Try it Before You Buy It: Chalkboard Wall

Chalkboard paint is widely used right now on anything from accent walls to entire rooms to furniture pieces.     Although, I think that this is a passing trend, and that perhaps we'll look back on it someday and wonder what we were thinking, I have yet to come across a home interior with a chalkboard wall or two that I didn't love. In practicality, I'm bothered by chalk dust, and even more bothered by the sound of nails on a chalkboard.....I have shivers right now just thinking about it, but I'm willing to overlook those two major factors because I want some chalkboard action in my own home.

Christine Lane Interiors

This rustic-modern interior is beautiful, and the injection of a mass of black really sets off the white fixtures and furnishings in the room.  How much cooler that the chalkboard itself is actually a huge sliding door?  Smart, smart, smart.

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The stark stainless and white tones of this kitchen are offset beautifully by the contrasting black wall.  Plus, it adds an element of whimsy to this modern, clean lined European kitchen in that the art has an organic and ever-changing element to it.

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I love how blogger Carmel of Our Fifth House blog addressed this small section of wall--so creative!  And she went the extra mile by using magnetic primer under the chalkboard paint so that the wall could serve in that way as well.  I'm considering that as an option myself, since I have a stainless steel fridge that magnets don't stick to.  Then I remember that I LOVE the fact that magnets don't stick to and clutter up my fridge, so maybe the magnetic option for this wall isn't for me.  We'll see.

Schappacher White Ltd.

A simple and effective way to add interest to a small space.  

So with all of these great inspirations and examples, I'm now itching try this in my own space.  However, I have a track record of painting every room twice because I'm seldom satisfied with my first choice, so I decided that instead of going to the trouble of painting the wall and not liking it, I'd do a little (ghetto) mock up before I commit to the time and effort.  Here's the wall in my back entry I'm wanting to paint:

And here's my lame (aka $3 pack of construction paper) attempt at "visualizing" what the black chalk paint would look like:

At first, it was overwhelming to me, but its been up for a few days now, and I'm liking how it kind of brings that wall forward and into the room.  Its a large and bossy expanse of black, but I think I need a place that allows me to write messages and reminders in a big and bossy way.  The baby takes up most of my brain space these days, so having constant visual reminders of what needs to be done, purchased, dealt with, etc. is key.  A trip to the paint store might be in my near future.  We'll see........:)