I have a place on my kitchen wall that is currently occupied by the kids' artwork that I would love to hang a big chalkboard. Not only do I miss a place to write chores, but I long for something to write on when I help with the kids' homework, do our devotionals, and need a quick place to write something to add to my grocery list.
John wants me to get a dry erase board if I get anything at all... I have in my mind a chalkboard.
Whatever it is, I do want it to look somewhat pretty-- after all, it is going up in the kitchen not a school room or office.
I have thought of painting the wall but am afraid that the texture will forever be different on that wall. Any suggestions of great sites that I can buy a chalkboard?
27 inspiring thoughts:
I would go for a white board as well. You can buy a piece of white board at the hardware store that is pretty big and then you can just frame it out with trim and make it the same color as your room or make the trim white too.
I have done both and prefer a dry erase board.
Why don't you get a nice piece of plywood and paint it with the chalkboard paint. You could hang it on the wall with french cleats or mirror hangers. If you are really ambitious you would put a frame around it with molding or even easier it might be cute to use yardsticks. They also sell an additive that can be used to make the paint also magnetic. Fun stuff.
Have you considered something like this? http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=handmade&search_query=chalk+board+sticker
Basically a giant sticker with a chalk board surface. :)
It's not a site for buying but more making....Shanty2chic is a website run by two lovely ladies that show you how to make everything by maily repurposing things. They have made several chalkboards. You should check them out.
My Aunt painted her pantry door like a chalk board. LOVE IT! I will one day do that when I have a house of my own vs. renting LOL
They make chalkboard paint...you can paint the wall that you can write on just like a chalkboard...and it comes in many different colors. When you are done painting it make a nice frame to go around it to make it look like you hung a lovely chalkboard...like it was made for that spot ;-)
If you can't find one the size you want... the chalkboard paint works great. If you don't want to paint the wall...make your own chalkboard. You can get a MDF board and paint it.... put some trim around it and add some trim to the bottom to act as a ledge to hold your chalk. It would be an easy project!! You also could find an cheap mirror in a frame and paint that .... I have done this and it works great :) Good luck.. can't wait to see what you come up with!
We have a door in our kitchen that goes out to the garage. We painted it with chalk board paint and I LOVE it!! (So do the kids for that matter!) If you have a door you could use. I would really recommend it! I think painting the wall is also a great idea. A small can of paint goes a REALLY long way and it is inexpensive.
I decided to buy a chalkboard (and Chalk Ink Markers) after watching this video on Aunt Ruthie's Blog. She gives some great ideas, check it out. Here is the link:
http://www.sugarpiefarmhouse.com/the-farm-chicks-book-review
I recommend a painting a chalkboard on the wall, I have done it twice at 2 different apartments and I loved it!
Since i lived in apartments, I had repaint when i moved and it was no problem at all! The texture was no different on that wall. Hope it helps!
Hi Christine,
I wanted to let you know that you can buy chalk board paint. When it dries it works just like a chalk board. It comes in different colors and I'm not sure if you have a Home Depot near you but I know that they carry it. It can be tailored to any decor and look great with a boarder painted around it.
I have no extra tips but wanted to say I totally know what you're talking about in wanting a space like that. I have a dry erase board that perfectly fits the side of my fridge and it keeps my little daily jots of everything- I use it for Grocery lists as they come to me, to do lists, writing out stuff to help the kids understand their homework, and even keep a handy list of the last time a sick kid had tylenol. :) So yeah, you're gonna LOVE that space once you get it done. You'll find yourself using it for everything. Good luck! :)
Chalk dust is yucky and messy. And when you drop chalk, it breaks.
White boards are more fun. They even make magnetic white boards, which can be a great organizational tool, too.
Hi Christine ...
