1
Prepare the surface of the wood. Clean with mild soap and water using a damp cloth or sponge. Thoroughly dry the wood with a clean cloth. Use fine-grit sandpaper to smooth out any imperfections. If the furniture has already been painted, you will need to use a palm sander to remove the previous coat of paint. You can also apply a chemical paint stripper to speed up the process.
2
Cover the surface surrounding your piece of furniture with a plastic dropcloth. Old newspaper is another alternative. Use painter's tape to cover any areas of the furniture that you do not want to paint. Remove any hardware, such as drawer pulls or handles that you do not want to paint. Wipe down the furniture one more time to remove any dust caused from sanding.
3
Add a layer of primer to the wood, following the direction of the grain. This will create a base coat for your top layer of paint for an even finish. If you are staining and not painting, priming will not be necessary. Allow the primer to dry before applying paint.
4
Paint the wood furniture in your desired shade. Follow the direction of the grain. If you are painting fiberboard or composite instead of real wood, a grain might not be visible. In this case, paint vertically, up and down over the surface of the wood. Do not cross the paint horizontally as this will leave visible strokes once the paint is dry.
5
Apply a second coat as needed. Different wood absorbs at different levels, so it may take several coats until you reach your desired color saturation. Allow the paint to dry in a well-ventilated location.
6
Cover the furniture with a polyurethane finish. This will help protect the paint and the wood, while bringing out the color of the paint. Once the sealant is dry, remove painter's tape. Replace any hardware you removed during the preparation process.
