How to Paint a Desk Black

Prepare the exposed parts of the desk for painting. Rub No. 1 sandpaper over the surface of the wood to smooth any scratches or other imperfections. Complete a second sanding with No. 0 or No. 00 sandpaper. Press firmly while rubbing the sandpaper across the grain of the wood, and then sand with the grain until the surface is smooth to the touch.

Wipe the sanding residue from the surface of the desk using a piece of clean tack cloth.

Fill any holes, nicks or dents in the desk. Scoop a small amount of wood filler onto a clean putty knife. Scrape the putty knife and filler across the damaged area. Continue to scrape over the flaw until the filler has built up to the height of the rest of the desk surface. Allow the filler to dry for 24 to 28 hours, and then sand over the area to remove any excess filler.

Mix the base, or primer coat, of paint. Pour enough black paint to cover the desk once into a clean container. Pour turpentine spirits into the paint to create a mix of 90 percent paint and 10 percent turpentine.

Dip a clean, soft, flat-bristle paintbrush into the black paint and turpentine mixture. Apply the base coat all over the desk using long, even brush strokes in the same direction as the wood grain. Allow the first coat to dry for 24 to 36 hours.

Apply the finishing coats. Stir a can of black enamel paint until well mixed. Brush the paint over the entire desk using long brush strokes until the entire desk has been covered. Allow the second coat of paint to dry completely, for approximately 24 to 36 hours, before repeating the process for the third and final coat.

Allow the final coat to dry completely before replacing any drawers or hardware.