn’t match the hype for me.
And that reinforced something I think beginners really need to hear:
Popularity doesn’t always equal performance.
Sometimes it just means something has really good visibility.
If you’d like help understanding the different paint types and where they fit, I’m sharing my Paint Types guide from the Blueprint here:
ValFrania.com/paint
Don’t Let Fear Keep You Stuck
I also touched on something in this episode that goes beyond paint.
Fear.
Fear of choosing the wrong product. Fear of trying a new tool. Fear of making mistakes.
I think a lot of beginners spend so much time trying to avoid mistakes that they never give themselves room to experiment and grow.
But confidence usually doesn’t come before action.
It comes after you try the thing you weren’t sure you could do.
That might mean trying a different paint… using a sprayer for the first time… or simply trusting yourself enough to learn as you go.
At the end of the day, the three part series, "The Great Paint Debate" really isn’t about finding the “perfect” paint.
It’s about learning how to choose.
Learning how to think through your decisions instead of getting lost in all the noise online.
And that takes time, experience, and a willingness to grow.
If you’re newer to furniture flipping and want a clearer path forward, start here:
And if you’re ready to build a stronger flipping business with deeper guidance and mentorship:
Thanks for visiting, now go pick out a paint and get creative today.
Blessings,
