Choosing best paint for bookshelves can be important because some oil based paints may cause troubles even they are dry. But also the oil paints can be very reliable. Oil based paints do stand up better on working wooden surfaces, such as shelves, floors, window sills, tables and etc. So if you don't know what paint to use, that's what you will find in this article.

Oil based paints that have had some polyurethane added to them provide for a still harder surface, and that means they stand up better to wear and tear. Benjamin Moore and Para paints both make a "Melamine" paint which is an oil based paint that has some polyurethane in it to give it additional hardness. The tint base for Benjamin Moore is 303-90. Phone any Benjamin Moore dealer in your area and find out whether or not 303-90 comes in a flat.

You'd also do well to add some Penetrol to your paint. It should be available in every paint store or home improvements center. It's called a paint conditioner, but it slows down the drying time of the paint. That helps the paint self level better, and eliminates brush strokes.

If you are thinking about the colors you must know that there are no rules saying you have to paint wooden bookshelves blue, or you have to use same color like walls to merge it with them. If in your room walls, doors and window frames are in the same color, you could paint the bookshelves a clear contrasting color.

A wide range of color broking effects work well on wooden furniture, but it is better if you are using oil paint, because the latex has very little durability on wood.