Milk Paint: Non-Toxic Real Milk Paint® Powder®

Non-toxic paint that is powder-based to bring color to your world. Made from simple, natural ingredients this VOC free paint won’t smother your project in a layer of plastic. Discover the Real Milk Paint® difference.

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VOC Free

VOC Free

Contains no VOCs (volatile organic compounds) or harmful chemicals, so it is a safe choice for painting furniture, walls, and cabinetry.

Natural

Natural

An all-natural, nontoxic paint made with a unique casein (milk protein), lime, plant-based filler and natural pigment formula.

Kid Safe

Kid Safe

This non-toxic, VOC-free, lead-free, and hypoallergenic paint is ideal many projects including for kids’ rooms, furniture, and toys.

What Is milk Paint?

Milk paint is a blend of powdered ingredients that get mixed with water before application, which gives it multiple sustainability-focused advantages. As a powder, it is not as heavy as traditional paints, reducing the weight during shipping to decrease the carbon footprint. Also, because it is a powder, it does not need any mildewcides or biocides to keep it fresh on the shelf. Speaking of shelves, the ability for long-term storage of Real Milk Paint saves paint waste – and your wallet!

One of the unique characteristics of milk paint is its ability to be manipulated to create different end looks, like an authentically aged or chippy look, making it a favorite among DIYers, and furniture flippers. Milk paint also provides a full cover, flat, yet vibrant hue for woodworkers and those who appreciate vintage or farmhouse-style aesthetics.

Additionally, it’s biodegradable and environmentally friendly, making it a sustainable option for home projects. With its historical roots and modern appeal, milk paint offers a durable, versatile, and safe alternative to traditional paints. For a more in-depth explanation of all the unique aspects and benefits of milk paint, check out our blog posts to learn more.

See what others have created with Real Milk Paint®

How to Use milk Paint

Real Milk Paint® arrives as a powder, so you mix only what you need. You just start with equal parts powder and water and stir until smooth, then add more water for a thin wash coat or dye stain, or use less for thicker, fully opaque coverage. Mixed paint stays stable for at least two weeks, so a leftover batch won’t go to waste.

Bare wood, plaster, brick, and concrete take the paint directly, with no primer and no sanding. On slick or previously finished surfaces, add Ultra Bond Adhesion Promoter to help the milk paint grip. Most coats dry in 30 minutes to an hour, though it’s worth waiting two to three hours before the second coat so the first cures properly.

Once you have the milk paint color you want, seal it with wood wax, a finishing oil, or a topcoat to protect the finish.

👉 For step-by-step instructions, see our guide to using Real Milk Paint®.

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Free Milk Paint Buyers Guide

Learn about the ins and outs of milk paint with our free milk paint buyers guide! Plus get a coupon for your order of milk paint on signup for the guide.

Customer Milk Paint Favorites

Paint Colors for Any Style

Whether you are searching for authentic antique and historical paint colors for a period-accurate restoration or soft vintage cottage pastels for a shabby-chic finish, our versatile palettes adapt to any design vision.

From crisp farmhouse neutrals and grays to dramatic moody academia tones, serene coastal blues and greens, earthy hues, and bold primary colors, our non-toxic formula delivers exceptional matte depth.

Explore our curated collections to find the perfect shade and texture for your next woodworking or furniture flipping project.

Discover our vibrant line of Bold Primaries & Bright Paint Colors to give your woodworking and toy-making projects an energetic, high-contrast finish. This eye-catching palette features the striking depth of Arabian Night, Blue Lagoon, Flag Red, Fresh Lemon, Dahlia Pink, Lily Pad, Persimmon, Plum, Soft White, and Warm Ash.

Step back in time with our Antique & Historical Paint Colors collection, meticulously crafted to deliver the authentic, flat, or chippy finishes found on early American and European heritage furniture. This period-accurate palette showcases the beautiful mineral depth of Arabian Night, Barn Red, Black Iron, Blue Lagoon, Dijon, Goldenrod, Lily Pad, Mustard, Persimmon, Soft White, Sunflower, Terra Cotta, and Warm Ash.

Immerse your space in timeless drama with our Deep Moody & Black Paint Colors collection, perfectly tailored to create sophisticated, high-contrast aesthetics and Dark Academia-inspired statement furniture. This luxurious palette features the intense, light-absorbing depth of Arabian Night, Barn Red, Betsy Ross Red, Black Iron, Blue Spruce, Cocoa, Deep Sapphire, Dragonfly, Earth Green, Mocha, Navy Blue, Paprika, Peacock, Plum, and Tree Bark.

