Whether you want to add a touch of fun to your kitchen or you want your little ones to unleash their creative side in a controlled environment, a chalkboard wall could be a great, fun feature in your home.
There are plenty of different chalk paints to choose from, from basic blackboard style to magnetic paints. Making your own chalkboard wall is simple; follow these step-by-step instructions to get a high-quality, professional finish.
Prep
Before you start, decide where your chalkboard will go. Think about what you want to use it for. If it is for children for a bit of mess-free doodling, you will want to keep it low enough for them to reach easily. If your chalkboard is for your use, for writing menu plans, shopping lists and keeping memos, you might want some of the board to be out of reach of little fingers.
Once you have decided on the location, mask off the area with masking tape. Thoroughly clean the wall with sugar soap, remove any nails and fill in holes with filler. Once the filler is completely dried, sand it down for a flat finish (don’t be tempted to sand before the filler is dry as you will just make a mess!).
Paint
If you’ve achieved a clean, flat, clearly marked-out square, you’re ready to paint! It’s always best to check the instructions on your chalk paint to ensure that you get the best finish, but generally, you’ll get good results if you ensure that you stir your paint thoroughly before applying a thin, consistent layer of paint over the whole area, being careful to stay within your marked out lines.
Wait for the paint to dry thoroughly before applying a second coat. If you want to get creative, you can add a border to your chalkboard in either a different colour or a narrow line of black chalk paint.
Condition
Don’t be tempted to start doodling straight away – aside from the fact that your chalkboard paint needs to dry for at least 72 hours before you use it, if you want it to stay looking great for as long as possible then you’ll need to condition it. Conditioning your chalkboard is simple: just use the side of a chalk to cover the wall in a thin layer of chalk, and rub it off with a chalk rubber.
Enjoy!
Once your wall is painted, dried and conditioned, it is time to enjoy! Cleaning your chalkboard wall is easy; just wipe it down with a damp cloth every now and again, making sure that you recondition it after you have wiped it.
There are plenty of simple, low cost solutions that can help to transform your home. If you are looking for inspiration, a local interior designer can help to provide you with innovative ideas; their wealth of experience will help your home to be both stylish and functional.
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