How to Create a Blackboard Surface

If you’re a DIY enthusiast, there’s no doubt you’ll love the look of a chalkboard surface. In recent years, blackboard paint has become increasingly popular for home users and businesses alike. Here at Smarter Surfaces™, we’ve been busy trying out our own Blackboard Paint and have found plenty of fun and innovative ways to use it. Cafe’s and restaurants can create menu boards, wedding venues can add vintage flair to their decor and businesses can encourage creativity among teams with blackboard surfaces in common areas.

How to Create a Blackboard Surface

To help you create a blackboard surface, here are our top tips to get started:

Get Creative: Blackboard Surface by Chalkboard Paint

Gone are the days when chalkboards belonged in dusty classrooms. You can create a blackboard surface to add a retro touch to any space or accessory. Put a notice board on your refrigerator, make a creativity wall in your meeting room, turn your door into a guestbook for visitors or, use it like we did below to create beautiful unique signs for an event. Anything that can be painted, can be turned into a blackboard surface- the only limit is your imagination!

1. Always use a primer

We’ve tested different blackboard paints on lots of surfaces and each one performed best with one to two layers of primer underneath. Like any paint, blackboard paint works best when there is an even sealed surface beneath. After your final coat of primer, we also recommend lightly sanding the surface before applying your blackboard paint.

2. Apply and apply again

Blackboard paint requires a minimum of two coats. It’s even preferable to apply three thin layers rather than two thick coats as you’ll get a better, more even finish by doing this. Be sure to leave enough drying time between each coat, usually 2-4 hours.

3. Condition your surface

A trick to help your blackboard paint perform at it’s best, is to lightly rub the entire surface with the side of a piece of chalk before you begin using it. This conditions your blackboard giving the chalk more to adhere to.

4. Use the right accessories

The types of accessories you use depends on the look you are going for with your chalkboard surface. If you like the traditional chalk style, then stick to packs of regular chalk and a blackboard duster. If, however, you prefer a cleaner, more stylised look, you should use chalkboard markers. These allow you to create intricate designs and lettering- perfect for menus, decorative walls and signage. Chalkboard markers are wet-erase so you will need a damp cloth to remove the ink.

If you have any questions about how to use our Chalkboard Paint (Formally known as blackboard paint), you can speak to a member of our support team by emailing support@smartersurfaces.com. Or book a free video consultation today. Talk to us about your goal and our experts will help you find the best product to upgrade your wall.