How to Create a Chalkboard Wall

Chalkboard paint lets you convert a plain wall into a usable chalkboard with just two coats. Cover an entire wall or mask off a grid to create a calendar or any other configuration you choose. Use chalkboard paint in a playroom or kids' bedroom for fun, in the kitchen for lists and menus, in the office for organization or anywhere else in the house for notes, artwork and an eye-catching conversation piece.

Mild household cleaner
Bucket
Rags
Towel
Dropcloth
Painter's tape
Chalkboard paint
Paint roller (3/8-inch nap)
Paint tray

Instructions

- 1
  Clean the wall with household cleaner diluted in hot water, wipe it off with a dry towel and let it air-dry completely.
- 2
  Mask off the area to be painted with painter's tape.
- 3
  Spread a dropcloth over the floor to protect it from spills, drips and spatters.
- 4
  Apply a coat of chalkboard paint over the wall with a roller.
- 5
  Let the first coat of paint dry for at least four hours, or as directed on the product label.
- 6
  Apply a second coat of chalkboard paint.
- 7
  Let the paint dry for two to three days, or as directed on the product label.
- 8
  Condition the chalkboard surface before using it. Rub a piece of chalk sideways over the entire surface to coat it with chalk powder, then wipe it off with a chalk eraser. Wipe the chalkboard with a damp cloth seven days after painting and repeat the conditioning process. Condition it again each time you clean it with a damp rag.

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