How to paint furniture

What is the furniture made out of?

Lightly sand the surface to remove any shiny areas, use one coat of primer, then paint with a latex paint. Use water-based paint for easier clean up. Most furniture will need a couple of coats, depending on what color the furniture is to begin with. Be sure to let dry thoroughly between coats.

Personally, no matter which paint I use, I like to remove the finish on it with Citristrip, scrub it, let it dry after rinsing, and then sand as much finish as I can remove. If you have a good surface to paint, the finished product will look much better. If it was stained (wood stain or water marks, etc. ) you may have to apply a good sealer so you don't get bleed through. I like water based sealer like Kilz. Be careful with final sealers. I've had trouble with yellowing from more than one product on light colors. Try it on one small area first, let it dry completely and then check it in good light (natural light is best). I've had large areas to redo in the past, and it's a pain. One of the few sealers I haven't had trouble with (although it can be pricey if you don't shop around) is Saman sealer. A little goes a long way, and I sand lightly or use steel wool between layers after it's completely dry. I've only used it over chalk paint and their product so far, but, even a few months later it has held up great.

Use chalk paint. It's easy and here's a how-to: http://www.thinkingcloset.com/2014/09/22/the-beginners-guide-to-annie-sloan-chalk-paint/

I agree with Sandi, Chalk paint is the way to go!