Is it possible to change the interior frequently and at minimal cost? Yes! For this you need a board for drawing with chalk - Chalkboard or slate or chalk board - has long been one of the decorative attributes in homes. At the moment, this phenomenon has formed a whole direction in modern design, becoming a prominent representative of the aesthetics of black and white colors.
Modern designers willingly use such boards in their projects. But they can not only have the traditional look, on which they are drawn with chalk, they can also be painted on with paint. The size of the board will depend on your preferences: the entire wall or a small format. These boards can be both useful and enjoyable. Useful, for example, for notes, reminders, but pleasant because all the artist’s fantasies can be brought to life. A chalkboard adds style to any room, and not just a room - all it takes is a simple flat surface to place it on. You can buy ready-made boards or make them yourself. There are special paints for this. We've put together a few ideas to help you get inspired by this design and start developing your own creative ideas for using chalkboards in your home.
Slate board in the kitchen
We have all seen that restaurants and cafes often use boards similar to school boards. This is a great way to showcase the menu, new dishes or specials of the day.
Slate board in the kitchen.
You can adopt this trend into your kitchen. Whatever your imagination suggests can be written on a chalk board. This can include a method of preparing a dish, a menu for a party, dinner options for family members, or a shopping list at a store.
The photo shows a chalk board in the kitchen interior.
This photo shows an interesting way to fit a slate board into the kitchen interior. You just need to add shelves for storing spices and seasonings, you can also make a mini bar. Next to the shelves you can add a description of what is stored on it, or some funny drawings or inscriptions for a good mood. This black chalk board on the wall looks stylish when combined with the pastel colors that usually dominate kitchen designs. This option will only revive it and make it different from others.
Chalk board on the wall in the kitchen.
This option is not suitable for any notes or funny drawings. This is a whole work of art! The sketch is made in the spirit of the Renaissance, which adds drama to the kitchen interior. Even bowls for pets in such a kitchen look different and, what’s most interesting, really complement the interior.
Slate on the wall and door.
If there is a whole empty wall in your kitchen, then it would be a sin not to use it for flights of fancy. Give it a personal touch and it will become your favorite place in the house. You can draw with colored crayons, attach colorful stickers or interesting magnets. If you have a door to the room in this wall, then this is especially not a problem. Paint it with special slate paint, leaving only the handle intact. This will be a surprise for everyone when you open it.
Wall board for drawing with chalk with recipes.
For those who love to cook and spend a lot of time in the kitchen, this is an ideal option. Remember the recipes for gourmet dishes that you wrote down on the first piece of paper you came across and then lost? Now you won’t lose it and be sure to cook it! This is an inspiration for any chef!
Magnetic board on the refrigerator for chalk notes with a shopping list.
A chalkboard is a great way to create a shopping list without forgetting about it. And the best place for this is right on the refrigerator. We use this every day - we stick everything important on it with magnets or even tape. It's time to place a magnetic chalkboard on the refrigerator!
Slate board in the kitchen for a child.
In the evenings, mothers have too many responsibilities: preparing dinner and also looking after the child. And so they run back and forth all evening to get everything done. Don't panic - this option will make your life easier. You need to set aside a place for your child in the kitchen. Your child can do their homework on the board instead of a rough draft, and you can check it with just a turn of your head without worrying about burning anything. He can also simply draw on it, and you won’t even notice how quickly your kitchen will look like an art studio. This way, the kitchen will become a place of unity where you can learn and create together.
Forms and materials for creativity and decoration
The traditional shape is a rectangle or square. The most popular material is wood. The simplest and most popular model is a wall-mounted school chalk board for children.
When a ready-made chalk board is selected for the interior, it is important to consider the dimensions first of all, in relation to the area of the room itself, as well as the presence of other items in the room. It is not necessary to place the board exactly on the wall. A bright element can be fitted into the dimensions of the cabinet door, thereby giving the furniture an extravagant look and enhancing its functional potential.