Embrace a warm, nature-inspired aesthetic with our Earthy Boho & Terracotta Paint Colors collection, designed to ground your furniture projects with the rich, cozy tones of the organic world. This grounding palette showcases the beautifully textured, sun-baked depth of Cocoa, Dijon, Earth Green, French Toast, Goldenrod, Mocha, Mustard, Paprika, Pecan, Pumpkin, Redstone, Stoneware, Sunflower, Terra Cotta, Tree Bark, Warm Ash, Willow, and Boardwalk.

Create a clean, inviting foundation with our Farmhouse Neutrals & Gray Paint Colors collection, offering the ultimate versatile palette for achieving a relaxed, warm minimalist, or classic “chippy” vintage finish. This best-selling selection features the soft, light-absorbing elegance of Black Iron, Cheesecake, French Gray, Oyster Grey, Parchment, Pearl, Riverstone, Sage Grey, Soft White, Stoneware, Warm Ash, Boardwalk, and Stillwater Cove Grey.

Bring the calm, refreshing spirit of the shoreline into your home with our Coastal Blues & Greens Paint Colors collection, the ideal choice for creating a breezy, relaxed, and sun-bleached look on your furniture and accent pieces. This tranquil palette captures the beautiful, soft matte depth of Aqua, Blue Lagoon, Caribbean Blue, Faded Denim, Lakeview Blue, Navy Blue, Oyster Grey, Pearl, Sky Blue, Soft White, Spearmint, Tropical Jade, Beachglass, Boardwalk, and Stillwater Cove Grey.

Immerse your home in a charming, sun-drenched romance with our Vintage Cottage & Pastels Paint Colors collection, designed to bring a soft, nostalgic elegance to your favorite furniture pieces. This dreamy, vintage-inspired palette captures the beautifully faded, matte depth of Cheesecake, Faded Denim, French Gray, Granny Smith Green, Honeysuckle, Stone Blue, Yellow Rose, Sweetheart, and Beachglass.

Frequently Asked Questions

It’s made from a combination of milk protein (casein), lime, and pigment. It’s all-natural and non-toxic, which makes it appealing to people who are looking for an eco-friendly paint option.

Yes, it is surprisingly durable once it’s properly applied and sealed. However, it does require a bit more prep work and maintenance than some other paints, especially for high-traffic surfaces. You’ll want to seal it with wax, drying oil, polyurethane, or other topcoat to protect the finish.

Not always. It sticks well to porous surfaces like bare wood, but on slick or glossy surfaces you’ll want a bonding agent like Ultra Bond to help it adhere.

Our product typically comes in a powdered form that you mix with water to create the desired consistency. You can adjust the thickness by adding more water for a thinner, more translucent finish, or less for a thicker, more opaque look. We recommend a 1 to 1 ratio.

It works great on wood, but it can also be applied to concrete, plaster, or even brick—though prep work and sometimes a bonding agent may be necessary depending on the surface.

Since it’s made from natural, non-toxic ingredients, it’s generally considered safe for kids’ furniture or toys once it’s fully cured. However, you should always check if the specific brand you’re using is labeled as non-toxic after drying, especially if it’s going to be in contact with children. Real Milk Paint has been tested and meets the CPSC standards for Kids Safe Paint.

Getting a smooth finish is feasible, but can take a little practice. How you prepare your surface is paramount. It’s best to use a high-quality brush or even a sprayer, and apply thin, even coats. Light sanding between coats can help you achieve a smoother surface.

It’s known for its chippy finish when applied over old paint or furniture that has been sanded lightly. This can be a desired effect for a rustic, vintage look. However, achieving a uniform finish is the normal expectation. Applying over a compatible material or properly preparing your surface will prevent any chipping or cracking.

Yes, you can mix different colors to create custom shades. Since it’s made from natural pigments, mixing colors can create some beautiful, unique tones. Blend the colors together dry for best results.

It dries relatively quickly—typically in about 30 minutes to an hour, but it’s best to wait at least 2-3 hours before applying a second coat to ensure proper curing.

Yes, it can be used on walls with a few caveats. First, it’s important to know that milk paint is unlike any other paint. Its natural formula means the color may be slightly different and variegated across a large surface. Also, if your wall is already painted with latex, acrylic, or the like, you’ll need to use a primer. Lastly, milk paint is not a plastic coating, so it will hold onto stains from liquids that make their way onto the wall.

What You Can Create with Milk Paint

Get inspired by these community projects using milk paint! From outdoor projects to furniture flips, milk paint has you covered.

