Article: Use an orbital sander or standard sandpaper to sand down the area. Sand until the filler is evened out and it is level with the surrounding wood. Wipe it down to remove dust before painting or staining. Run your hand over the repaired area to see if it's smooth. Also, make sure you have filled in the hole and that it's level with the wood. Even if you filled in the hole completely, it may have settled out and left a depression or hole. If you haven't completely filled in the hole, repeat the process by adding more wood filler. Most wood fillers can be painted, but fillers may affect how the paint looks. If you use primer first, it can help even out the look of the area. This process works particularly well if you're painting a whole piece of furniture that you've repaired holes on. Once you've got the repaired area perfectly level with the rest of the wood, you can apply paint or stain to match the rest of the wood. If you're not sure of the paint or stain, you may want to test it first in an inconspicuous area to make sure it matches. You can also test stain on a piece of scrap wood.

What is a summary?
Sand down the area until it is smooth and even with the wood. Check that the hole is filled in. Apply primer if you're painting the area. Paint or stain the area.