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Chalk walls are the coolest. I’ve seen them used for so many different things in so many different spaces, and I knew I wanted one in our home. We found the perfect wall, and in 2 days, for under $30, we had our own. Check it out below.
Over the years, our lower living room has slowly progressed into a games room / man cave for Chris. Currently, the room houses a full size ping-pong table, a dart board, gaming consoles, and a hockey net. When we hung the dart board, Chris also hung a white board on the wall for score keeping.
When I saw the board hanging on this big empty wall, I immediately knew what I wanted to do with it. This space was perfect for a chalk wall. The ductwork in the room creates a lower ceiling on this wall, so we had never hung art. Beyond that, the wall is not visible from outside the room. You can only see it when you come in. Finally, there is no furniture against this wall, nor is there anything in the way of using it.
I did some research on different chalkboard paints and settled on Home Hardware’s Beauti-Tone Chalkboard Paint in black when it went on sale for $21.99 CAD.
After patching some dents, I used regular latex primer on the whole wall and then applied 2 coats of chalkboard paint.
To apply the paint, I used a regular lint-free roller. Lint free is absolutely crucial for this project as the paint is black and little hairs or fur will stand out immediately. One small can of this paint covered the entire wall twice.
After two coats were applied and left to dry for the recommended time, I became worried that the paint looked uneven and streaky in the light. After doing some googling, I realized this is normal. To give the chalkboard paint it’s full effect, the surface needs to be conditioned.
My little helper CJ did a great job helping me condition the wall. Conditioning simply means rubbing pieces of chalk flat against the wall to cover the entire surface. It creates an even surface and preps the wall to be written on and erased.
So why do you need a chalk wall in your home?
For Creativity
Kids and adults alike can utilize a fun space like this in so many ways. Right now, our friends have been signing the top and our kids have been colouring along the bottom. No matter what we do, it can always be erased and we can start over!
For Function
To the left of the wall, we used a more permanent chalk marker to draw a scoreboard for darts. There are so many useful applications for a wall like this. For example, having a chalk wall in the kitchen or dining room would be the perfect place for lists and reminders.
As Decor
Not only is the chalkboard wall fun and functional, it becomes a focal point to the room. I’ve been thinking about adding another small wall to our dining area where I can theme the words and pictures for different holidays and events. You can use stencils and coloured chalk to make it really stand out.
I am so in love with this chalkboard wall! It was a super fun, easy, and inexpensive addition to our home and I hope to add another one soon.
Do you have a chalk wall in your home? Tell me about it!