Chalk board in the interior of the hallway
Chalk board in Provence interior
If standard chalk boards in the interior can be called classic, then finishing with specific slate paint looks much more progressive and modern. Feature - the coloring composition fits well on any surface, from an untreated wall in the hallway to a brand new kitchen door.
Chalkboards can be created in any size and shape, adapting to the individual characteristics of each room. Essentially, as the paint dries, it forms a rough layer on which you can paint.
By the way, such static chalk boards for the home can be transformed into panels for photographs. If you are bored with drawing and the board, as such, is no longer relevant, you can place photographs on a black canvas. Such installations are complemented by 3D stickers, various applications and other interesting decorative elements.
Chalk board with drawings in the interior
Chalk board in the bedroom interior
Chalk board for home
If you want to make your room unique, if you want the walls themselves to speak about your personality and your interests, then you must have a chalk board like this at home.
Chalk board in the interior of the living room.
Do you really love paintings and want to add them to the living room, but are you worried that they may not fit into your interior, may not be the right size, or will play a cruel joke on you, visually reducing the size of the room, or just get boring over time? This option will save you from all these troubles. Your love for art will be expressed on this board. You can always change your preferences very easily and for this you do not have to redo the entire room every time and spend a lot of money. In addition, this option does not take up space at all.
Stylish chalk board in a painted frame.
How to make the board in your room not look as boring as in school? As easy as pie! We need two things: paint and your imagination. Around the board you need to draw a frame of patterns, or curved lines, and so on. Then the board in your room will sparkle with different colors.
How to use paint
When working with a chalk composition, you need to take into account the characteristics of the paint itself and its interaction with various types of materials. The surface must be smooth, dry and clean. Improper preparation of the working area and dye reduces the service life of the coating several times.
Before you start working with chalk paint, you need to carefully prepare the surface to be painted.
Preparing the dye for work
Preparing the paint consists of tinting it, diluting it to the desired consistency and pouring it into a container convenient for working with a roller or brush. According to the recommendations of manufacturers, the share of water should not exceed 10-15% of the amount of product.
Excess thinner increases the drying time of the layer, reduces its resistance to moisture and abrasion.
To make the coating durable, it is important to properly prepare the surface:
- clean the work area from dirt, dust and grease (in the latter case, treat it with a saturated soap solution, and then rinse with water several times);
- cover the floor with plastic film, newspapers or cellophane;
- if the work area is located near doors, windows or built-in furniture, cover the slopes, jambs or side walls with wide masking tape;
- sand the protrusions, cover potholes, cracks and irregularities with plaster;
- if the wall has not been painted previously, apply plaster, primer and putty, wait for the preliminary layer to dry completely;
- coat smooth surfaces (glass, metal, ceramics, etc.) with a primer intended for the selected material;
- When finishing a wall covered with wallpaper, you do not need to remove the previous layer; just wash the surface thoroughly and coat it with any acrylic primer (if there is a relief, the coating may require 1-2 more layers of dye than required according to the instructions).
During operation, the room temperature should be above +8...+10°C. Recommended air humidity is no more than 75-80%.
Suitable Tools
To apply the dye you will need:
- deep container for mixing the composition;
- wide tray for immersing tools;
- a roller with short or medium pile (for smooth surfaces it is recommended to use a velor one);
- brush (its width depends on the surface to be coated).
Some types of slate pigments can be applied with a spray gun.
Dyeing process
How to paint a surface:
- Limit the work area with construction tape. In most cases, slate paint is not used to cover the entire wall, but only the part of it that is intended for painting.
- Pour a small amount of paint into the tray. An important feature of the chalk product is its rapid drying. To prevent the dye from drying out during the process, you need to add it in small portions, stir periodically and close the jar immediately after pouring.
- Place the roller in the tray. Evenly paint the main part of the work area. It is recommended to paint hard-to-reach places (corners, joints) and areas near masking tape with a brush. During operation, you need to ensure that the roller remains wet. Drying will cause unevenness on the painted wall, separation of pile fragments and a decrease in the strength of the coating.
- Wait for the layer to dry. Repeat application 1-2 times depending on the manufacturer's recommendations.
