DIY Giant Chalkboard

While we were building Old Salt Farm, I knew I wanted to make a giant chalkboard for a large wall in our dining room.  I’ve always loved them–not only because they’re super cute and the epitome of farmhouse style, but because they’re so versatile!  I’ve hung several different wreaths on it, and strung twine to hang Christmas cards and paper sacks for a countdown.  I’ve written messages and quotes on it, and left it plain.  I love having so many options. It’s also pretty inexpensive to make, considering it can cover a huge space!  Ours is 4×6, and we spent less than $40 to make it.  It’s seriously one of my favorite things, and I have a few more planned–one for the office, and for the playroom.

If you have been thinking about making one…do it!  They’re perfect for that large wall you want to fill, on a mantel, over a bed, in the office or playroom, in a long hallway–pretty much anywhere.

 

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DIY GIANT CHALKBOARD

SUPPLIES:

–1/4 in.  birch plywood

-1×6 boards

– stain (this is what I used!)

–wood glue (this is my favorite brand!)

–nail gun and 3/4 inch nails (or hammer and nails)

-chalkboard paint

-foam brushes

 

DIRECTIONS:

I’m so sad I don’t have any pictures of the process for you! I made this in the week or so before we moved, and it was pure chaos.  I know I took some, or at least I think I did…lol.  It really is easy and straightforward, and I’ll spell everything out in the directions below. Just let me know if you have any questions!

We used 1/4 inch birch plywood for a couple of reasons.  First of all, it’s lightweight, and since I was going to hang it on the all, and because it was going to be quite large, I wanted to reduce the weight.  Secondly, I was able to purchase it in a 4×8 sheet, which is the largest I could find at my local Home Depot. It was around $25, which for that size is a great price! The plywood was 8 feet wide, and I needed it to be 6 feet, so we cut it down to the desired size–which is 4×6.

1. I painted the board with three layers of chalkboard paint using a foam brush, letting each coat dry before adding the next.

2. While the paint was drying, we cut the frame to size.  The frame sits right on top of the plywood, and our 4×6 board was going to sit with the long side horizontally, so we cut 2-six foot pieces for the bottom, and 2 pieces that for the sides that were 37 inches long.  How did we get 37?  The top and bottom boards cover a portion of the sides.  They are 5.5 inches in width, and 5.5 x 2 = 11.  We subtracted 11 inches from 48, to get 37.  Here’s a diagram that shows how it works–it uses different dimensions, but it’s a visual that explains how it works:

3. Once the boards were cut, I stained them and let them dry completely.

4. We attached the boards to the chalkboard frame first with wood glue, and then with 3/4 inch nails.  We used a nail gun, but you could also use a hammer!

5.  The last step was to season the chalkboard to avoid any “ghosting”. That means if you write on it without preparing it, you will never be able to fully erase it–a faint image will remain there forever.  Seasoning it takes just a few minutes–use the side of a piece of chalk to completely chalk over the entire board, first vertically, then horizontally.  Wipe it all off with a lint-free cloth, and remove the excess dust. That’s it!  You’re ready to hang your chalkboard!

You might also like some of my other farmhouse style projects!

Farmhouse Bathroom + DIY Framed Mirrors

Easy DIY Wall Hooks

DIY Numbered Crates