Outdoor privacy pergola with Built By Bec using Arabian Night Real Milk Paint® & Outdoor Defense Oil

Antique hutch makeover with Flipped By Abby using Warm Ash Real Milk Paint® and Wood Wax – Black (formerly called Zero VOC Wax – Warm Black)

Milk Paint Testers

Not sure which colors are right for you? Try our milk paint testers individually or in a bundle to find the perfect paint!

SHOP Testers
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Your Next Favorite Milk Paint Color

Whites

Real Milk Paint - Soft White

Soft White

Real Milk Paint - Parchment

Parchment

Real Milk Paint - Pearl

Pearl

Real Milk Paint - Stoneware

Stoneware

Real Milk Paint - Riverstone

Riverstone

Grays

Real Milk Paint - Oyster Grey

Oyster Grey

Real Milk Paint - Sage Grey

Sage Grey

Real Milk Paint - Stillwater

Stillwater Cove Grey

Real Milk Paint - French Gray

French Gray

Beiges

Real Milk Paint - Cheesecake

Cheesecake

Real Milk Paint - French Toast

French Toast

Real Milk Paint - Boardwalk

Boardwalk

Browns

Real Milk Paint - Warm Ash

Warm Ash

Real Milk Paint - French Toast

French Toast

Real Milk Paint - Mocha

Mocha

Real Milk Paint - Boardwalk

Boardwalk

Real Milk Paint - Cocoa

Cocoa

Blacks

Real Milk Paint - Arabian Night

Arabian Night

Real Milk Paint - Black Iron

Black Iron

Reds

Real Milk Paint - Flag Red

Flag Red

Real Milk Paint - Barn Red

Barn Red

Real Milk Paint - Redstone

Redstone

Real Milk Paint - Terra Cotta

Terra Cotta

Real Milk Paint - Paprika

Paprika

Real Milk Paint - Betsy Ross Red

Betsy Ross Red

Oranges

Real Milk Paint - Persimmon

Persimmon

Real Milk Paint - Dijon

Dijon

Real Milk Paint - Goldenrod

Goldenrod

Real Milk Paint - Pecan

Pecan

Real Milk Paint - Pumpkin

Pumpkin

Yellows

Real Milk Paint - Fresh Lemon

Fresh Lemon

Real Milk Paint - Cheesecake

Cheesecake

Real Milk Paint - Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle

Real Milk Paint - Yellow Rose

Yellow Rose

Real Milk Paint - Sunflower

Sunflower

Real Milk Paint - Mustard

Mustard

Greens

Real Milk Paint - Lily Pad

Lily Pad

Real Milk Paint - Sage Grey

Sage Grey

Real Milk Paint - Aqua

Aqua

Real Milk Paint - Spearmint

Spearmint

Real Milk Paint - Peacock

Peacock

Real Milk Paint - Blue Spruce

Blue Spruce

Real Milk Paint - Earth Green

Earth Green

Real Milk Paint - Granny Smith Green

Granny Smith Green

Real Milk Paint - Willow

Willow

Real Milk Paint - Tree Bark

Tree Bark

Blues

Real Milk Paint - Lakeview Blue

Lakeview Blue

Real Milk Paint - Navy Blue

Navy Blue

Real Milk Paint - Deep Sapphire

Deep Sapphire

Real Milk Paint - Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoon

Real Milk Paint - Faded Denim

Faded Denim

Real Milk Paint - Sky Blue

Sky Blue

Real Milk Paint - Stone Blue

Stone Blue

Real Milk Paint - French Gray

French Gray

Real Milk Paint - Beachglass

Beachglass

Real Milk Paint - Caribbean Blue

Caribbean Blue

Real Milk Paint - Aqua

Aqua

Real Milk Paint - Spearmint

Spearmint

Real Milk Paint - Tropical Jade

Tropical Jade

Dragonfly

Dragonfly

Real Milk Paint - Peacock

Peacock

Real Milk Paint - Blue Spruce

Blue Spruce

Purples

Real Milk Paint - Plum

Plum

Real Milk Paint - Gypsy Pink

Gypsy Pink

Pinks

Real Milk Paint - Sweetheart

Sweetheart

Real Milk Paint - Dahlia Pink (formerly Gypsy Pink)

Dahlia Pink

Where to Buy Milk Paint

Every color, size, and tester ships direct from our shop in Hohenwald, Tennessee, with free shipping on orders over $75 within the contiguous USA. Prefer to buy milk paint locally, or want to see a color in person before you commit? Use our store locator to find a stockist near you.

The proof is in the pudding…or Paint

Don’t just take our word for it – read Real Milk Paint reviews from thousands of satisfied customers!