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In our basement playroom, we have built-in bookcases to corral all the toys. (Great idea, but in practice, the girls still have to put their toys away in the cubbies. Sigh.) There is a large wall in between the bookcases, where we think we’ll put a flat screen TV when the girls are older. But for now, this space is frequently a buffet for my parties.

How to Paint a Chalkboard Wall by The Party Teacher

The playroom is in the middle of a makeover, on it’s away to becoming a part-time Double the Fun Parties studio. Step one in that process was painting the area between the bookcases with chalkboard paint. This is a really easy project. It just takes a little time over a few days. Baby B was even able to help me.

By the way, I had intended to paint this area with magnetic chalkboard paint, but the blog-o-sphere told me that even with the recommend three coats of paint, the magnetism didn’t work well at all. So I stuck to traditional chalkboard paint.

The cool thing about chalkboard paint is that now you can have it tinted a variety of colors. I just wanted plain black, but you could go with pink or almost any other color.

Painting a Chalkboard Wall Supplies

  • Chalkboard paint (I used Valspar.)
  • Stir stick (Free at the paint store.)
  • Paint tray (I also used a disposable tray liner to make clean up easier.)
  • Cut in brush, angled and about 2 inches wide
  • Paint roller (I used a 3/8 inch nap.)
  • Paint roller frame (Get the kind where the frame is all 90 degree angles — you’ll have more control.)
  • Painter’s tape (I used Frog Tape on the recommendation of Miss Mustard Seed.)
  • Drop cloth
  • Paint can lid pryer-offer (I have no idea what this thing is called, but it was 67 cents and worked much better than a screwdriver, so buy one.)
  • Saran Wrap
  • Chalk
  • Eraser or soft cloth

Painting a Chalkboard Wall Instructions

The instructions on the paint can are really very clear, so be sure to read those.

1 – Wipe down your wall with a soft cloth. You wouldn’t think that a vertical surface could get dusty, but it can and you want a clean surface to paint.

2 – Remove any switch or plug or cable covers with a screwdriver. (You can paint these covers with your roller or buy black replacements.)

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3 – I do not have a steady hand at all, so I used Frog Tape to protect my bookcases and ceiling. I’m really glad I did, because I whacked those areas with my roller several times.

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Make sure you press the Frog Tape firmly in place, because in one small section I had a bit of bleed through. It worked well in every other area, so I’m attributing the bleed through to user error.

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4 – Use a drop cloth to cover your floor or any other areas that need protection from spills or drips.

5 – Of course the paint store will shake your paint can for you, but give it another stir when you get home. Cut in all the edges of your wall using the brush. I wanted to make sure my brush lines were well-blended with the rolled-on paint, so I cut in small sections at a time, and then immediately rolled those areas.

6 – You’ll need two coats of paint. Roll on your first coat in the W-shape. (Here’s a video from Real Simple with good tips.) Give the first coat an hour to dry.

7 – In between coats, wrap your brush, roller and paint tray in Saran Wrap, and your tools will be fresh for you when you come back. (This trick works overnight, too.)

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8 – Apply your second coat. For my second coat, I did the W thing again, and then drug my roller straight down, overlapping each roll. That gave me an even finish.

9 – The Valspar paint cleans up really easily with soap and water. I cleaned my brush right after finishing, but just tossed the roller. I didn’t think black would ever come out completely, and my experience is that a used roller’s nap is never quite the same as a new roller. The rollers are inexpensive to replace, so just don’t worry about this.

10 – Let the second coat dry at least 24 hours. Remove your Frog Tape.

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11 – Rub the entire chalkboard surface with chalk, turned on its side (as if you were making a leaf rubbing.) This is how you prime your chalkboard.

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12 – Wipe off the chalk with an eraser or a soft cloth.

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13 – You’ll have chalk dust all over, so brush that up with a dry paper towel and then clean with a slightly damp paper towel or a vacuum attachment.

Your chalkboard is now ready for your kid’s art, or your to-do list, or the family calendar … whatever you can dream up!

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Here’s sneak peek of what’s to come …

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How to Paint a Chalkboard Wall by Double the Fun Parties
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TPT 14 Party Planning Cheat Sheets 11-23-1

Party planning should be fun— not stressful!

Don't miss my FREE party planning cheat sheets.

These are the exact 14 worksheets I use to plan all my parties!

Have fun planning your party (and stop worrying about what you're forgetting).

Plus, you'll get all the latest parties, tutorials, and discounts from The Party Teacher.

You have successfully subscribed! Thanks for joining the party!

TPT 14 Party Planning Cheat Sheets 11-23-1

Don't miss my FREE Party Planning Cheat Sheets!

Don't miss my FREE party planning cheat sheets.

These are the exact 14 worksheets I use to plan all my parties!

Have fun planning your party (and stop worrying about what you're forgetting).

Plus, you'll get all the latest parties, tutorials, and discounts from The Party Teacher.

You have successfully subscribed! Thanks for joining the party!