Painting Furniture Black & Giving It an Antique Look

Prepare the furniture for the black paint by sanding it. Use a palm sander and fine grit sandpaper to remove the glossy finish from the furniture. This will help the paint to stick. Wipe away the sanding dust from the furniture with a slightly wet rag.

Prime the furniture with latex primer. Apply a thin coat of primer with a foam paint roller and a paintbrush. Permit the primer to dry for two hours before painting.

Paint the furniture black. Apply the black latex paint in two or three thin coats with a foam paint roller and a paintbrush. Wait the recommended drying time between applying each coat of paint.

Antique the furniture by sanding the edges of the furniture. Use fine grit sandpaper to gently remove the black paint from edges and other commonly used areas of the furniture. The amount of antiquing you do will depend on your personal preference and how worn you want the piece to look. After sanding, remove the dust with a damp cloth.

Apply one to two coats of polyurethane to the furniture. The polyurethane will protect the furniture, especially in the areas where you removed the black paint. Apply the polyurethane with a foam roller and paintbrush. Wait one to two weeks for the polyurethane to cure before use.