I painted a chalkboard directly on to a wall. And you really need to sand it smooth first. So yes, that wall needs to be a different texture from your other walls. I didn't get mine quite smooth enough, and you get a lot of chalk dust. It just looks better and is more user friendly if it's super smooth. So I ended up going to a school supply store and buying a chalkboard and hanging it on the wall instead and covering up the other stuff. I framed it with a whimsical boarder and it's very cute! The rest of the wall I covered with cork, so the kids could hang their artwork. I have photos somewhere on my blog. I'll send you a link if you're interested.
I just took an old frame and had a piece of sheet metal cut to fit, painted the sheet metal with chalkboard paint, and now it is a magnet board/chalkboard. I love it. I'm with you, I don't like the white boards as much as the chalkboards.
Do I remember that one of your kids has asthma? If so, I would highly recommend a white board instead. I have only MILD asthma (I can go several years without using an inhaler, and then all of a sudden need one for a few days!) Any way, I had HORRIBLE time in school with chalk boards, and that was the initial reason most schools got rid of them. Even as an adult, when my kids would play with chalk outside, then come in with it on their clothes, the dust would really get to me. Most asthmatics I know react in similar ways. Just something to think about.
Buy the wood and paint it with chalkboard paint. Decorate the edges with a different colour of chalkboard paint once it's dry. You might want to paint both sides, and use one for chores/assignments/reminders and the other one to general use.
Here is my 2-cents worth...
I painted a very thin piece of leftover board several years ago (maybe 5?) and hung it in our kitchen, then hung a pretty cloth wall haning over it. It hid it well when I didn't want to see it. I have since gotten rid of the cover and we go with the chalk board all the time. It has held up really well for the very inexpensive cost. We also use a dry erase board in the other room and my kids like using both. I actually am bothered more by the smell of the dry erase markers more. But we use and love them both. There is something about a chalk board...:)
Ugh! I have to say, I'm with John on this one! Just the mere thought of a chalkboard sends shivers up my spine, as I had a teacher in primary who like to scrape her finger nails against it!
We have four removable vinyl chalkboards at our house. I love them. One is on the fridge and it's perfect for jotting down things. Then there is one in the playroom at the kids level so they can write. Lillian Vernon has them on sale.
You can buy a black paint that you can use chalk to write on, so you can paint the are as big or as small as you choose. Then you can paint over it at any time.
There is nothing better than a true SLATE chalk board framed in solid oak.
We had a 9 ft chalkboard for a long time that was framed in oak and had a bulletin board included. It took 4 men to get it onto the wall. :)
Oh how I wish I had it back.
I would check craigslist, or any local home school group to see if somebody is getting rid of one.
We bought one for 5 dollars this year. Not near as nice as the one I had before, but solid slate.
I can help you if you find one, and it has areas that are hard to write on. Sometimes they need to be resurfaced.
You do that with a very fine grade of steel wool. Just wipe it across and the board is like brand new.
I have dry erase and a chalk board and I vote for a real chalk board!
You can go to Goodwill or another store and purchase for cheap a cool frame. Then paint the frame a nice bright color. Then find or cut a board to fit into the frame and paint the board with chalkboard paint. You end up with a really nice, cool chalkboard for your kitchen (and your kitchen walls won't need to be repainted when your done with the chalkboard).
i would DEFINITELY go for a dry erase board rather than a chalkboard, because the chalk dust is messy and hard to clean up. seriously. but that's just my opinion. :-)
Christine -
I know a chalkboard sounds cute and old-fashioned. But as a 20 year veteran teacher, I have to agree with John. Chalkboards are messy, hard to write on, and hard to keep clean. besides the fact that half your children will be allergic to the chalk dust.
Most white board are also magnetic!! So can put magnets up to hold artwork, etc. That cannot be done on a chalkboard. Test the white board first because they are all not magnetic.
I would get a white board with an unfinished frame and paint it to match your kitchen. Make some cute little magnets to decorate it.
I would buy the shower stuff from Lowe's and then put a pretty trim around it. That's what we have up in the school room and I like it so much more than chalkboard because there is no dusty mess. BUT if you are set on having a chalkboard, you could try the chalk paint. I hear it works great.
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