custom color chalkboard paint

Hubby and I are in the process of buying our first home! The excitement of being a first time home owner pales in comparison to the excitement of DECORATING my first home. We currently rent a house and it’s nice, but not mine.  A fact that is made glaringly apparent to me as I stare at our, not allowed to be painted, white walls, and our, afraid to hang you because of the hole you’ll make, shelves, pictures, and general wall decor.  Well in the next month or two, that’ll be NO MORE!!!!!!!!! 🙂

So of course my mind is working overtime and i’m loosing sleep over all the design ideas floating around up there. One of the things that I KNOW i’m going to do is paint a chalkboard wall, or part of a wall.  We plan on having a play room for our 3 mini monsters and a chalkboard wall would go over great! I’ve already found the paint, but I got to thinking, could I make my own in custom colors? So the research began and Martha Stewart came to my aid.

Here’s her how-to…

Start with flat-finish latex paint in any shade. For small areas, such as a door panel, mix 1 cup at a time.

1. Pour 1 cup of paint into a container. Add 2 tablespoons of unsanded tile grout. Mix with a paint stirrer, carefully breaking up clumps.

2. Apply paint with a roller or a sponge paintbrush to a primed or painted surface. Work in small sections, going over the same spot several times to ensure full, even coverage. Let dry.

3. Smooth area with 150-grit sandpaper, and wipe off dust.

4. To condition: Rub the side of a piece of chalk over entire surface. Wipe away residue with a barely damp sponge.

photo from martha stewart website

Now I haven’t tried it yet so I can’t tell you how it turns out or how it holds up against 3 kids.  But I’m excited to try it when I can.

Anyone out there done it before themselves? Any tips or tweaks?