by Trenna Sue Hiler

Created on: November 30, 2012   Last Updated: December 03, 2012

There are times when it just makes sense to have a big place for creating. A computer screen is nice, but sometimes it is a little confining. A big visual workspace may bring bigger ideas and plans. Maybe an entire wall may turn into a canvas of sorts.

It could be that one entire wall can become your family message center. It may have a grocery list, phone numbers and even love notes. How fun would that be, right?

Chalkboard walls are becoming more popular in offices, kitchens, childrens’ rooms and entryways. Even Martha Stewart is on board with chalkboard walls. In fact, she has “recipes” to create different colors than the traditional green or black.

It’s time to get started. Pick the wall that is going to magically become your new chalkboard. It is important to have a clean, smooth surface to start the project. Make any repairs that need to be made. Take the time to clean the wall thoroughly. Let the wall dry for 24 hours after cleaning.

Primer is simply a good idea to prepare any wall for a new surface. It helps with durability and gives the chalkboard paint something to adhere to. A general all purpose primer is fine.

Get some good painters tape and tape off the area. Chalkboard paint has a bit of texture and it does not blend well, so make the lines clean and straight. Many people enjoy framing the wall with some sort of border. That is always an option.

Chalkboard paint breaks down very easily. It is important to stir it gently and not too often. If you are doing a large wall you will want to use a roller with a very short nap. Run at different angles to get a smooth looking chalkboard.

This next part may be the hardest of all. It takes the wall 3 days to dry and cure properly. Maybe it would be a good idea to take a long weekend somewhere.

Take off your paint tape and put up your borders.

The next project can be kind of fun for the whole family.  The entire area should be colored with white chalk. So draw pictures, write a story, play tic-tac-toe, just make sure that before it is all done every single bit of the wall is covered in white chalk.

The recommended way of erasing is to use a slightly damp cloth. The lighter color chalk has less of a chance to stain your new wall or be hard to erase. If there are small children in the house it would be wise to border all chalk areas the same way so they can quickly recognize where artwork is acceptable.

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