chalkboard paint design DIY

It starts with a blank black-slate surface and ends in creative chaos – greats for homes with kids, or ones with evil genius scientists perhaps. Be warned: an eraser will never quite clear all the dust off this chalkboard paint the way a wet cloth cleans up a dry-erase white board, so plan on living with the aftermath of this architectural choice.

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chalkboard paint design DIY fun house

The interior shown above is that of architect and interior designer Laura Bohn, intended to invite scrawls, notes and artwork from guests on blackboard kitchen and living room walls. Feeling adventurous and you too can add chalkboard coating to doors, tables and other furniture as well – in dark slate gray/black or classic ‘schoolroom green’ as desired.

chalkboard paint design DIY doors and furniture

For the DIY-inclined, chalkboard paint is cheap and easy to come by at any large local hardware store – a power sander, sand paper, painting tape, roller, brush and tarp are the standard tools for those who wish to try it themselves like another Laura did.

The good thing about a slate paint is that the eventual chalk additions will essentially ‘erase’ any mistakes in the sanding-smooth process. As ways to make a room more interactive and visually engaging, this is about as simple and inexpensive as it gets. And just imagine: you could install some hidden magnetic strips or interlace pieces of pin-up cork board to add an entirely other mode of interaction.

chalkboard paint design DIY tabletop

About Laura Bohn Design Associates

“Laura Bohn strives to create a comfortable atmosphere using her well-edited approach. Bohn will often set unexpected hues and shapes together to give rooms depth and richness that is not easily replicated. An ability to forecast current design trends and interpret client’s needs has made Laura Bohn a New York design authority.”

“A graduate of Pratt Institute, Laura has long played an active role in the design community which earned her the Pratt Institute Life Achievement Award in 2015. She is the co-founder of The Designers Collaborative, a support group for top designers, as well as being a member of both the ASID and Decorators Club.