8 Best Paints For Closets of 2024 [Tested]

Repainting is a simple yet effective way of revamping your old worn-out closets and adding a new dimension to your room. Choosing the right shade and finish of paint will not only improve the appearance of your closet but will also drastically improve your visibility of what’s inside.

Hence, it is imperative to choose the right paint for your project. But with so many options available in the market, how do you decide? Well, that’s what we’re here for.

In this article, we have tested and consequently reviewed 9 of the best paints for closets. So, what are we waiting for? Let’s get started, shall we?

Best Paints for Closets

These paints offer excellent coverage, durability, and color options to suit your unique style and design preferences. So, if you're ready to give your closets a stunning makeover, here's the list of the 8 best paints for closets.

1. Nuvo ‎FG-NU TITAN QRT - Best for DIY Makeover

Nuvo’s Titanium Infusion ultra-white cabinet paint is a part of their relatively newly released Modern collection. It provides a smooth and even topcoat on every surface it is applied on and can instantly brighten up your cabinet, providing a sleek and classy look to your home interiors.

Why Did We Like It?

This acrylic paint is a great option to buy if you plan to do a DIY makeover of your home closets and cabinets. It provides a uniform satin finish and eliminates the need for cabinet removal or any other priming or preparatory step before the paint. All you need is a roller or a brush and a whole weekend to yourself to completely spruce up the old closet space.

One tin can containing 31 fl. Oz of paint can cover approximately 50 square feet or 20 linear feet of area. The coverage will also depend on how many coats of paint you plan to apply, although usually about 2-3 coats are more than enough to achieve professional-looking results.

Furthermore, this paint has abysmally low odor and VOCs, making it extremely safe to apply indoors and around pets and children. What’s more, since this paint has a water-based formulation, it is very easy to clean up during and after the application process.

What Could've Been Better?

Although the color of this paint is described as “ultra-white,” it, in reality, has a more stone greyish tinge. Hence, if you’re looking for pure white paint, this product is not for you. Apart from that, this paint also has a very thin consistency and therefore requires multiple coats for complete coverage.

2. Rust-Oleum 1976502 - Best for Versatile Usage

Rust-Oleum is one of the most successful and recommended paint brands in the USA. Since its inception in 1992, it has developed and maintained a reputation of high performance and trust. Its Painters Touch range of Ultra Cover premium latex paints is very popular for painting both indoor and outdoor surfaces.

Why Did We Like It?

This paint by Rust-Oleum is very versatile and can be applied on various indoor and outdoor surfaces, including but not limited to wood, masonry, metal, plastic, and unglazed ceramic. The smooth and durable finish it provides is resistant to chipping and fading, making it ideal for painting heavy-use closets.

Furthermore, a single quart of this product can comfortably cover 120 square feet and thereby has more than sufficient coverage. This paint, additionally, dries to touch in just 30 short minutes and can be recoated in 2-4 hours depending on how exposed the surface is. The short drying time further facilitates quick and efficient project completion.

What’s more? The durable topcoat or film that this paint forms can minimize the look of surface imperfections and provide a smooth and excellent hide. It is also low-odor and water-based, making the application and cleaning process extremely easy.

What Could've Been Better?

While this paint is supposed to have a flat (or matte) black finish, it has a more subtle semi-gloss finish instead. Hence, if you’re specifically on the lookout for matte black paint or hate glossy finishes, it is best to avoid this product entirely.

3. Rust-Oleum 285140 - Best for Chalky Finish

Rust-Oleum's ultra-matte chalk paint is a high-performance decorative glaze meant to rejuvenate your old dilapidating furniture. It provides a soft chalky finish and can be applied on an array of indoor surfaces such as glass, ceramic, canvas, wood, and more. It’s available in 12 trendy shades, but the one we are reviewing in this article is called ‘Linen White’.

Why Did We Like It?

