Paint for wooden projects

I am building some benches and some shelving and have some other wooden projects.  They are functional pieces not fine furniture and they are made of your standard big box store 2 X 4.

I am looking to paint them to help tie everything together and have it look "cool."  My thought was a grey color and to have it be gloss or semi-gloss exterior paint.

What am I looking to buy? 

Is there a brand that has good coverage that wont break the bank?

Is there a good secret budget brand that I am not aware of?

Thank you for your help and suggestions.  I know there are a lot of people on here who know a lot more about me on this topic.

You can probably get by with a decent acrylic from Lowes/Depot. I think Sherman Williams carries a furniture paint line that Lowes carries.

I actually just used a canned rustoleum latex called Painters Touch and was very impressed. Coverage was really good and it laid down nice on bare wood. Got it at Home Depot.

Some habitat for humanity restore locations have a new purchase paint that's recycled latex called "greensheen" I'm a fan of the pallette of colors they offer.