Between applying layers you need to take a break of 2-3 hours. If the product packaging indicates drying time, it is recommended to follow the instructions. It will be possible to paint and wash the surface only after the layer has completely hardened and gained strength properties, which will happen in 1-7 days. For a homemade composition, you can use the average value: 3-4 days.
In the first month, fresh finishes can only be washed with clean water, without using soap or other aggressive agents.
When carrying out painting work, it is recommended to follow the manufacturer's instructions.
How to paint furniture with chalk paint:
- wipe the surface from dust; wood protected with varnish can be gently washed in warm water;
- dry the surface;
- To completely remove oil stains, wipe the work area with a degreaser (technical alcohol, solvent);
- if there are uneven spots or remnants of old paint, sand the wood and then remove the dust with a damp cloth or hairdryer;
- apply the first layer with a roller or brush (the choice of tool depends on the size of the area and the required smoothness of the coating);
- leave for 1-3 hours, and then level the dry surface with fine (soft) sanding paper;
- brush off dust with a hairdryer or a wide dry brush;
- repeat coloring;
- after the finishing layer has dried, decorate the surface;
- leave the finished product for 2-3 days.
The number of layers depends on the difference in the shade of the surface being painted and the pigment.
Finishing dark treated wood with light paint may require 4-6 coats of product. For small color differences, as well as for untreated wood, 2-3 applications are sufficient.
It is advisable to use soft chalk for drawing. The cheap material often used in schools often contains pebbles and sand, which increase wear and tear on the surface.
Slate boards in the bedroom interior
Bedrooms are private spaces, making them the perfect place to get creative with a small chalk board. Say: “Go!” wildest fantasies and have fun with it. Life is too short to be timid.
A bed without a headboard has it drawn on a chalk board.
One of the best ways is to draw the headboard on a chalk board on the wall. This is brilliant! And you shouldn’t stop with just this option. You can draw a chair, a wardrobe, and much more in the room, which will decorate your interior at no cost.
Chalk board at the head of the bed.
A chalk board at the head of the bed, in addition to an interesting design, can be useful. She can be busy with whatever you want. Even if you suffer from insomnia, or something is bothering you and you are afraid to fall asleep, just write it on the board, you should feel better.
Chalk surfaces in the interior of children's rooms
All mothers sooner or later encounter damaged wallpaper on the walls of their children’s rooms, covered with markers and colored pencils. In order not to punish the kids for their drawings, it is wiser to paint one of the free walls with graphite paint, where the child will develop his creative abilities.
You can use a chalk surface to decorate a wall near a child’s crib, a desk, in a play area, or cover the walls of a wardrobe with chalk paint. Own creativity, always being before the eyes of a child, stimulates the development of his abilities. His self-esteem will grow along with it.
Chalk board in a closet or niche
Chalk boards can be placed not only on walls or large spaces, but also in niches and on cabinets.
Chalk board covering the entire wall in a niche.
How to combine business style with home style? This option will help you, proving that black is not necessarily a gloomy color. This large black board looks harmonious in combination with the surrounding interior. A white table, shelves, wardrobe, accessories make the room cozy, and not at all gloomy. And the crayon notes below give the room life.
The slate board made it possible to effectively use the niche space.
Chalkboard walls do not have to be in the center of the room; they can be hidden from view, for example, in a niche or closet. In this case, the niche looks like a small home office.
Chalk board in children's room
Children love to draw with crayons. Every child dreams of having a chalkboard in their own room. Don't lose the opportunity to purchase such a board. You will be amazed at your child's artistic abilities!
A large chalkboard on the wall in the children's room.
A board in a child’s mind is a piece of freedom. This is the place on the wall where he can create his masterpieces. On a chalkboard, children can fully unleash their creativity, which will only be limited by its size. And multi-colored drawings will only add mood to the room.
Children's chalkboard for drawing.
The chalk board is the best place for a budding artist. With its help, children can express themselves again and again. When you go to your child’s room, don’t forget to take a camera with you to capture his creativity as a keepsake.
