When painting furniture, walls, or cabinetry, using the right primer makes all the difference in achieving a professional finish. But with so many options—white, gray, dark gray, stain-blocking, and bonding primers—how do you know which one to use? Let’s break it down.
Primer Colors: What Works Best for Light vs. Dark Paint Colors
The color of your primer plays a crucial role in coverage, vibrancy, and the number of coats you’ll need.
For Light Colors
When painting with whites, pastels, or other light colors, a white primer is typically the best choice. White provides a bright, neutral base that allows light colors to remain true to their intended shade.
✅ Best choice: White primer
✅ Why? Prevents the color from looking muddy or dull
✅ When to use? When painting with whites, creams, light blues, pale greens, or soft yellows
For Dark Colors
Dark colors—such as navy blue, deep green, charcoal gray, or black—can be tricky to achieve with full opacity. Using the wrong primer (like bright white) can cause the paint to look streaky or require multiple coats to reach full depth.
✅ Best choice: Gray or dark gray primer
✅ Why?
• Gray helps deepen dark colors faster
• Reduces the number of coats needed for full coverage
• Prevents a “chalky” or faded look over a white primer
🔹 Pro Tip: For deep emerald green or rich navy, a medium-to-dark gray primer is ideal.
When to Use Stain-Blocking vs. Bonding Primers
Not all primers are created equal. Depending on your project, you’ll need either a stain-blocking primer or a bonding primer to ensure proper adhesion and durability.
Stain-Blocking Primers
If you’re refinishing older furniture, cabinets, or wood that may bleed tannins, have water damage, or existing stains, a stain-blocking primer is essential.
✅ Best choice: Stain Eliminating Primer
✅ Why?
• Blocks tannins from wood that can bleed through paint
• Seals in water stains, smoke damage, and old paint residues
• Prevents yellowing or discoloration
🔹 Available in: White, gray, and dark gray – so you can match it to your paint color for better coverage!
🔹 When to use it?
• Painting over knotty pine, mahogany, oak, or other woods prone to tannin bleed
• Covering water stains, smoke damage, or existing dark paint
• Sealing previously painted surfaces that may cause discoloration
Bonding Primers
For glossy, slick, or non-porous surfaces, you need a bonding primer to help the paint adhere properly. This is key when painting laminate, melamine, plastic, or previously lacquered surfaces.
✅ Best choice: Bonding Primer
✅ Why?
• Helps paint stick to difficult surfaces without sanding
• Prevents peeling, chipping, or scratching over time
• Works great for high-gloss surfaces like laminate furniture or tile
🔹 When to use it?
• Painting over laminate, melamine, glass, or plastic
• Refinishing high-gloss surfaces or old varnished furniture
• When you don’t want to sand before painting
Final Thoughts
The right primer saves time, improves coverage, and ensures a lasting finish. Here’s a quick cheat sheet:
✔️ Painting Light Colors? → Use white primer
✔️ Painting Dark Colors? → Use gray or dark gray primer
✔️ Covering Stains or Tannin Bleed? → Use a stain-blocking primer
✔️ Painting a Slick Surface? → Use a bonding primer
By choosing the correct primer, you’ll reduce the number of coats needed and create a smooth, professional-looking finish that lasts.
What are your go-to primers for refinishing projects? Let me know in the comments!
