Chalkboard Paint: A Savvy Way to Revamp Your Home

Chalkboard paint is definitely an evolving interior design trend; it extends creative freedom granted by no other wall treatment. It's something along the lines of being able to decorate, write, or draw on your walls unhindered. With a simple flick of the wrist—provided you’re holding a trusty wipe, chalkboard eraser, or sponge—you can start anew with a fresh canvas.  

What is chalkboard paint?

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Chalkboard paint gets its name from old school chalk-writing surfaces. Said paint allows you to do the same thing, hence its name.

Here’s how it works, you apply black chalkboard paint to an indoor wall and from there, you can write or decorate your freshly coated surface with chalk. Also retailed are white, orange, pink, and blue chalkboard paint.

This paint is devoid of toxic products. We’ll touch back on this further in our section focused on kids’ bedrooms. 

Uncover a Unique Material Blending Aesthetics and Practicality

Chalkboard paint lands among one of the many alternatives to stick-on wall decals. Albeit more eco-friendly than the latter, such paint can be used on practically all surfaces: 

• Wood

• Cement

• Plaster

• Mortar

• Glass 

• Iron

• Laminate 

Its aesthetic entirely depends on the chosen colour and what’s done with the surface area. From stunning décors to nurturing your kids’ writing skills, a surface painted with this product allows for all excentricities.

The Evolution of Chalkboard Paint: From a Blackboard to Interior Decoration

Using black chalkboard paint stems from the widespread use of blackboards in schools. This tool dates back to the 19th century in both Scotland and the United States. Its purpose? Provide a better way to educate children and military staff, and by extension, teach kids to write with chalk. 

Nowadays, chalkboards are commonly found in front of outdoor restaurant patios, featuring the daily specials, or in indoor spaces themselves as part of the interior décor. This trend gained traction among interior designers.

Other Colour Options: Grey, Green, or Blue

While black is an intriguing colour, it may not complement all designs or interiors, nor does it align with all homeowner's preferences. As a result, chalkboard paint is also available in the following colours:

• Grey

• Green

• Blue

• Pink

• Yellow

• Red

• And more

One thing to keep in mind prior to opting for one colour over another is that delivery delays may differ based on the paint’s availability at the time you place your order.

How to Use Chalkboard Paint Throughout Your Home

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In a Kids’ Bedroom: A Space Devoted to Creativity and Self-Expression

In a kids’ bedroom, you have to use paints containing minimal chemical products. Some chalkboard paints are:

• Eco-friendly

• Solvent-free

• With very few VOCs 

• Regulated as toys

This type of paint allows for a great deal of creative liberty for kids. With a few pieces of chalk handy, they can, as they see fit, write and draw on their bedroom walls. However, while some paints aren’t as harmful as others, chalkboard paint does contain several chemical products, such as:

• Acrylic

• Glycol

• Propane acetone

• Esters

• Opacifiers

• Among others

In the Kitchen: A Chic and Practical Message Board

Kitchens are most often the focal space of a home. It’s where all family members gather or walk through to eat or grab something on the go. As a result, it’s having, for example, a surface coated in chalkboard paint to leave messages for your family or to jot something down under your weekly grocery list. If you’re a lover of affirmations or famous quotes, you can write a different one every day. 

Here’s a good one by the Bard himself to get you started: “For a quart of Ale is a dish for a king.”

In a Living Room or Other Living Space: For Custom and Artistic Flair

You can always choose to showcase your artistic talents on the walls of your home. If you’re not entirely trusting of the results, note that with chalkboard paint, you can design patterns yourself, and if it’s not to your liking, wipe it off and start again.

So, rest assured, and don’t let the fear of making errors hold you back. Get some different chalk colours to design stunning patterns. Think about it—you could even let different family members creatively express themselves every now and again.  

How to Design a Chalkboard Paint Wall: Tips and Tricks 

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Prep & Material 

• Don’t dilute chalkboard paint

• Mix it

• Allow it to dry (can take up to 7 days)

The material needed is as minimalist as it gets:

• Paintbrush

• Paint roller

Paintbrushes are perfect for those hard-to-reach areas, whereas, a roller allows you to paint over large surface areas faster.

As for the wall onto which you’ll apply blackboard paint, it must be:

• Dry

• Clean

• Smooth

If it’s not as described, sand it if necessary, especially if you’re covering an old coat of paint. 

Application Methods for a Flawless Result

The best way to ensure chalkboard paint adheres to the intended surface is to apply a coat of magnetic wall primer first.

Then, apply two layers of blackboard paint with a roller. For finishing touches, you can use a paintbrush. Prior to writing on the wall, wait for the paint to fully dry. This step can take up to one week. 

Upkeep and Durability of Chalkboard Paint

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Cleaning Tips

To ensure the chalkboard paint doesn’t fade, especially since it’s such a deep black, avoid using damp sponges as well as any chemical products. Instead, use the following tools:

• Dry rag

• Felt eraser 

When cleaning, wipe the blackboard top to bottom, or left to right. If there’s a lingering white film on the painted surface, you can remove it by using warm water and dish soap. However, don’t make a habit of doing so. It’s best to use lemon oil before reaching for any other product. 

Long-Term Maintenance

Long-term, scratches may surface. To remove them, you can apply a fresh coat of chalkboard paint. Note that what really damages this type of surface is repeated cleanings to wipe off the chalk.

To prevent the surface from quickly degrading, use only natural chalk to write on your painted wall. These are specially designed to be easily wipeable with a dry rag or felt eraser.

How to Remove Chalkboard Paint from a Wall

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Before removing chalkboard paint, we suggest heading the simplest route: If it's still decent, apply a new layer of paint. 

Otherwise, here are the steps to follow to remove chalkboard paint from a wall. 

Step 1: Prepare work area

Make room around the wall on which you’ll be working. Remove surrounding furniture and lay a tarp over the floor to catch the peeled paint.

Step 2: Have the right tools handy

• Sandpaper 

• Scraper

• Bucket

• Tepid water and gentle detergent

• Putty knife

• Rags and sponges 

To protect yourself from splatter, remember to wear protective goggles, gloves to protect your hands and fingers, and wear a mask.  

Step 3: Remove paint 

Using a scraper, carefully remove the paint to avoid damaging the wall serving as a surface. Next, grab your sandpaper. Use it to remove the leftover flakes of paint stuck to the wall.  

Step 4: Clean surface and carry out finishing touches

The sponges will be used to soak up some of the water and cleaning detergent in the bucket. They’ll allow you to clean off the paint residue, but also remove any latent dust and dirt that’s stuck to the surface. 

Next, wipe the wall dry with a clean rag, and move on to the last step: Restoring your wall. 

A putty knife is the right tool to do so. Paired with putty, it serves to patch up any cracks or holes that will likely be left behind from removing the paint. 

From there, you’ll still need to sand the area in question to restore your wall like new.  

Chalkboard Paint Is an Interior Décor Game-Changer

Using chalkboard paint for interior decoration purposes turns out to be a savvy, game-changer when revamping your home. It’s versatile, practical, and aesthetically pleasing. This type of paint allows for a plethora of possibilities to personalize and revitalize your living quarters. Whether it’s a kid’s bedroom, home office, or kitchen, chalkboard paint transforms your walls into creative and functional canvases. Beyond its practical factor, blackboard paint is a daring choice that sparks a one-of-a-kind feature for your home décor. From its easy application to its durability, it’s a worthwhile investment for those seeking innovation and functionality. Therefore, by blending chalkboard paint into your interior aesthetic, you’re basically opening the door up to a world of creativity and style, where walls become literal life-size canvases, mirroring your personality and ideas.