Article: Find a well-lit, well-ventilated area that you can paint your furniture in. Good lighting is important, as it will help you spot any imperfections in your work. The best place to paint is outside, so long as it is not windy or humid. If you cannot paint outside or in a well-ventilated area, make sure to keep a window open. If possible, keep a fan turned on, and turned away from you, so that it does not blow paint fumes or dust towards you. If you start start to feel sick or lightheaded, take a break and move to an area with fresher air. Painting can be messy, so you will have to cover your work area with something that can get dirty or be discarded, such as newspaper. If you do not have newspaper, you can use newsprint, butcher paper, old tablecloths, or old bed sheets instead. You can also purchase cheap, plastic tablecloths from a party supply store or an arts and crafts store and use those. Some paint may also get on your clothes, so wear something that you do not mind getting stained with paint. You can also wear an artist's smock. If you have sensitive skin, consider wearing gloves to protect your hands in case you get paint on them. You can also protect a manicure with gloves. What primer and paint you will use on your furniture will depend on what the piece is made of. Choose an indoor primer and paint intended for the surface, be it wood, metal, or plastic. If your furniture has already been painted, consider choosing a primer intended for pre-painted surfaces. The label will tell you whether or not the primer and paint will work on the material your furniture is made of. You can use latex, acrylic, or oil-based paint. You can also use wood stains or spray paint as well. Each of these has pros and cons: Latex, acrylic, and oil-based paints have little to no fumes and can be used indoors. Unfortunately, improper painting techniques can result in visible brush strokes and tackiness. Brushes used for oil-based paints will need to be cleaned with paint thinner, which can create headache-causing fumes. Wood stain gives you more of a translucent look, but it also gives you a smooth finish. It is oil-based however, and you will need to clean your brushes with paint thinner. Spray paint is fast and easy to use, but it can also be expensive. It creates a smooth finish, and you will not have to clean any brushes afterwards. You will have to work in a well-ventilated area to prevent lightheadedness, however. Paint comes in all sorts of finishes, with its own benefits and drawbacks: Glossy finishes look elegant, but they show any imperfections in the paint and wood, such as brush strokes and dents. Glossy finishes can also be easily marred. Satin or semi-gloss finishes are decent at hiding imperfections, and are easier to maintain than glossy surfaces. Matte surfaces hide imperfections the best, but they can look simplistic. A chalkboard finish gives you a matte surface that hides imperfections well. It can create a fun, interactive surface that you can draw on with chalk. It also does not need to be sealed afterward. Before you start painting your furniture black, ask yourself what you want the finished piece to look like. To you want it to be completely black? Or do you want to add some designs to it? Alternatively, do you want the piece to be a solid color with black designs painted onto it? Asking yourself these questions will help you decide how much paint you will need as well as what other supplies you will need to get (such as thin paint brushes for detailing or stencils). For example: For a weathered or antique look, paint your furniture a matte or semi-matte black, and then buff the corners with fine grit sandpaper. Keep in mind that anything underneath the paint will show through, depending on how much you sand. This includes primer, previous paint jobs, and the original surface of the furniture. Consider stenciling some designs onto your finished piece in a contrasting color, such as white, silver, or gold. Consider painting the entire piece a contrasting color first, and then adding black designs using stencils.

What is a summary?
Choose your work area. Prepare your work area. Wear proper clothing. Determine what your furniture is made of. Consider what sort of paint you want to use. Decide what sort of finish do you want. Think about the final design.