This low-odor latex chalk paint has a smooth velvety finish and a water-based formulation that makes it extremely easy to clean during and after application. All you require is soap and water to scrub off the extra paint splatters and clean your painting equipment. It’s highly recommended you use a good quality synthetic or foam brush to apply this paint for optimal results.

A  great quality of this soft-matte paint is that it can be distressed with sandpaper to customize and style it with an antique or chippy vintage appearance. But if that wasn’t enough, this paint also has superior quality coverage and excellent adhesion properties. This enables it to easily cover most surfaces in just 1 coat and eliminates the need of priming the surface beforehand.

Furthermore, one tin of paint covers about 150 square feet of area with relative ease and dries to the touch in 30 minutes. It can be recoated in 2 hours and therefore facilitates a swift application process ideal for DIY enthusiasts.

What Could've Been Better?

The paint needs to be stirred and mixed well before application, especially if it’s been kept aside or in storage for a long while. Failure to do so may lead to the paint forming lumps or cracks after it dries on the cabinet surface.

4. Zinsser ‎02704

Zinsser is a renowned paint manufacturer who has been in the business and trusted for its high performance and superior quality paints since 1849. The Perma-White satin paint is one of its most popular products and is ideal for various indoor surfaces that are prone to mold and mildew.

Why Did We Like It?

This self-priming paint has extremely high adherence and can stick to virtually any surface with little to no prepping from before. The final film that this painting form is stain-resistant and extremely durable against the wear and tear of daily life.

The crowning feature of this product, however, is its low-odor yet potent formulation that inhibits the growth of mold and mildew on the paint surface. This, therefore, makes it the ideal paint to apply in under-ventilated and mold-prone areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, basements, closets, and laundry rooms.

Furthermore, this paint offers coverage of 75-100 square feet depending on how many coats you are applying. It also dries to the touch in 30 minutes to create a unique moisture-withstanding washable surface. If that wasn’t enough, Zinsser also provides a 5-year mold and mildew guarantee along with a lifetime durability guarantee for this product, assuring us of its high-quality performance.

What Could've Been Better?

There have been quite a few reports of this paint being damaged or spilled during the shipping process. This has alternatively led the paint to leak through the shipping cartons and spill onto the floor and carpets of users who purchased it.

5. Prestige Paints P300-P-7002-16VP

Prestige Paints is a reputed paint brand known to use industry-leading technology to create comparable paint shades based on the color specifications of the original colors. This paint shade called Swiss Coffee is matched to compare with Valspar’s trademarked Swiss Coffee shade. It’s available in 7 different finishes, but the eggshell finish is the one we have tried and reviewed for you in this article.

Why Did We Like It?

This high-performing paint and primer is specifically designed for indoor application and is great for living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, hallways, etc. It generates a smooth, low-gloss, and durable finish that has a washable surface and hence is perfect for laundry rooms and kitchen closet applications.

Furthermore, this is a 100% acrylic-based paint and hence fairly simple to clean with soap and water during the application process. Formulated with remarkably low VOC, about 5 g/L, it enables safe indoor application in even under-ventilated rooms such as your walk-in closet.

A gallon of this paint can cover up to 400 square feet of area and fully cures in 4 hours allowing you to recoat it in a comparatively short period. What’s more? The eggshell finish of this paint while low-gloss is still quite reflective than other flat sheets and relatively easier to clean, making it the perfect paint to apply to your closet.

What Could've Been Better?

A few customers noticed that this paint has a very thin and lumpy consistency to it. This makes the application process a little challenging because it takes several coats to cover any area properly. It also leaves a clumpy residue on surfaces and hence is most optimal when applied with a spray gun instead of a brush or a roller.

6. Montage ‎810593030120

Montage is a USA-based paint manufacturer that believes in building and supporting the American economy and its people. It uses environment-friendly manufacturing processes to create paints that are produced of 100% raw and recycled post-consumer latex paint. The paints are available in a wide range of pastel, muted, and vibrant colors. However, the shade we are reviewing in this article is called Snow White.

