Paint reviews, guides, and color
Independent paint and tool round-ups. Project step-by-steps. Color references and brand reviews. Every product pick lists a real con — no review without a real weakness.
Best Spray Paint for Wood Furniture
Six aerosols sprayed on oak, pine, and poplar test doors and a real thrifted dresser. Top pick: Rust-Oleum Universal All Surface for the trigger, the fan, and the film.
Best Spray Primers
Six aerosol primers tested on knotty pine, glossy laminate, bare steel, and rigid plastic. Top pick: Zinsser B-I-N Shellac-Base Primer Spray for stain-blocking and grip.
Best Stain-Blocking Primers
Six stain-blocking primers tested on water rings, nicotine, cedar tannin, marker, and grease. Top pick: Zinsser B-I-N Shellac-Base Primer for interior stains.
Best Textured Paint and Texture Additives
Six texture additives and textured paints tested on drywall, stair treads, and furniture panels for grit, hide, and roller behavior. Top pick: Homax Sand.
Best TSP Substitutes and Pre-Paint Cleaners
Six TSP substitutes and pre-paint cleaners tested on greasy cabinet doors, smoke-filmed drywall, and chalked siding. Top pick: Krud Kutter Pre-Paint Cleaner.
Best Tub and Tile Refinishing Kits
Five tub refinishing kits tested on cast-iron, porcelain, and fiberglass panels for adhesion, hardness, and hot-water soak. Top pick: Rust-Oleum Tub & Tile Refinishing Kit.
Best Water Based Polyurethane
Six water-based polyurethanes brushed on oak, maple, and painted MDF, then abraded, water-ringed, and checked for yellowing. Top pick: General Finishes High Performance.
Best Whiteboard Paint for Home Offices
Five dry erase coatings tested on primed drywall for ghosting, glare, and erase quality after 7-day marks. Top pick: Rust-Oleum Specialty Dry Erase Paint.
Best Wood Touch-Up Markers
Six wood touch-up markers tested on oak, walnut, and prefinished laminate scratches. Top pick: Minwax Wood Finish Stain Marker for stained interior wood.
How to Spray Paint Brass Fixtures
Spray paint brass light fixtures, cabinet pulls, curtain rods, and vent covers so the finish holds: the lacquer problem, the primer that grabs plating, and the color that suits your light.
How to Spray Paint Door Hardware
Spray paint door knobs, levers, and hinges so the finish survives daily hands: how to degrease and scuff plated metal, which primer grabs, and the clear coat that decides everything.
How to Spray Paint a Lamp: Base and Shade Makeover
Spray paint a lamp base and shade without runs, blotches, or a wrecked socket: what to tape off, which primer your base needs, and the recoat window that ruins finishes.