Learn about the best primer for wood and antique wood furniture with a few examples of products that work great as well as a pros and cons list.
When it comes to painting furniture, most people will spend hours debating over color and type but forgo probably the most important decision to make; which primer.
You don’t really need a primer when using chalk paint right? Wrong.
Primer is used for so much more than allowing a new coat of paint to stick to the surface or covering up a dark color with a light one. I won’t go into too much detail about that because I’ve got an entire post about why you need to use primer when painting furniture…even when using chalk paint.

If primer really is that important, then which type should you choose? There are so many different brands and products it can be overwhelming to know which primer to buy.
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Different types of primer and what to consider before choosing a primer
There are 3 types of primers:
- oil based primers
- latex based primers (water based)
- shellac based primers
Just keep in mind a few things;
- If you are going to use an oil based paint over a water based paint, make sure to use a water based primer first (shellac or latex).
- If you are going to use a water based paint over oil based paint, you can use oil or water based primer.
How To figure out what type of paint has been previously used on the surface
Pour a bit of acetone (nail polish remover) on a rag and wipe the surface with it. If the old paint rubs off on the rag then it’s latex or water based. If it doesn’t wipe off then it’s oil based.
Once you know more about the surface you are painting, proceed to deciding on the best primer.
I’m going to share my all time favorite primer products for wood furniture WITH real life pictures and my experience.
5 Best Primers for Wood and Antique Wood Furniture
- Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 All Surface Primer
- KILZ Premium High-Hide Stain Blocking Latex primer
- KILZ Adhesion High-Bonding Interior Latex Primer/Sealer
- General Finishes stain blocking primer
- Zinsser Shellac primer
Zinsser Bulls Eye All Surface Primer
This is my all time favorite primer. It is so versatile and can be used successfully with so many different types of surfaces. I’ve used it to paint laminate cabinets, paint IKEA furniture and cover countless wood furniture surfaces.

PROS
All purpose- works on most surfaces
Interior/exterior
High hiding, stain blocking
Great coverage
CONS
Doesn’t adhere quite as well as Shellac primers
This is my go to primer for virtually all projects mainly because it has great coverage and works well with so many different surfaces, especially all types of wood- from painted to stained to bare wood.
Kilz Premium High Hide Stain blocking latex primer
This primer is very useful for wood that has an odor, has been previously painted or stained and you need to properly seal the previous layer. I’ve used this primer on a few older wood furniture pieces and it’s covered the surface beautifully.
You can see I used it when I painted this antique desk with an Ombre effect. This desk reeked of smoke and old wood (even with a previous paint job). With only one coat of this primer it smelled and looked so much better!

I also used this primer to cover a previously painted TV stand.

PROS
Great at hiding previous odors and stains
Seals well
Zero VOC’s
CONS
Thick formula
Doesn’t dry as evenly as others
Kilz Adhesion High Bonding Interior Latex primer
Kilz adhesion high bonding primer is great to use if you are worried about your new paint not adhering well. This is especially useful if you are trying to paint over a previously glossy or semi gloss finish.
PROS
Excellent at hiding stains and previous finishes
Bonds securely to even slick finishes
Quick dry time
CONS
Thick formula
General Finishes Stain Blocking Primer
General Finishes stain blocking primer is formulated specifically to hide old tannins and stains on wood. General finishes product’s aren’t cheap, but they are well worth the money. This product is great to use on bare wood surfaces as it will effectively block any tannins from the raw wood from seeping through the new paint.
PROS
High hide formula
Formulated specifically with highest quality ingredients
CONS
Expensive
Must apply two coats
Zinsser Shellac Primer
Zinsser Shellac primer is well known for its ability to bond well to any surface. Shellac based primers are very effective at sealing wood from water damage and odors. This happens to be the go-to primer for many people when painting non wood surfaces like laminate. Beware that this type of primer is not supposed to be used in a paint sprayer.
PROS
Excellent bonding capabilities
Great at sealing odors and water damage
CONS
High VOC’s and fumes
Cleanup requires denatured alcohol
Best overall primer for wood furniture
Even though all of these primers are highly rated, our pick for the best overall primer for wood or wood furniture would be the Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 All Surface Primer for a few reasons:
- Best and most even coverage
- High hiding capabilities
- Low to no VOC’s
- Easy cleanup
- Adheres to a wide variety of surfaces
Are you looking for a primer to paint your cabinets? Check out our list of the five best primer for cabinets here!

Check out more of my Paint reviews below:
Best White Paint Products for Kitchen Cabinets
Valspar Cabinet and Furniture Paint Review
Best Metallic Paint for Furniture
Heirloom Traditions All-in-One paint review
Valspar One-Coat Exterior stain and sealer in solid review
I hope this list has helped you decide which primer to use. Thanks for stopping by!
Lindsey**