DIY Chalkboard!

There’s a wall in my dining room that is blank.  And this wall is big.  I normally don’t have any problems decorating walls but with this one, I’ve struggled.

Decorating Options!

• Artwork:  My thought on artwork is that it would have to be something we could all enjoy. It’s a tall order given that we all have different styles!  (A Paw Patrol mural was out of the question).
• Gallery Wall:  We already have one in the space that I call my “wall of mirrors”.  Adding another gallery wall would make the room look and feel too busy.
• Nothing:  I considered not putting up anything on that wall. But when you’re sitting down at the table, your eyes inevitably glance up at that wall and there’s nothing to look at!

After brainstorming a bit more, I thought a large interactive piece would do the trick. Enter my DIY chalkboard idea!  Why a chalkboard?  Two main reasons:

1. The large chalkboard focal point would be black, a colour (or non-colour!) that I’m obsessed with adding in every room I design and,
2. It invites everyone to stay in the space a bit longer. I find our dining room gets very little use except for meals but with a huge chalkboard, everyone seems drawn to using it, including me!

I measured out my ideal size for the chalkboard and nailed it down to about 4.5′ x 5.5′ wide.  Finding a frame that would accommodate that big of a size was NOT going to happen so enter the DIY part!  Side note, my other half wasn’t too convinced of this idea so I promised him it would be totally removable. So renters (or shy decorators), this project is for you!  Here are the products I used:

• Self-Adhesive Chalkboard Wallpaper
• Door and Window Casing for the Chalkboard Frame (I cut 2 pieces at 5.5′ and 2 pieces at 6.5′ to be sure I had enough)
• Gold Acrylic Paint and Silver Acrylic Paint
• Foam Brushes
• 3M Command Strips
• A Picture Hanging Level

Making the Chalkboard

Step 1:  Measure kids. For the size of chalkboard I wanted to create, I needed 3 rolls of chalkboard paper. Initially I ordered one but then I had to expedite two more rolls to get this project done on time!

Step 2: For my chalkboard, I needed to lay out 3 strips of chalkboard paper onto the wall horizontally. I carefully started unrolling the first roll and sticking it on the wall.  But before completely sticking your first piece on the wall, make sure it’s level. Otherwise you risk your whole chalkboard being slanted!

Step 3: Apply the rest of your chalkboard paper layers and trim it as necessary.  Your chalkboard is now done!  (As you can see in my pic below, someone starting using it before it got framed out!)

Making the Chalkboard Frame

Step 1:  More measuring is involved kids!!  I was insistent on doing this myself so after measuring my first frame piece, I grabbed a miter saw and a miter box and starting sawing my 45 degree angles by hand. In retrospect I should’ve either learned how to use a chop saw or I should’ve asked John for help because I learned, after dry-fitting everything together, that your corners won’t be 100% crisp.

Step 2: After cutting each frame side down to your measurements, decide on your paint colour!  These boards were already primed but I couldn’t decide on silver or gold for the frame. So I did an Instagram poll and you all decided on gold!  It was a good choice 😉

Step 3: Apply 3M Command Strips to each frame side and start applying one side of the frame to the wall.

Step 4: Repeat Step 3 with the remaining three sides, touch up each side with paint, and you’re done!

This is also 100% removable folks.  While the frame can be taken down piece by piece and re-used, the chalkboard paper I don’t think can survive a second application.  A more permanent solution to chalkboard wallpaper is chalkboard paint, something I considered but if this idea was a dud, I did NOT want to have re-paint that wall.

The total cost of this project was approximately $145.  I picked expensive molding!  BUT keep in mind that getting a custom frame is expensive (especially for one in this size).  Pricing out a piece of artwork this large (even a print!) would run more than this DIY solution so all-in-all, I think I did pretty well!

I like how it fits right in with the rest of the space.  What do you think?!