Why Did We Like It?

If you’re looking for ecologically conscious paint that is both affordable and less wasteful, then look no further because this is the one for you. The low-impact production process of this paint makes you eligible for points toward Built Green and LEED certifications. The icing on the cake, however, is the 10-year premium user warranty it comes with that is sure to make you a loyal customer of this innovative brand.

Formulated with superior quality and pollutant-free materials, this paint undergoes multiple industrial testing processes to deliver high-quality paint with an impeccable low-sheen finish. It is effortless to apply and provides excellent coverage while its improved sealing technology protects it from water damage.

With a mold and mildew-resistant finish, this paint is versatile in its application and is ideal for both residential as well as commercial purposes. If that wasn’t enough, this paint is also scrubbable meaning it effortlessly cleans and covers up everyday marks with a simple soap and water wipe.

What Could've Been Better?

The color descriptions and swatches for this paint are not accurate. Hence, quite a few customers felt like they did not receive the shade they intended to buy. Other than that, this paint also emits a strong unpleasant smell during and for a few days after application.

7. PRESTIGE ‎P500-T-MQ4-22

As we mentioned earlier, Prestige utilizes industry-leading technology to manufacture comparable paint colors of pre-existing trademarked shades. This specific paint that we are reviewing today matches Behr’s patented MQ4-22-PCM shade. It’s available for both exterior and interior applications and in 4 different finishes, however, the variant we tested from this range is meant for interiors and has a semi-gloss finish.

Why Did We Like It?

This soothing blue shade by Prestige has a durable semi-gloss finish that is absolutely ideal for painting closets. Glossy paints are usually reflective and therefore provide enough light to illuminate dark and cramped closet spaces.

Other than furniture and closets, this paint is ideal for all indoor wall applications and can hence be applied to living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and so on. This paint’s exceptionally low VOC content averaging 5 g/L makes it very safe for indoor application even in considerably under-ventilated rooms.

What’s more, this paint has a water-based formulation and, therefore, facilitates easy clean-up with just soap and water. Its self-priming capabilities eliminate the need to prime the surface as long as it is properly cleaned and prepped beforehand. One gallon of this primer comfortably covers 250-400 square feet and can be applied via brush, roller, and spray gun, whichever you are most comfortable with.

What Could've Been Better?

This paint requires the surface you are applying to be generously prepped, especially if you choose to not prime it. Failure to do so leads to the paint easily peeling off the walls in a few short weeks after application, especially when it comes in contact with water.

8. Nuvo ‎FG-NU SAGE QRT

The home paint brand Nuvo has come up with a range of paints meant explicitly for painting household cabinets and closets. The cabinet paint we are reviewing now is a part of their comparatively newly released Rustic Collection and is available in the shade Old Sage.

Why Did We Like It?

This paint by Nuvo has a unique composition that is meant to be sanded with 300-grit sandpaper for a de-glossed and smooth matte finish. If you’re painting an already glossy surface, it is recommended to apply a liquid deglosser to your final coating before sanding it to achieve the same results.

This low-odor paint has extremely low VOC content and is therefore very safe for all indoor applications. The water-based formulation additionally makes it easy to clean and thereby straightforward to apply.

A can of this paint can cover up to 50 square feet or 20 linear feet of cabinets. Furthermore, the final painted surface is straightforward to clean and maintain with regular household cleaners such as Windex.

What Could've Been Better?

Certain users have reported that this paint tends to peel off very easily a few weeks after application. However, the chances of these are considerably reduced when you sand the surface as instructed.

Best Paints For Closets Comparison Table

Buying Guide For The Best Paint For Closets

Choosing the right paint for your closet is not an easy task. But in an attempt to make things just a little simpler, we have compiled a comprehensive buyer’s guide for you. This guide lists all the important considerations to look out for when searching for the right paint. So without wasting any more time, let’s get right to it!

