How to Paint Furniture Black or Brown

Take off all doors and remove all drawers. Unscrew all hardware. Scrub down the furniture with a soft-bristle brush to remove dirt. Use toothpicks and cotton swabs to clean out dirt buildup in corners and hard-to-reach areas. Use all-purpose cleaner for stubborn stains. Pat the furniture dry with a towel.

Sand the entire piece of furniture to prepare the surface for a bonding primer, using a medium-grit sanding block. The primer will adhere better if the surface has some grit. Rub the sanding block along the grain of the wood. Wipe down the furniture with a damp towel to remove all sanding dust.

Pour a tinted primer into a paint tray. The primer should be tinted as close as possible to your final topcoat color. Ask your paint store representative for assistance with tinting the primer. Roll the primer onto the furniture's surface with a mini foam roller. Apply the primer in the direction of the wood grain. Even, smooth strokes are required. More than one coat of primer may be necessary if the paint is quickly absorbed. Allow the primer to dry for about four to six hours.

Sand the primed surface with a very fine piece of sandpaper. Wipe away all primer dust with a damp rag.

Pour the final latex paint color into the paint tray. Using the mini foam roller, begin to roll the paint onto the furniture's surface. Be aware that more than one coat of black or brown paint may be required. Allow the paint to dry for four to six hours between coats.

Reinstall the drawers, doors and any hardware. Do not clean or wash the newly painted surface for 30 days while the paint bonds to the surface.