How to Make a Chalkboard on a Wall

A chalkboard can be a handy item to have around the house. But what if you can't find one commercially that suits your needs? Just make your own by creating one right on the wall where you need it the most. Don't worry about the traditional green or black finish clashing with your color schemes. Chalkboard paints are now available in a variety of colors, and there's sure to be one that complements any room's decor. All of the materials needed for this fun and easy project are either already in your home, or are readily available from any hardware or department store.

Things You'll Need

• Yardstick Pencil Art gum eraser Level 2-inch masking tape Paintbrushes Sandpaper 1 qt. of indoor primer or flat paint (any color) 1 qt. of chalkboard coating paint (any color) Tack cloth Chalk Felt erasers

Instructions

1. Choose the area of the wall where you want your chalkboard to be situated. Sand the area to remove bumps and imperfections from the wall. The surface should be as smooth as possible in order to create a good base. Then wipe the area free of dust and other particles with the tack cloth.

2. Use the yardstick and pencil to sketch the desired outline of the board. A level is very helpful for aligning your sketch, and an art gum eraser is the best choice for eliminating mistakes made with the pencil.

3. Make a frame with the masking tape, following the lines of your pencil sketch.

4. Paint the framed area with the indoor paint or primer. Allow it to dry according to the instructions on the can.

5. Carefully sand the painted area with very fine grit sandpaper to keep it as smooth as possible. Use tack cloth to remove dust particles.

6. Apply a thick coat of the chalkboard coating paint, stroking in one direction. Give it about 12 hours of drying time before proceeding further.

7. Sand with very fine sandpaper again, and wipe away the dust with tack cloth.

8. Add a thinner second coat of the chalkboard coating paint by brushing in the opposite direction from the first coat. Keep the brush strokes as smooth as you can so that the final surface will be uniform and even. Allow this coat to dry for 24 hours.

9. Cure the chalkboard by covering the area in chalk. Rubbing the side of a stick of chalk against the surface of the board is the easiest way to do this. Then remove all of the chalk with a chalkboard eraser. Remove the masking tape from the wall.