No shame in painting (or in using a roller to do it) It's often historically accurate to paint furniture, plus it's a great way to dress up and protect the wood. Three water-based paints. On the bottom is latex; on the left is General Finishes (faux) milk paint (acrylic); on the right is actual milk paint. A few weeks back, I posted a picture on Instagram of my using a 4-in. roller to paint a tool chest. From some of the comments and direct messages I got, you’d think I’d knocked someone’s ice cream to the ground or kicked their dog. But I stand by my roller use. Below is what I learned from a professional painter, combined with my own experience, about painting furniture.