So if you haven’t seen all the cool things being done now with chalkboard paint (yes, they make that!) then you are missing out. Decorating with chalkboard paint is easy, practical, cool and very now… We’ve come a long way from just using it in kids rooms! So here is a tutorial on how to use it in your home, and some great Chalkboard paint ideas from bloggers across the web showing us all how to use it in creative and interesting ways.
How to Use Chalkboard Paint
Supplies:
Chalkboard paint from any home improvement store like Lowes or Home Depot. We like Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore chalkboard paint. You can even have it tinted to any color, so you aren’t limited to slate grey! Or you can buy the Krylon brand online here.
Optional: Primer, sandpaper, rags for cleanup
Step One:
Prep your surface. Perhaps more than other surfaces, you want the place you paint with chalkboard paint to be smooth and relatively free of defects. Remember, you will be writing on this surface! Use Spackle to fill holes, sand imperfections, or apply primer to metal, plastic, or shiny surfaces.
Step Two:
Tape off area if necessary. Roll on chalkboard paint with a short nap roller. Allow to dry at least 3 days before using your chalkboard area.
That’s it! It’s really important to wait the full three days to use your chalkboard, otherwise the chalk may not erase properly. The paint manufacturer recommends rubbing chalk over the entire surface to “prime” it before your first use, then erase… Check out these great ideas on using chalkboard paint in home decorating.
Chalkboard Paint Ideas
This is a great idea for kids play… Paint the entire tabletop with a tinted chalkboard paint in any color to match your children’s room decor. Kids can use chalk to create games, use it as an artists table or practice the alphabet.
Paint the front of dresser drawers… You can use chalk to label the drawers for easy clean up time. Also really useful in a craft room so you know just where to find what!
We love this next chalkboard paint idea. Paint a pantry door to keep your to-do lists and grocery lists all in the same place!
Steve loves these chalkboard stairs, and I agree… how cool is this!
Closet doors, or sliding pantry doors? Can you imagine painting your kids closet doors with chalkboard paint? They might actually be QUIET for a half hour! From ‘Lynne Knowlton‘.
Gotta love this chalkboard banner… you can find the tutorial at Delia Creates.
Using chalkboard paint to create wall art is just the type of thing Creature Comforts blog would come up with. You can read how she did it here.
PopSugar has a creative chalkboard paint idea on how to create dining chair place cards!
Our Fifth House has a great tutorial to create this family planner… I need this in my house!
Finally, believe it or not, this one from Hunted Interior might be my fav… so easy, and makes such good use of those empty kitchen walls, especially in those galley style kitchens so may of us in small homes deal with. Charming!
Let us know which one of these chalkboard paint ideas you try, and how it turns out! We love your comments! You might be interested in our post Easy Sidewalk Chalk Art Ideas on our sister site TGG!
Image Credits: Lynne Knowlton, Paint It!, Benjamin Moore, House and Home, Katy Lifestyles, Delia Creates, casasugar, Our Fifth House, Hunted Interior
Instead of using chalkboard paint you buy at the store you can use any colored paint but add Unsanded grout to it to make it chalkboard paint for every cup of paint you use add 1/4 cup of Unsanded grout
I love chalk and all its potential! As soon as the chalk board paint came out I bought 2 gallons!
My first project was a traditional start. For my closet door, I painted the inside panels. Then being more creative and useful I painted the front face of my closet shelves. Thus allowing me to label for easy find what is where. I have many more projects planned but have yet to find the time!
hi, can one use black paint if chalk paint is not available?
Author
Well, Obviously you won’t be able to use chalk on it and even if you don’t need to, it won’t have the same look. You should be able to find the chalk paint at many places including Home Depot!
I just painted a laminate shelf I had lying around with spray chalkboard paint. I let it dry for 24 hours, and when I used the chalk to coat it, it just peeled all of the paint up in streaks. What did I do wrong?
Thanks!
Brianna
Author
Hi Brianna! As we mentioned in the post, slick surfaces like laminate always need to be sanded or primed before painting (or both!) or the paint will not adhere well, which is exactly what happened to you…. You can redo the project by sanding and then priming if you choose, then repaint with the chalkboard paint…Let us know how it goes! -Kathy