Have you ever found the perfect paint color for a furniture makeover, only to wish it were just a little lighter, darker, warmer, or more colorful? That’s when mixing your own furniture paint colors can be a game-changer.
You don’t have to settle for a color straight from the can. By mixing two or more paint colors, you can create a custom shade that works beautifully with your furniture, decorating style, and existing home decor.
For this furniture makeover, I wanted two custom colors that worked together—a beautiful teal and a soft mint green. Instead of searching for the perfect shades, I mixed my own. And yes, there was a little experimenting involved! But that’s half the fun of painting furniture.
In this tutorial, I’ll show you how I mixed these custom furniture paint colors, share my original color combinations, and give you a few simple tips for mixing paint so you can create your own one-of-a-kind colors for your next furniture makeover.
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Can You Mix Furniture Paint Colors?
Yes! You can mix furniture paint colors to create custom shades as long as the paints are compatible. I like to experiment with small amounts first until I find the color I’m looking for.
Once you find the perfect combination, write down your paint ratio before mixing a larger batch. Trust me on this one! There’s nothing worse than creating the perfect color and then realizing you have no idea how you made it. Been there. 😁
Supplies for Mixing Custom Furniture Paint Colors
- chalk paint (water-based)
- stir stick or mini whisks
- disposable bowls or containers with lids once you have mixed your custom color
Before Mixing Furniture Paint Colors
Before you start mixing furniture paint colors, it helps to do a little research and have a general idea of the look you want to achieve. Browse furniture paint color ideas for inspiration and pay attention to the colors you’re naturally drawn to. Pinterest is a great place to start, but don’t be afraid to look around your own home for inspiration, too.
Think about the piece of furniture you’re painting and where it will be used. Consider the existing colors, finishes, and decor in the room. Do you want your newly painted furniture to blend in with your space or become a colorful statement piece? Knowing this beforehand can help guide your color choices.
If you’re painting furniture to sell, look at what’s popular in your local furniture market. The painted furniture colors that sell well in one area may be completely different from those that sell well in another. It’s also helpful to keep an eye on current furniture paint color trends, but don’t feel like you have to follow every trend. A beautiful, well-chosen color can have a much longer life than what’s popular at the moment.
My Custom Teal Furniture Paint Color
Firstly, let me just say that you can mix paint colors in this way as long as both are water-based. It doesn’t need to be a specific brand, just one that you love and have used before.
I had been searching for the perfect shade of teal for this furniture makeover but kept coming up short. Nothing was quite the color I had pictured in my head, so I thought, why not experiment and mix my own?
I still remember a little something about primary colors from elementary school, and I was pretty sure mixing blue and green would give me that beautiful blue-green teal I was looking for. 😁 So, I gave it a try—and I was pleasantly surprised by the results!
For my custom teal furniture paint color, I mixed these two Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral Paint colors in a 1:1 ratio (equal parts):
- Palmetto Chalk Mineral Paint
- Peacock Chalk Mineral Paint
Together, these two furniture paint colors created a gorgeous, rich teal that was exactly what I had envisioned for this makeover. Sometimes the perfect paint color isn’t in the can—you just have to create it yourself. ♥
My Custom Mint Green Furniture Paint Color
For the second custom color, I wanted something softer that would complement the rich teal without competing with it. A pretty mint green felt like the perfect choice, so once again, I experimented with mixing two furniture paint colors I already had on hand.
For my custom mint green furniture paint color, I mixed these two Chalk Mineral Paint colors in a 1:1 ratio (equal parts):
- Palmetto (chalk mineral paint)
- Vintage Duck Egg (chalk mineral paint)
Blending these two colors created a beautiful, soft mint green that paired perfectly with the deeper teal. I love how the two custom colors work together while still being different enough to add interest to the finished piece.
And that’s the fun of mixing furniture paint colors—you can tweak what you already have to create a completely new color that’s perfect for your project. ♥
Tips for Mixing Custom Furniture Paint Colors
Mixing your own furniture paint colors is a fun way to get creative and come up with a shade that’s uniquely yours. But before you start pouring paint together and hoping for the best (yes, I’ve done that 😁), here are a few tips I’ve learned along the way.
Start with a small test batch.
Don’t mix a whole container of paint until you know you love the color. Start with small, measured amounts of each color and mix them thoroughly. You can always make more once you’ve found the perfect combination.
Keep track of your paint ratios.
This is a big one! Whether you’re mixing equal parts like my 1:1 teal and mint recipes or experimenting with different amounts, write down exactly what you used. If you need more paint halfway through your furniture makeover, you’ll be glad you did.
Mix the paint really well.
Take your time and make sure the colors are completely blended before deciding if you like the new shade. Scrape the sides and bottom of your mixing container so you don’t have streaks of the original colors hiding in there.
Test your custom color before painting the whole piece.
Paint a small sample and allow it to dry before making your final decision. Wet paint can look different once it’s dry, so don’t judge your new color too quickly.
Adjust the color a little at a time.
If your custom furniture paint color isn’t quite right, make small adjustments. Add a little more of one color, mix well, and test again. It’s much easier to slowly change a color than to fix it after you’ve added too much.
Mix enough paint for the entire project.
Once you’ve created a color you love, mix enough to finish your furniture piece. Even with a written recipe, there can be slight variations between batches, so having enough custom-mixed paint from the beginning will help you get a consistent finish.
Most importantly, don’t be afraid to experiment. Some of my favorite furniture paint colors have come from playing around with paints I already had in my stash. You might just mix up your new favorite color!
Custom Furniture Paint Colors in the Finished Makeover
I was honestly surprised by how much I loved this piece once it all came together. At first, I stood back and thought, hmmm… I’m not so sure about this. 😁 But it didn’t take long for my eyes to adjust and finally see the vision I had for this makeover.
The custom teal and mint furniture paint colors created so much depth, especially with the darker shading around the details and that warm wood top. It’s bold, a little unexpected, and definitely not your typical farmhouse furniture makeover. I like to call this style Moody Modern Farmhouse—a mix of rich color, vintage character, rustic warmth, and just enough drama to make the piece stand out. Whatever you call it, I’m pretty smitten with how these custom-mixed colors turned out. What would you call this style? ♥
And here’s a fun little bonus! With the doors open, this coffee table doubles as the sweetest DIY doggy day bed. I simply added a soft cushion inside to create a cozy little hideaway that keeps your furry friend close while still looking like part of the furniture. Who says a furniture makeover can’t be beautiful and functional? 🐾♥
Ready to Mix Your Own Furniture Paint Colors?
Thanks so much for hanging out with me while I get my paint on! I hope this makeover inspires you to look at those cans of leftover paint a little differently. Mixing furniture paint colors is such a fun way to experiment, use what you already have, and create a custom shade that’s uniquely yours. And remember—sometimes the best colors happen when you’re willing to play around a little. 😁
I’d love to know what you think about these custom teal and mint colors. Would you try mixing your own furniture paint colors? Drop me a comment below and tell me what colors you’d mix!
Happy painting, my friend!
Until the next project…
xo, Do ♥