Children's chalk board for drawing.
If you doubt that a slate board can fit into any interior, then here is an example of how this can be done in a modern children's room design. This playroom is made in bright colors: red, yellow, green. These are such bright spots against the background of neutral tones of the room design. Therefore, a dark carpet and a dark board go well together and mute the bright details. And the drawings on the board correspond to artistic trends in contemporary art.
A chalkboard on the wall with a child's drawing.
At an early age, children use chalk boards not for learning, but for expressing themselves. It doesn't matter at all what is drawn there. What a mess there is on the board, what drawings and combinations are incomprehensible to you, it may even seem to you that your child has gone crazy. But don't worry and don't disturb him. Let the child create and enjoy it.
Choosing a board base
You can choose absolutely any base, it could be:
- Any plywood
- Any piece of board, table top or piece of old facade
- Mirror glass or
- Cardboard - take apart the old cardboard box and the base is ready
If you choose wood as a base, then do not forget to sand it and treat it against corrosion - read more about processing wood, cuts and branches here.
Slate board in the hallway interior
Hallways are usually not very large, but nevertheless, they serve several functions: they are the first thing people see when they come to you and they are a place to store outerwear and accessories. Very often no attention is paid to the hallway, considering that it is a passage place and nothing more, so the interior usually suffers. It's time to change this situation. It is up to you to create a hallway that will amaze your guests, that they will talk about after they leave you, and that they will want in their home.
Original hallway with chalk board.
Instead of a stuffed fish, they drew it on a board, and instead of ordinary hooks, they used giant buttons in the general style of the hallway. Don't be tasteless about any detail in your home!
Disadvantages of slate walls
The disadvantages of this material include aesthetic inconveniences:
- A dark wall surface darkens and visually reduces the space. In small apartments and rooms with insufficient lighting, it is better not to paint a large area of the walls.
- The slate wall should be wiped frequently with a damp cloth to prevent chalk dust from polluting the living space.
Tip: For home use, it is better to use low-dust or dust-free chalk. It is softer and does not leave streaks.
If you have allergies in your home or you don't like dark walls, you can use marker paint. It can be light and transparent and does not collect dust.
Chalk boards in the office
Many people purchase small boards for reminders. But even in the office you can make an entire wall out of chalkboard.
Practical diary on a chalk board.
If you see only the entertainment side of the slate, then we present to your attention the business side as well. You can make the board into individual tiles and use it as a weekly notepad. This makes it much more convenient to plan your time.
Stylish chalk board calendar.
A stylish chalk board in the form of a calendar allows you to immediately cover the entire month and see what has been done and what still needs to be done. This is not only a beautiful option, but also functional. You plan every month yourself. This is a simple and very convenient way.
Office chalk board for creativity and business.
A chalkboard wall can be used creatively as well as functionally. But the best way is a combination of both methods. You can draw some illustrations in some places, so to speak, for the soul. And then, use the remaining space for business purposes - write lists, notes, draw graphs, and so on. It will not be so difficult for you to look at deadlines for completing work.
Start imagining!
There are many different ways to introduce Chalkboard into your home. You can create simple shapes or complex designs, use paints, tiles and other decorative elements, place boards on the entire wall or devote a small part to them. Whichever option you choose, your friends will be amazed by your design skills. Chalk boards make this very easy to achieve!
Bar counter in a kitchen studio made of slate boards.
To make the interior of your apartment stylish, you need a chalk board. And with its help you can create stunning paintings for every taste. In addition, with each new painting or some inscriptions, your interior changes. And if you want to impress your friends and family, you can do it with your chalkboard fantasies.
Chalk board on the wall in a wooden frame.
Another interesting option is a chalk board in a wooden frame. This way, all your creations will look like real paintings. In addition, the board is magnetic. Therefore, you can not only draw, but also attach some inscriptions to it. Making this option is not difficult. You just need to apply magnetic paint first, and then chalkboard paint.
