• Home
  • About
    • Disclosure
      • Terms And Conditions
      • Cancellation Policy
      • Refund Policy
      • Shipping Policy
    • Contact Me
    • My Favorites
      • Our Toolbox
      • Paint Colors
      • My Amazon Store
  • Categories
    • Seasonal
      • Spring
      • Fall
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Christmas
      • Valentine’s Day
      • Easter
      • Mother’s Day
    • DIY
      • Repurposed
      • Furniture
      • Crafts
    • Our Home
    • Recipes
    • Crafts
      • Party Planning Ideas
      • Kids Activities
  • Resources
    • Organization Tools
      • Organization Challenge
      • 5-Day Organization Challenge
      • 12 Monthly Purge Checklists
      • Sentimental Purge Guide
    • Decorating & Thrifting
      • Thrifting & DIY Bundle
      • How To Decorate Your Home On A Yard Sale Budget
      • 11 Quick Tips To Organize A Profitable Yard Sale
    • Furniture Flipping
      • The Ultimate Furniture Flipping Program For Beginners
      • The Creative Squad
      • Quick Guide To Painting Furniture
      • The Best Paint Colors To Use When Flipping Furniture
      • Types Of Paint For Furniture
    • Join My Newsletter
    • Become An Affiliate
  • Podcast
  • Furniture Flipping Course ON SALE NOW!
  • Learn With Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

My Creative Days

DIY blog sharing our home, budget decorating tips with repurposed farmhouse decor.

Best Topcoat For Painted Furniture

April 20, 2021 2 Comments

I am asked a lot about topcoat options for painted furniture.

Do I use it?

When do I use it?

What does it do?

Which topcoat should I use? 

I thought I would create a post as a good reference for people who have these questions. 

What is a topcoat?

A topcoat is an “overcoat”. It is a layer applied over paint to make the paint last longer and more durable. 

Topcoats aren’t always a clear coat that goes over paint. A topcoat can also be a wax or a glaze. I have even used stain over paint as a topcoat. 

What is the best topcoat for painted furniture? 

Here are some of my favorite clear topcoats. If I am using a clear topcoat, I always choose a matte finish because I like the way it looks.

I use Dixie Belle products a lot. They have other sheens besides matte in the clear topcoats.  

{Affiliate links are used in this post. Click on any of the underlined links to find the products I am talking about. You can read my disclosure HERE.}

Gloss Clear Coat

Satin Clear Coat

Clear Coat Flat

The Gator Hide is another clear topcoat that Dixie Belle Paint. It repels water. It is good on those pieces that drinks will be set on (coffee tables, end tables, side tables, dining tables, etc.).

Gator Hide

How do you apply a topcoat?

You can use a brush to apply any of the topcoats listed above, but Dixie Belle does have an applicator that makes it so easy to apply and gives you good, solid coverage.

Applicator

What are some other topcoat options besides the clear coat?

I said earlier that there are other topcoats besides the clear coats mentioned above. Waxes are another great way to add some durability to your painted pieces. I like to use darker waxes over paint colors that I want to deepen and add more character to. White wax is very pretty over many paint colors as well. It just depends on what you want the piece to look like in the end. 

What is the best topcoat for painted furniture? Here are the best options to give you optimal durability on all your painted projects.

Wax

What is the best topcoat for painted furniture? Here are the best options to give you optimal durability on all your painted projects.

Glazes

Glazes are another great option for a topcoat on your painted pieces. I used a glaze on the blue dresser above. Glazes are forgiving. You can move it around to get the look you want. I apply it with a lint-free cloth. Like the waxes, it gives the paint a deeper color and adds a ton of character!

Do topcoats have to cure?

Yes. All topcoats need time to cure. You don’t want to set anything on them before that cure time is up. Every brand has different guidelines about how long their products need to cure completely. Two weeks is a good overall length of time that will for sure have you covered. After two weeks, you can safely put things on top of your piece. 

What is the best topcoat for painted furniture? Here are the best options to give you optimal durability on all your painted projects.

Stain

I have used stain over paint. This was before I was introduced to glazes and waxes. It worked great on the green cabinet in the photo above. I was looking to deepen the green paint color and I had a dark walnut stain color on hand. I put it over the paint and I loved the look. It served as a great protective topcoat. 

Do you always use a topcoat?

I don’t, but I would recommend that you do. I don’t mind chippy pieces in our home and the paint wearing over time. If I am selling pieces, I always use a topcoat and if it is a piece that will get a lot of use or things set on them, I will use a topcoat to ensure more durability. 

I hope this post answers your questions about topcoats for painted furniture. If you have any other questions, leave them in the comments.

 

PIN THIS POST!

What is the best topcoat for painted furniture? Here are the best options to give you optimal durability on all your painted projects.

If you liked this “Best Topcoat For Painted Furniture” post, you will also love these posts:

10 Tips On How To Paint Furniture

How To Paint Furniture Without Sanding

The Fastest Way To Paint Furniture

 

Sharing is caring!

59 shares
  • Share

Filed Under: DIY Projects, Furniture Tagged With: best topcoat options, painted projects, topcoat

Click HERE to Support My Creative Days



MY ULTIMATE FURNITURE FLIPPING COURSE IS NOW OPEN!


Click below to SAVE $100 today.
SAVE $100

« Thrifted Decor Adds Spring Touches To Our Home
Small End Table Makeover With Wise Owl Products »

Comments

  1. Marci says

    April 29, 2021 at 7:19 AM

    I just painted a dresser pure white and am afraid of the color yellowing over time if I use a topcoat. Would wax be the safest choice?

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      May 4, 2021 at 9:57 AM

      Not all top coats yellow. It depends on the brand and the paint. You can always try in a small area in the back and see how it takes it.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


follow along

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

search for a project

Listen In!

VIP Exclusive!

Get The FREE Ultimate Painting Furniture Guide Here!

“ultimate

My Creative Days is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
If you are looking for the best paint brushes for furniture makeovers, you don't have to look any further. Click over to find the paint brushes that everyone needs in their toolbox when painting furniture or anything for that matter.

Best Paint Brushes For Furniture Makeovers

The Best Black Matte Furniture Paint

DIY Farmhouse Table - Want a farmhouse table? Make your own! Check out how to refinish one easily from My Creative Days.

Farmhouse Table DIY Made From A Dumpster Find

DIY Farmhouse Office Sign

DIY Office Sign

PO Box 11823, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52410
Copyright © 2022 · Design + Development by Grace + Vine Studios · Privacy Policy

59 shares