6 Steps To Creating The Perfect Chalkboard Wall

Creating a chalkboard wall (aka blackboard wall) in my dining room has been on the agenda for a while now. Like most things, for a while can sometimes mean weeks, months, years…never?

Thankfully, this project only got dragged out for a few months. But wanna know why it happened so ‘quickly’? Because dear hubby took it upon himself one day to whip out the rollers and just start painting.

That’s right, he doesn’t dawdle when it comes to breaking my procrastination cycle.

Well that, and the fact that he knows I’m a sloppy painter. Did I mention that he also really cares about what happens to our  flooring?  Something about ‘if it were left up to me to paint, we’d never get our deposit back  ….’ I’m pretty sure he said some other stuff too, but he mumbled it all under his breath.

As of late, he’s getting quite good at the whole ‘mumbling so I can’t hear him’ thing.

And the, ‘I’m so dramatic even even though I’m not a queen’ thing (although I’m partly to blame for that). Hence, I find myself having to make disclaimers like this:

[insert eye roll]

“While I cannot fully account for the state of the flooring in our previous homes, I can assure you that we have always managed to get our deposits back (yes even after  painting – but there’s a secret to that)“

Are you still with me?

HOW TO PAINT A CHALKBOARD WALL

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Step 1: Choose your wall. 

Every room has a focal point ... by this I mean  the first place your eyes lock on to when you enter a room . Some rooms naturally  have a focal point but sometimes you can just create your own i.e. Stunning fireplace, bold wallpaper, textured walls (in my case a chalkboard wall)

As you can see from the picture below, I chose this  wall in the dining room to become the chalkboard.

However , if you’re feeling a lot less riskier (which is so understandable seeing as it’s not everyday you decide to paint your wall black) , you can always paint a  smaller wall or an area  that isn’t so central to your room.

Knowing what you will be using your chalkboard wall for also helps in deciding where to put it.

Step 2: Choose your product

RUSTINS  BLACK BOARD PAINT 

I have tried and tested this brand numerous times and I love it! It goes on beautifully, stretches a long way and is a reasonable price.  Here are some of my previous projects I’ve done with this paint:

• Son’s little kiddy tool bench
• Crazy Ball Mason Fridge

The only downside is that it is a European brand (sorry US folks!) and the international shipping costs are horrific! (Yeah, I checked!)

DULUX MADE BY ME PAINT

I used this brand to create my son’s magnetic fireplace wall in his old playroom . Whilst the magnetic aspect was a pain to achieve the chalkboard itself was great! (another  European brand)

RUSTOLEUM CHALKBOARD PAINT 

I hear from other people (mainly my US blogging buddies) that this brand is awesome too. Notice I said that I heard, I’ve never actually tried this  particular paint line myself, but cmon, when does Rustoleum ever not have great paint?

Oh and you can buy this in both the US and UK at a decent price so huge bonus!

Step 3: Prepare the wall 

Three words. Painters tape and sanding! Well ok technically that was four words, but you get my drift. These two mini steps are really important.

Sticking painters  tape along the edges  of your wall and moulding just ensures the chalk board  lines are clear and straight. And the sanding because.. .well who wants to write on a  bumpy uneven wall. Not I.

The sanding can be done with a sanding machine or a sanding block. No brainer to which one we decided to use. #ialwayschooseryobi

Oops got my husband in this picture. He may or may not kill me when he sees this.

Step 4: Paint your chalkboard wall

My husband always does the borders first with a paint brush or mini roller and then uses the larger roller for everything in the  middle. Is this how you do it? If you’ve got a quicker way to do it … Holla!

And this too – he likes to use  an old carpet to protect the floor when he paints (clearly I don’t, hence the sloppiness) .

Paint at least two coats of the chalk paint and then leave to dry the exact amount of time its says to on the back of the paint tin. Finally, remove all the tape from the edges when its completely dry.

I think this picture is the cleanest the wall has ever been.

Step 5: Season/prime your wall

Truthfully, I had no idea about this step until about a month prior to this but basically  it ensures things you write on the wall are permanently erased when cleaned as opposed  to it just looking ‘faded’

To season : Take a piece of chalk (use it’s side rather than the tip) and rub the entire chalkboard wall  vertically. Then do the same thing to the wall horizontally.

Word of warning, this is very messy dusty business!

Wipe it all off with a damp cloth and you have yourself a gorgeous chalkboard wall my friend. I added in faux letters I made from cardboard to the wall to give it that extra POW

Step 6: This isn’t really a step but I just thought I’d add it in in case you suck at typography,  like me. 

I mean check  out my lousy half hearted scribbles with the chalk below if you don’t believe me……

and seriously…what’s a chalkboard wall without fancy looking lettering?

So I wanna help you out. Here are some ways to get perfect lettering:

• Buy some white  font wall stickers
• Use chalkboard stencils and practice filling in the lines
• Use a chalk pen rather than your standard chalk for more accuracy.
• Purchase a book about chalkboard lettering – practice makes perfect right?

I hope you found this tutorial beneficial and I would really appreciate a share! Don’t forget to follow me on my social media below. And if you’ve got a chalkboard wall you want to share with me, send it over here, I would love to see! I am so nosy!

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ARE YOU A FAN OF PROJECTS USING CHALK PAINT? CHECK OUT THESE POSTS

PROVINCIAL DRESSER MAKEOVER WITH HOME MADE CHALKBOARD PAINT

KIDS MINI TOOL BENCH WITH A CHALKBOARD DOOR

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN CHALK PAINT

INDOOR HERB GARDEN WITH CHALKBOARD LABELS