Painting Furniture Black That Is Already Stained

Remove any hardware from the wood using a screwdriver, such as hinges, drawer pulls and door knobs. Set them aside. Set the piece of furniture on a dropcloth in a well-ventilated area.

Fill in any holes or cracks in the wood with wood putty on a putty knife. Allow the putty to dry before proceeding. If you are going to change the hardware on the furniture, you may want to fill the holes from the old hardware. This allows you to put new holes where you want the new hardware, and you can get hardware in a different size.

Sand the wood surface, starting with coarse, 60-grit sandpaper and working up to fine sandpaper. This roughens up the stain and makes it easier for the paint to adhere.

Wash the furniture with trisodium phosphate using a clean sponge. TSP is designed to remove any residue from the furniture, and it will wash off the sanding dust. Rinse off the TSP with clean water using a sponge. Let it dry thoroughly before proceeding.

Paint a primer onto the wood using a bristle paint brush. Use a primer designed for adhering to previously stained wood. This primer will bond to the wood better and prevent the stain from bleeding through and affecting the paint. Allow the primer to dry completely according to the manufacturer's instructions. This varies from brand to brand; if in doubt, wait 36 hours.

Paint the furniture black using a bristle paint brush. Use a paint that is designed to work with your primer. For example, if you used a water-based primer you should use an water-based paint. Since you are painting a dark color, you can use only one coat of paint but it is better to apply a second. Wait for the first coat to cure according to the manufacturer's instructions before applying the second coat.

Apply a polyurethane finish to the furniture to protect the paint and seal it. Use a 4-inch bristle brush and paint the polyurethane on with even strokes. The polyurethane goes on cloudy and dries clear. Let it dry for 12 hours and then apply a second coat.