Marker wall covering
Walls to be coated with marker paint require careful preparation. All cavities and irregularities are removed from the surface by plastering. Paint is applied only to a smooth, sanded surface without flaws.
The marker coating consists of:
- epoxy resins, which ensure good adhesion and the surface becomes resistant to abrasion;
- polyurethane polymers that give the surface gloss and elasticity, preventing the appearance of cracks in the finish coating.
The marker coating is available in transparent and white. Transparent is more universal, suitable for any surfaces treated with materials intended for wall decoration.
To apply paint evenly to the surface of the walls, it is better to use rollers, making sure that no drips form when painting. It is very important to let the paint sit for at least 10 days. On a poorly dried surface, the marker may leave scratches.
You can draw on a whiteboard coated with markers using water-based colored markers. They can be easily wiped off with a regular dry sponge, napkin, or any soft rag, unlike permanent markers, which remain on the surface without being removed.
The marker coating requires periodic treatment with special liquid compounds applied to the surface of the board with wet wipes. They not only clean the surface well from marker traces, but also polish it.
Start playing with Chalkboard
Vacant basements are a great place to have some fun! And the best way to enliven the walls and the entire interior in general are painted chalk boards.
Chalk board in the basement of a house.
Basements are a great place to unwind, and chalkboards can help with that. It can indicate the game score or display entire tournaments. And those who have nothing to do can still sketch some sketches on the board, and generally whatever their heart desires.
Chalk board on your site near the house
We all know the health benefits of fresh air and that children need to play outside a lot. This time can be combined with creativity. Many famous artists love plein air painting. So why not start creating in this style in your garden?
Chalk board on the fence around the house.
If you have always wanted uhbatkmye. board, but were worried about the chalk dust that would fly throughout the apartment, then make it outside. The board can be placed on a fence or any flat surface. It will add new ideas for your garden.
A child draws on a slate board in the garden.
If you want to create a chalkboard in your garden but don't have any flat surfaces there, no problem. You need to cut a piece of plywood and install it even on an uneven surface. All you have to worry about is where the crayons will be stored. Alternatively, you can hang a small bucket next to the board. That's it!
Creative chalk boards worn by celebrities
Chalkboards are all the rage right now. Famous people also use this interior element in their apartments. Walls with a chalkboard look super stylish, super interesting. This is a great budget option!
Gwyneth Paltrow's children's room with chalkboard on the wall.
Gwyneth Paltrow, famous for her exquisite taste, believes that interesting things do not mean expensive things. The photo shows her children's room. As you can see, there is nothing super cool about it. Nice, cute, stylish children's room.
Use in interior design
When arranging your interior, take a closer look at ready-made chalk panels and wallpaper with a slate finish.
If both options are somehow not suitable for you, there is also a special paint. It can be applied to glass, wood, plastic, metal, plaster. Some manage to cover furniture with it.
There are several options for placing a slate board. Let's look at them in more detail.
Chalk boards in wow style
Chalkboard walls are interesting on their own, but they can also be part of other paintings. Either way, your creativity will only be limited by your imagination.
Photo wall of your memories with framed chalkboards.
Hang photos and empty frames on the wall. Then, in the empty frames, use chalk to mark what the event is. Thus, hang up a selection of vacation photos and leave your descriptions or impressions in the empty frames.
A green chalk board looks no worse than a black one.
If black doesn't appeal to you, that doesn't mean the board can't be a different color, like the green chalk board you have at school now. It will look no less attractive with illustrations than a black chalk board. Especially if these are illustrations of plants or animals. It will also look interesting if your board is divided into an adult half and a children’s half.
Guest book from chalk article.
Have you ever thought about having a guest book in which you can leave wishes or some friendly notes? Next time you're planning a party, set up a chalkboard area for guests to draw and write on. You'll be glad you made the board because every time you look at it you'll remember how cool and fun it was.
All walls are made of slate boards.
Sometimes more is better. All the walls in this photo are made of slate boards, as if they were wallpaper. They were subsequently filled with drawings and phrases. Not only does it look modern, it’s also surprising and unconventional!
