Chalkboard furniture ideas

Rust-Oleum Chalkboard Paint is a quick, easy and effective way to give a tired piece of furniture a new lease of life. Chalkboard is an ultra-hard scratch resistant finish that allows you to create a unique writeable-erasable surface. Chalkboard paint can be applied to wood, metal, masonry, drywall, plaster, glass, concrete, terra cotta, paperboard and hardwood. It provides the perfect surface for chalk writing on walls, doors, tables, cabinets, picture frames, flower pots and more.

 

Chalkboard paint shed its dusty classroom reputation ages ago, suddenly making an appearance on walls in all the best homes as people discovered various ways to use Rust-Oleum Chalkboard Paint in different ways.

ABOVE: This chest of drawers had a lot going for it, not least its impressive proportions, but the white finish was looking a little tired. We transformed the drawers into a fabulous piece for the dining room - thank to some fabulous Rust-Oleum Chalkboard Paint.

Labelling the drawers adds a layer of quirky detail that brings the whole piece together. To achieve strong, bright letters that don’t smudge easily, wipe the surface with a damp cloth just before you write, then leave to dry naturally for cute labels that make it easy to delegate setting the table.

YOU WILL NEED:

Chalkboard paint
Painter's Touch spray primer
Paintbrush and foam roller
Painttray
Dropcloths

*When using acrylic-based chalkboard paint, you can clean brushes and equipment in cold, running water. Oil-based chalkboard paint will require mineral turps to clean brushes and equipment.

 

 

HERE'S HOW:

1. Remove loose paint and rust with a wire brush or sandpaper. Lightly sand glossy surfaces. Clean with soap and water, rinse and let dry.
   
2. Use of Painter’s Touch spray primer provides superior adhesion and hiding and is especially recommended for bare wood and metal. You can apply Chalkboard Paint 2 hours after applying the primer. After priming bare wood, sand lightly to smooth out the surface.
   
3. Stir thoroughly. Thinning is not required. In hot, dry conditions, however, you may thin with water to extend dry time. Use a good quality synthetic brush, short pile/nap roller or a foam roller designed to give a smooth finish. Use light, even stokes to ensure an even and the smoothest finish.
   
4. Dries to the touch in 30 minutes, to handle in 2 hours and fully dry in 2-4 hours. May be recoated after 4 hours. Minimum of 2 coats is required. May require more coats over contrasting colors.
   
5. Clean brush and other application tools immediately with soap and water.
   

How to stencil onto chalkboard paint

• Cut around the outline of the cat and use double-sided tape to hold it in place, then trace around the template with a pencil.
  
  
• Cut the paw print out and use the same technique to apply three prints to the table leg closest to the cat.
  
  
• Use a fine brush to paint over the pencil outline of the cat and the prints, then paint in the outline.
  
  
• Allow to dry then apply a second coat.

Applying a solid black coat all over looks strong and bold, but it also transforms the entire table into a surface that can be used and explored, rather than limiting creative play to the top alone.

The dusky colours and extremely matt finish of the new-style acrylic chalkboard paints can lift an ordinary piece to a higher plane, while there’s something timeless and enduring about old-style chalkboard paint that strikes a very contemporary note. Plus, it means you, and the kids, can draw on the furniture − and any solution that’s both chic and amusing is a winner.