My $10 Kitchen Back-Splash Chalkboard

A few days ago I decided I wanted to do something to my boring kitchen non-backsplash (since I don't have one) and it had to be something that was super budget friendly!  Since we purchased our home brand new we had options through our builders design center as to what to do for our counters and back-splash.  We chose to upgrade to slab granite for our counter tops instead of the generic (way ugly, 1980's looking) white tile they were offering as the standard.  The granite was a little pricey but it was worth having it done before we moved in.  As for the back-splash stone tile that I liked, it was way way too much money!!!  We decided to skip doing the back-splash since it was not required to close our escrow.  We knew that eventually we could do our own back splash.  

Since several other things have taken financial priority over the back-splash... like window coverings, landscaping, furniture, etc... The back-splash has been ingnored up till now.  I decided I wanted to do something to spruce it up a bit, do something fun to it, and have it be affordable.  I purchased a $10 can of Rustoleum Chalkboard paint and got to painting.  Yes, $10 was my total project cost.

Here is a picture of the kitchen with the boring white wall backsplash...

I used masking tape (since I already had it in my garage) to tape off the edges (note: masking tape must be removed within a couple of hours otherwise it becomes difficult to remove... blue painters tape is the safer way to go).  I rolled two coats of my chalkboard paint over the entire back-splash area, allowing about 30 minutes between coats for drying time.  Two hours later, I removed the masking tape and I now have a completely different look in my kitchen!

When the chalkboard paint is wet it looks shinny, but once dry it has a matte finish.

You can see in the picture below how one coat of paint would not have been enough, as white was still showing through.  Two coats worked perfectly!

I am planning to paint my breadbox (on the right) an aqua blue with an antique glaze.  The current vintage signs that are behind the stove are there to catch any grease splatters.  


I have not written on the chalk paint yet since I want to let it fully cure for about a week.  Also, I am working on a idea for above the stove.  I hope to complete it in the next couple of weeks.  I will share it once it is finished.

I love how my accessories pop (contrast) off of the dark wall.  When the wall was white, they were hardly even noticeable!

I love how paint, in this case $10 worth, completely transforms a space into something fresh and new!


Until next time,
Happy decorating!

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