Boards for drawing with chalk in the interior of the attic.
Attics are usually considered uncomfortable rooms, since the walls are sloping towards one end and somewhere above, somewhere below. But it may not be comfortable for an adult, but it is a good place for children to play and sleep. You can experiment in such a space. For example, separate the bedroom from the play area. This will create a room within a room that can be decorated with a chalk board for drawing. The attic can be the best place in the house for your child!
Features of the composition
The main feature of chalk dye is its long drying time. Primary curing of the finishing layer takes from 2 to 7 days.
The range of containers, palette and consumption rate depend on the manufacturer.
Color palette
Chalk dye can be monochrome (black, white, gray), tinted and transparent. The product to be tinted has a white base, which is highlighted by a bright pigment. When choosing a color, you should take into account that due to the matte texture, the surface turns out to be 20-30% paler than declared.
The palette of chalk paints for furniture includes many pastel shades: soft white, ivory, beige, cream, silky gray, brown, etc.
Packaging volume
The packaging of slate dye can have the following volume:
- 100-120 ml, 250 ml (for creating decor);
- 375 ml (for furniture and accessories);
- 300-350 ml (in cans);
- 0.5 l, 0.9 l, 1 l (for finishing walls, furniture, slates, etc.);
- 5 l (for room decoration).
Chinese manufacturers produce chalk aerosol in small cans - 80-100 ml. This product is suitable for one-time use: processing 1-2 souvenirs, decorating a car area, etc.
Some companies (Tikkurila, Krylon, Raduga) produce paint in only one volume - 0.9-1 liters. This is convenient when working with walls, furniture or boards, but significantly increases the cost of finishing small accessories. The most practical range of brands is Siberia and Blackboardpaint, which produce 3 types of containers: 500 ml, 1 l and 5 l.
Manufacturers offer various forms of chalk paint.
Consumption rate
Consumption depends on the following factors:
- Characteristics of the dye. The consumption rate is set by the manufacturer and indicated on the can or can. On average, 1 liter of dye is enough to finish 4-5.5 m². Some products are more economical and allow you to cover up to 9-10 m² of surface.
- Number and thickness of layers. According to the manufacturer's recommendations, colored paints are applied in 2-3 layers, and monochrome paints, especially liquid ones, are applied in 1-2 layers. Material costs will also depend on the relief and shade of the work area. Before covering with a light finish, it is advisable to putty the dark surface to reduce consumption. The thickness of the layer depends, first of all, on the experience of the master. Beginners often apply paint too thickly and leave uneven areas on a smooth surface. Defects have to be sanded down after each layer has dried.
- Method of application. The most economical tool is a spray gun. It sprays mini droplets of pigment, resulting in an even color and layer thickness. In addition, to work with the remote control you may need to slightly dilute the paint, which will further reduce consumption. The least practical method of application is with a brush. It should only be used on selected areas or small surface areas.
- Absorbency of the material. Smooth surfaces (metal, ceramics) do not absorb moisture well, so dye consumption will be small. Plastered concrete requires less finishing material than textiles or wood.
Drying time
Each layer takes 2-6 hours to dry. However, it will take much longer to completely dry the surface before painting. For example, Tikkurila dye dries for 6 hours, but finally hardens only after a week.
The leader in drying speed is an aerosol from Krylon (Chalkboard Paint). Complete curing of the finish takes only 1 day. However, this advantage is offset by the high price of the material: the cost of covering 1 m² is almost twice that of other paints.
Chalk board for a photo shoot
A chalk board is used as a background for a photo shoot.
Photographers use a variety of backgrounds in their photo shoots, so you can use your chalkboard to create extraordinary photographs. This chalk board features a cityscape, but you can choose the perfect backdrop each time, giving you a wide variety of photos to choose from.
Slate board for photo shoots.
What other ways are there to take photos of family members in front of a chalkboard? There are many ways, ask your relatives or a friend to stand near the board, mark their height, and then draw something. For example, deer antlers for Christmas photos, or bunny ears for Easter. Imagine! The possibilities are endless.
