DIY Ideas to Makeover Your Child’s Room – Chalkboard, Dry Erase, and Magnetic Surfaces!

Truett’s room is getting a big makeover, starting with some of the walls and surfaces.  I’ll be using chalkboard, dry erase, and magnetic paint to turn his dull room into a fun playroom!  Afterwards, I’ll be filling his room with organizers, a table to play on, and much more.

If you’ve ever thought about these paints or even read the directions, you might find it a wee bit intimidating, but don’t be!  I’m a visual person so I was tickled when I saw that these projects were added to Walmart’s Projects Made Simple page.  I love these videos because they easily demonstrate a how-to, show you what to purchase, and are short videos.  Oh, and best of all, each project has a download sheet with all the same info. I don’t know about you buy my attention span is short these days.  Perhaps it’s older age?  Anyhow, I simply watched the video to see what items I needed and how to apply.  It looks easy enough and you’ll find out, that it really is.  Here’s one of the videos so that you can see for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl9rkfw3TA0&feature=colike

The possibilities are endless with these paints.  Because Truett’s walls are totally weird, you know, like paint was just poured all over the walls and it’s dripping down the wall?  UGH. I decided to use sheetrock as one of my wall surfaces.  Not ideal for everyone but works for us and if for any reason we ever move, we’ll be able to take it with us!

I decided to start with the magnetic chalkboard because I think it will be most fun to play with!  My friend gave me a long piece of sheetrock that I would hang horizontal on the wall.  This entire piece will be his chalkboard.  Obviously, if you have smooth walls, you can just use your tape to make the chalkboard shape that you desire, making it even easier. I followed directions:

1. Prep the area.  This is where you’ll use your tape to outline the area to be painted.  For me, this meant hanging up my sheetrock on the wall.
2. Prime your surface. This isn’t mandatory for every surface so you’ll wanna check to see if you need to. Mind did not need it but I did it anyways.
3. Mix the magnetic paint up good and roll on the wall.  Let dry.  Repeat.  I did 3 layers to make sure the magnetic force was strong enough to hold up through the chalkboard paint.
4. Mix your chalkboard paint up well and roll on, letting dry for 4hrs between coats.  I did 2 coats and it was plenty.
5. Remove your tape and let dry and cure for 3 days.
6. Prime your chalkboard by running a piece of chalk all over the board as shown in photo.  Then it’s ready to use!

Here’s the primer –

This is after 3 coats of magnetic paint –

I started the chalkboard paint and my arm felt like jello by the time I got to the 2nd coat.

Finally, I finished!

I’ll show you Truett’s work later so for now, you get my lovely drawings:)

Stay tuned for another update on a turning the top of a table into a dry erase board!  And hopefully by then, Truett’s room will be complete!

Disclosure: I am an official Walmart Mom. Follow me and my fellow Walmart Moms as we share our experiences and ideas! Walmart has provided me with compensation and gift card in return for my time & efforts to create this post. My participation in this program is voluntary and my opinions are my own, always have been, always will be.