You all know I really hate painting a piece of furniture, (if I do not have to.) I would rather sand and refinish the piece to it's orginal beauty. However, sometimes there is no chioce, for example, a piece may need paint( that hides a multiple of sins) or if you need it to match an existing piece of furniture that you already own.
Here is a good tip, after sanding the piece, mainly to remove laquer and wet rings.( old pieces sand quikly) Then spray paint with clear or the color paint you want to use. This seals the wood, you end up using cheap spray from say" Walmart". Save the last coat for your finish paint. It will go on easier, and you will not waste any as the old wood soaks up anything you apply to it. Happy painting.
PS. Sometimes you find a piece of furniture and you break mirrors or the piece comes broken. Do not worry. You can always 'Riggg' a piece. No one needs to know, and it will work out in the end...