Top Coat

A top coat is a must in my opinion if you want a piece to survive wear and tear. Despite some paint companies declaring that their paints don't need it, if you're selling your furniture then it's a no-brainer. You want customers to return right? 

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I typically use a polyurethane enamel as it's water-based rather than oil-based as it has lower VOCs. VOCs are essentially toxins in the paint (I try to ensure that my materials are as health-safe as possible).  Water-based paints are also a lot easier to clean up! The main downside is that you have to work fairly quickly as they dry quicker than oil-based solutions. 
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For most pieces of furniture, I use 2 - 3 coats of top coat. Two if I'm restyling a generally unused decorative piece, three in high traffic or well-used furniture such a console table in a hallway. or drawers.