17 Easy Ideas for Chalkboard Paint Projects in the Home

Style on the Side

Can't find a pen and paper? Jot down your grocery list on the exterior wall of a kitchen cabinet or island. Black chalkboard paint transforms the underutilized area into a message board for ingredients or menu items. Simply prime, paint, and let dry!

Measure Up

Never misplace a cooking utensil again. Coat the inside of a kitchen cabinet with chalkboard paint before applying small hooks to hang measuring cups and spoons. Trace each utensil with chalk, then label the underside with the appropriate size so each cup is always in the right spot.

Writing on the Walls

Make mornings a little more fun with a bright chalkboard accent wall. The punchy chartreuse space complements colorful benches that pull up to a miniature breakfast bar. Kids can use the writing surface for a quick game of tic-tac-toe, while adults will love the go-to area for recording daily schedules.

Food for Thought

Bon appetit! Treat dinner guests to an easy-to-read menu with an oversize chalkboard panel that displays the dish du jour. Even when left blank, the dark paint adds drama to upper dining room walls.

Faux Fireplace

Chalkboard paint makes it easy to fake a fireplace. Simply apply it to a square of wall space, then frame with trim pieces for the look of a mantel. Make the surface stand out with pretty silhouettes drawn with chalk marker.

Daily Ombre

Get organized with a gorgeous chalkboard calendar. First, paint a neutral base coat for the wall calendar. After it is dry, use a pencil to map out each section. Color each day with a different shade by gradually mixing a lighter hue into your base color. Finish by using chalkboard markers to designate the days and month.

Beauty Display

Clear vanity clutter with this fresh idea for a decorative frame. Prep a piece of plywood with magnetic primer before covering with black chalkboard paint and gluing into a wooden picture frame. The result is a handy hub for makeup and accessories that is both magnetic and chalk-friendly.

Laundry Labels

Make your hardworking laundry room work even harder with chalkboard labels. This simple wood frame adds fashion to dryer sheets, while a casual label made with chalkboard paint designates its function.

Memorable Memos

Not ready to commit to color? Try removable decals made of erasable chalkboard. The pretty and purposeful stickers come in a rainbow of colors and can be cut to size. Use liquid chalk pens to write messages and mantras in the funky bubbles.

Petite Planters

Avoid confusion about plant identities with a few simple hardware supples. Coat wooden plant markers with a custom chalkboard paint color made by mixing 1/4 cup outdoor paint with 1 tablespoon unsanded tile-grout powder. Once dry, use a china marker to write labels that won't wash off in the rain.

Chalk Magnet Board

Vintage mirrors with great shapes abound at flea markets. Score one for a few dollars, then transform it into a sophisticated message center. Remove the mirror from its frame, or use painter's tape to cover the frame. Spray several coats of magnetic spray paint on the mirror. Let dry between each coat. Then apply a layer of chalkboard paint and let dry.

• Learn more about chalkboard paint.

Name Frame

Upcycle a plain wooden photo frame with chalkboard paint. Prime the frame, then paint on a coat of chalkboard paint (Krylon and Rust-Oleum both have great color options). Let dry. Use chalk to update the caption as you change the photo.

On Tray

Up the elegance factor at your dinner party or wedding table by converting a vintage platter into a beautiful menu display. Trace the oval base of your platter onto a thick piece of paper. Cut out the oval and center it on top of the platter, then trace an oval guide for the paint. Use a small brush to stroke chalkboard paint inside the edges of the guideline. Roll the center with chalkboard paint using a small smooth-surface foam roller.

Vanity Lesson

Turn an old medicine cabinet into a sweet spot for lists and notes. First, remove the mirror or inner panel. If you can't remove the mirror or panel, cut a piece of chipboard to fit. Paint the mirror or chipboard piece with two coats of chalkboard paint, allowing each coat to dry between applications. Pop the mirror back in, or use super glue to secure the chipboard cutout in place. Use chalk to spell out the day's duties.

Chalkboard Paint Tip: If you use a mirror, prime the surface first.

Scheduling Panes

Transform a six-panel window into a home office calendar to ease your planning pains. Each day of the workweek is assigned a frame, and the sixth makes room for extra notes or magnets. Tape off the wooden frame with painter's tape. To make your calendar magnetic, spray several coats of magnetic spray paint on the front of the glass, allowing each coat to dry between applications. Then paint each pane with chalkboard paint using a paintbrush to edge and a small foam roller for smooth surfaces.

Clever Containers

Add a little erasable oomph to your kitchen canisters with repositionable vinyl stickers that accept chalk marks (check dickblick.com and wallies.com for colorful options). Use a punch to cut out the labels. Remove the paper backing, and position the label on the glass or wooden canister. The labels are easy to rechalk as you change their contents.

Mix It Up

You can find chalkboard paint at almost any crafts or art-supply store or home center. But if you're longing for a hue that's not available on store shelves, concoct your own. To create a custom color of chalk-ready paint, simply combine 1 cup latex paint in your desired shade with 2 tablespoons of unsanded tile grout. Use a paint stirrer to mix. During application, gently sand the dry layers of paint between coats with 150-grit sandpaper. Apply several coats for the best color.