Even if your homeschool in no way resembles an old fashioned school room, you can still enjoy the vintage look of a chalkboard while you get practical benefits too.
Using Chalkboard Paint in Your Homeschool Room
by Jimmie
Apply some chalkboard paint to an area of your homeschool room to create an instant learning station or memo board.
 Household Chalkboard |
Why Add a Chalkboard to Your Classroom?
What is a chalkboard good for?
Remembering
- memos and appointments
- list of assignments for a student to mark off
Learning
- handwriting, math, or spelling practice (Most things are more fun when done on a chalkboard!)
- vocabulary word of the day
- spelling rules
- word banks
- Bible verse of the day
Creating
- sketching and drawing
- doodling
Encouraging
- notes of praise and love
Advantages of Chalkboards
(Compared to Whiteboards)
I prefer a chalkboard to a whiteboard for these reasons:
- Chalk is very inexpensive compared to dry erase markers.
- Chalk has no offensive odor compared to dry erase markers.
- Chalk normally doesn't stain clothing like dry erase markers.
- Chalkboards can be washed with plain water and look as good as new.
Rust-Oleum Brush-on Black Chalkboard Paint
Classic Black Chalkboard Look and Feel
 |
| Rust-Oleum 206540 Chalkboard Brush-On, Black, 30-Ounce Rust-Oleum Only $16.96 |
How to Paint with Chalkboard Paint
Chalkboard paint can be used on many surfaces: wood, metal, plaster, or paperboard. Just be sure that your surface is even so that writing on and erasing off is easy.
It will take several coats -- 5 or more -- to create your chalkboard or chalkboard, so allow plenty of time for your project. Using blue painter's tape makes clean up easier.
After waiting three entire days for the final coat to dry, cover the entire surface with chalk. Then wipe it off.This allows for a better adhesion of the chalk to the board.
To clean your board, simply wipe with a dry or damp cloth.
 Painting with Chalkboard Paint |
Where to Create a Chalkboard for Your Homeschool
Idea #1: Paint a Wall or Door
For maximum chalkboard area, paint a wall or a door.
- Consider painting the bottom half of a wall if your children are young and you want to give them an area to draw.
- Paint a closet door.
- Look for odd areas of the room that would work well as a chalkboard.
- Let the design of the walls and doors guide you. Inset panels make for great chalkboard areas.
Use the photos below for inspiration.
Painting Walls and Doors with Chalkboard Paint
 chalkboard paint on a closet door |
 chalkboard paint on a wall |
 chalkboard paint on an odd corner wall |
 Outside Chalkboard |
Where to Create a Chalkboard for Your Homeschool
Idea #2: Use a Frame, Whiteboard, or Other Object
If the idea of painting the wall is too permanent or overwhelming, start with a smaller project -- a portable blackboard that can be moved or hung as desired.
To make your chalkboard, paint chalkboard paint on top of any of the following:
- a whiteboard
- a piece of thin board inside a thrift store frame
- a cabinet door (paint the inset area, leaving the raised border as a frame)
You are limited only by your own creativity. The images below offer ideas to get you started.
Chalkboard Ideas
 chalkboard/corkboard made from a whiteboard |
 chalkboard made from a whiteboard |
 chalkboard made from a cabinet door |
Want a Colored Chalkboard?
Here are Tintable and Colored Chalkboard Paints
 |  |  |
| 1 Gal. Tintable Chalkboard Paint | FolkArt 2543 8-Ounce Chalkboard Paint... | FolkArt 2537 8-Ounce Chalkboard Paint... Only $10.28 |
Not a Fan of Black Chalkboards?
Make a Chalkboard in Your Choice of Color
All the chalkboards pictured here are the traditional black color. But your chalkboard does not have to be black. Use tintable chalkboard paint or buy pre-tinted chalkboard paint for a hue that matches your decor.
Or follow the recipes linked below for mixing up your own homemade chalkboard paint.
Make Your Own Chalkboard Paint
How to Make Your Own Chalkboard Paint
A simple recipe for making chalkboard paint of any color.
How To Make Custom Color Chalkboard Paint
Another recipe but with plenty of inspiring photos, Martha style.
Dick Blick Sells Chalkboard Paint
Go Beyond Walls and Boards!
 Chalkboard Jars |
Make it a Chalkboard!
Tin Cans
Get pencils and brushes organized with these blackboard cans. Great recycling project!
Glass Jars
Organize math manipulatives or other small items in labeled glass jars.
Paint Cans
Larger than the tin cans, paint cans can be repurposed into spiffy organizers with chalkboard paint.
Terra Cotta Pots
Yep, even terra cotta can be painted with chalkboard paint.
Other Uses of Chalkboard Paint
Paint More than Just Walls and Boards
Chalkboard paint can be used on glass, metal, clay, or plastic. So consider the applications for organizing your homeschool classroom!
Repurpose items that might be thrown away to make spiffy organizers. Simply brush on a layer or two of chalkboard paint, decorate with some contrasting ribbon or fabric, and Voila! A cute, vintage organizer.
Paint tin cans, paint cans, glass jars, bins, and pots for easy-to-label containers.
Rust-Oleum Chalkboard Paint
30 oz can
 | Rust-Oleum 206540 Chalkboard Brush-On, Black, 30-Ounce Create a chalkboard on virtually any surface. Formulated with extremely hard pigments to out perform the competition won't leave scratch marks where the chalk was used. ... Rust-Oleum / Only $16.96 |
Grab Your Chalks!
 Colored Chalks |
Updated: 02/24/2012, Jimmie
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Comments
I love the idea of using chalkboard paint on canning jars. What a great way to temporarily label jars! It could be fun for kids to practice sorting (math) and then labeling (writing).
Thought this would be a great idea for my gr8 nephew's room - no tacs! Yay! I have followed the directions - first Rust-Oleum's Magnetic paint - 3 thin coats then I did the 2 coats of Rust-Oleum's Chalk Board paint which is in their tinted color of "Banner Blue" - the color on the wall is nothing that is pictured on the box even in the can. It goes on the bright blue but then turns very dark! Also having a hard time with magnets sticking- only flat advertising magnets are working. Haven't tried chalk yet as debating to paint the tinted paint again and then I will have to wait the 3 days as directed to use. Anyone get the color right that is tinted from Rust-Oleum? I have yet to try the "Grape Fizz" in my daughter's room.
That is very cool. I might be able to use that in my gallery. Thanks.