1. Visibility

An important factor to consider while trying to choose paint for your closet is visibility. A walk-in or open-shelf closet, for starters, is an illustration of a wardrobe with high visibility.

It is, therefore, crucial to choose the right shade of paint for your closet depending on its visibility. Paint makes a very substantial difference in adding professionalism and dimension to a room. Additionally, the way our eyes observe light and color changes the way we perceive the size of our room.

So, for example, if the closet is a part of your room, then you might want to paint it a slightly different but complementary color to your walls. On the other hand, if you have a separate walk-in closet space, you might want to ditch-matching it with your room entirely. Instead, we recommend painting it a shade of white to make it look more spacious.

Alternatively, for closets with doors, it is best to paint the inside with lighter shades to improve the overall visibility of your clothes. However, depending on your personal preferences, you can get creative when it comes to this aspect of choosing the paint.

2. Purpose Of The Closet

The purpose of the closet you are planning to paint is another essential factor that will help you decide. It’s always recommended that you paint frequently used and smaller or crammed cabinets and closets with glossy paint. The light reflected from this paint usually improves visibility, while the smooth glossy surface is comparatively easier to clean and maintain in the long run.

Alternatively, for an open closet with high visibility, you have the opportunity to play around with brighter accent colors that further flatter the color of your wall. Either way, it is crucial that the paint you choose enhances both aesthetic appeal and the overall functionality of your closet.

3. Coverage And Drying Time

Most paint brands mention the surface area a specified quantity of its paint can cover. This alternatively, will give you an idea regarding how much paint you need to buy to evenly coat the closet entirely.

On the other hand, the drying and cure time mentioned on the paint will help you ascertain how long it might take to paint the closet completely. Cure time is the amount of time you need to wait before recoating a surface, so painting with a longer cure time will extend the overall project time as well.

Paints for Closets FAQ's

What type of paint should I use for painting closets?

It is recommended to use a high-quality latex or acrylic paint for painting closets. These types of paint offer good coverage, durability, and are easy to clean.

Do I need to use a primer before painting my closets?

It is generally a good idea to use a primer before painting closets, especially if the surface is bare wood or has stains or discolorations. A primer helps to seal the surface, improve adhesion, and provide a smooth base for the paint.

Can I use any paint color for my closets?

Yes, you can choose any paint color that suits your personal style and complements the overall aesthetic of your space. Lighter colors can make closets feel more open and spacious, while darker colors can add depth and create a cozy ambiance.

How many coats of paint should I apply to my closets?

The number of coats depends on the color you’re applying and the coverage you desire. In most cases, applying two coats of paint is sufficient to achieve an even and consistent finish. However, if you’re transitioning from a dark to a light color or vice versa, additional coats may be required for better coverage.

How long does it take for the paint to dry in closets?

Drying time can vary depending on the type of paint and environmental conditions. In general, latex or acrylic paints dry to the touch within a few hours, but it is recommended to wait at least 24 hours before applying a second coat or reassembling the closet.

How can I ensure a smooth and professional-looking finish in my closets?

To achieve a smooth finish, it’s important to properly prepare the surface by cleaning and sanding it if necessary. Use high-quality brushes or rollers specifically designed for smooth finishes. Take your time during application, using even strokes and avoiding excessive brush marks or roller lines.

Conclusion

And with that, we come to the end of our guide for the best paints for closets. We have attempted to cover a variety of different paint finishes and colors in order to provide you a larger pool to choose from. 

However, before we go, we wanted to leave you with a few of our top recommendations. Rust-Oleum models 1976502 and 285140 are good options for DIY enthusiasts looking for affordable and quick painting solutions. Both these paints require little to no prep and thereby reduce the time spent painting drastically.

Zinsser ‎02704n, on the other hand, has one of the most long-lasting and beautiful satin finishes that is ideal for more high-humidity households. Finally, the Krylon K03943000 is perfect for people looking to turn their closets into makeshift whiteboards.

So with that, we’ll leave you to it. Until next time, folks. Happy painting!

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