A refrigerator overflowing with kids’ artwork. A constant rotation of activities and commitments to keep track of. Misplaced library books every week. Learn how to make a DIY magnetic chalkboard wall that will keep life organized!
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My friend Connie was about to lose it and needed a command center yesterday. Her DIY magnetic chalkboard wall is the magic bullet that now keeps her sane.
Connie is here today to share all the project details and the positive impact it’s had on her and her family.
I’ll let her tell you, in her own words, how to make a magnetic chalkboard wall of your very own!
Why Make a Giant Magnetic Chalkboard?
- Paperwork: The kids come home with A LOT of paperwork, and we ran out of room on the fridge.
- Missing library books: The display shelf for library books keeps them in a prominent location, so we always know where they are. The shelf also makes our library books more of a “feature” so we can feel excited about the books that we’re reading this week.
- Personalization: Painting a magnetic chalkboard wall instantly allows us to personalize the kitchen depending on our mood.
Magnetic Chalkboard Wall Supplies
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- Rust-Oleum Magnetic Primer
- Rust-Oleum Chalkboard Paint
- Foam roller
- Fine-grit sanding block
- Painter’s tape
- Chalk
How to Make a Magnetic Chalkboard Wall
- Prepare the wall by sanding it with a fine-grit sanding block, then wipe the dust away with a clean, damp cloth or large sponge.
- Apply painter’s tape to the wall to mark the sections that you want to magnetize. Skip this step if you plan to magnetize the whole wall.
- Roll on 3-5 coats of the magnetic primer on the sections that you want to magnetize. The primer instructions call for three coats but use more to ensure that the wall is thoroughly magnetized.
- After the magnetic primer dries, apply two coats of chalkboard paint with a foam roller. Sand in between coats to smooth any bumps.
- Let the paint cure for three days before using it.
- Season the chalkboard by rubbing the side of white chalk all over the painted surface (try going horizontal and then vertical to ensure total coverage), then erase it. Seasoning will help your chalk artwork erase better.
Important Tips for a Neat Magnetic Chalkboard Wall
The five coats of magnetic paint in two rectangular areas of the wall created a line that showed in the finished product, so I sanded them down a little bit then covered them with the shelf, my calendars, and papers. You can avoid this problem by painting the whole space with magnetic paint instead of small area.
Organization with Impact
So far we love it. The kids love having space to doodle and practice their letters and words, and I love visually organizing my time with the huge calendar.
The prominent command center is really helpful for me, and I no longer feel that I constantly forget everything.
I customize the chalk art whenever I get sick of the last design, and it’s really nice for me to have a creative outlet that is easy to make and easy to erase. I also love to put up an inspirational quote that means something to me on a temporary basis.
A big THANK YOU to Connie for sharing her amazing project with us! I love that she took the time to really assess what her family’s needs were before she embarked on the project. Now she has a command center that keeps her organized and offers the family opportunities for creativity every day!
Here are some pretty and functional accessories to make the most out of your magnetic chalkboard wall!
Wall calendar, gold pail to hold chalk (comes in loads of colors), wall-mount wire basket, chalk markers (I have these!), ledge shelf, magnets
I hope you enjoyed this magnetic chalkboard wall tutorial! Were you inspired by The No Pressure Life? I would love to hear about it and feature your project. Drop me a line!
Check out these other organizing ideas:
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I’m looking for more materials and going to decor the chalkboard with my kids this weekend! Thank you so much for sharing, Laura. Also, please send my appreciation for Connie. Stay gorgeous <3.
Glad you were inspired, Jennifer!
Haha “Magnetic Chalkboard”!!! The traditional thing we always see when going to school in our place. But thank you now I have more inspiration for making my own.