February 3, 2016

Chalkboard Paint for the Walls of Children’s Rooms 

Chalkboard paint sounds like it would be a fabulous idea, particularly for the walls of children’s rooms.  After all, why not create a space where you are ENCOURAGING them to write and draw on the walls?  

This project can go somewhat awry, however.  I have visited friends’ houses where entire walls of kids’ rooms where painted in chalkboard paint, and while it did indeed provide a wonderful space for the kids to express their creativity, the Virgo in me thought it looked a little messy (sorry, friends!).  Also, I have noticed that when chalkboard paint is painted on walls with a lot of texture, it tends to look mottled and takes away from the chalkboard effect.

Nevertheless, when we purchased our current house, I really wanted a chalkboard in my young son’s room. So, I came up with the idea of making a frame for the chalkboard, that would go right on the wall, creating a border for the drawings and notes and so forth.  

Basically the process of making the frame for the chalkboard is similar to creating any type of frame, such as a picture frame.  Making a frame is a relatively simple task, using an electric miter saw.  I also followed a few simple tips from Benjamin Moore paint on how to create a beautiful and functional chalkboard in any room.  The most important thing to note is that you must “season” the surface of the board by coating it with a layer of chalk, prior to using it.  I guess it’s kind of like seasoning a cast iron skillet!  In any case, the seasoning process makes the chalkboard very easy to erase, and will prevent the first picture drawn on it from becoming permanent.

Follow these tips, and you can have a great chalkboard in a child’s room or any room!

You Can Do This!

By Karen DeVenaro, See Jane Drill

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