Tikkurila Empire Furniture Paint Review

As a painter and decorator myself, and a regular Tikkurila user, I raised an eyebrow when I read about Empire furniture paint. In the past, Tikkurila have led the way with water-based technology and developed products such as Helmi, which were best suited for a spray finish. For me, a ‘regular’ oil-based internal eggshell doesn’t really fit with their usual style.

That said, I do use oil-based eggshell on a regular basis, and that is essentially what Tikkurila Empire Furniture paint is. I’m not sure why Tikkurila label is as a “furniture paint”, because to my eye, it can be used on any internal trim, including doors, skirtings, window boards and radiators.

Tikkurila Empire Furniture paint contains an alkyd oil (like any other product of its type). Available online by clicking here in any colour, this product is touch dry after around 3 hours, but you need to leave it overnight before applying additional coats.

My Tikkurila Empire Furniture Paint Review

This week I had some half height panelling to paint in a hallway. There was a lot of it, so I wanted something that will go in two coats and be durable. It was the perfect job to try the Empire Furniture paint.

Upon opening the tin, I noticed it was thixotropic. Almost like non drip gloss or similar, but as soon as you put a brush in it, it loosened up and went on nicely. The ease of use was fantastic, and the paint flew on. The opacity of the paint was awesome too, and two coats of “Farrow and Ball Grey” easily covered  old oil-based eggshell in white. There is no need for an additional adhesion primer with Tikkurila Empire Furniture Paint because it is self-undercoating.

The overall look had a rich depth of colour and a beautiful semi sheen. Brush marks just seemed to melt away and what I was left with looked lovely. I would certainly use this again when jobs permit with oil-based eggshell.

Click here for a full Tikkurila paint review.

Review Summary

FAQs

Is oil based eggshell better?

Some decorators still used oil-based eggshell, but many have switched over to water-based now. Generally speaking, oil-based has more body to it, is easier to cut in with, and is more durable. However, water-based is quicker and more pleasant to use.

What are the disadvantages of eggshell paint?

There are no real disadvantages of using oil-based paint. A lot of people use it on woodwork and hand painted kitchens. Acrylic eggshell is great for walls and ceilings in high-traffic areas, kitchens, and bathrooms.

Does oil-based eggshell go yellow?

Oil-based eggshell doesn’t contain as much alkyd oil as satinwood or gloss. That means although I can’t rule yellowing out, it shouldn’t be an issue, and you probably won’t notice it. Cheap retail paints yellow more than trade products like Tikkurila empire.

Why is my oil-based eggshell not drying?

It might be that the surface you painted has contaminants like cleaning products on the surface. These bleed through the paint and create a film on top, which stops the solvents from escaping. Or it might just be that you need more ventilation in the room. Airflow will help.

How long does oil-based eggshell take to cure?

Oil-based eggshell might be touch dry after 6 hours or so, and you might be able to recoat it after 16 hours, but it takes up to 30 days to fully cure.