How to Make a Giant Magnetic Chalkboard

Make this Easy DIY giant magnetic chalkboard with just a few tools and a little bit of time. Perfect for writing inspirational or seasonal messages!

I am so excited about this project because I’ve been wanting one of these since I saw in Jess’s kitchen over on The Macs back in October. I love her huge chalkboard and have wanted one ever since. Isn’t her house the cutest thing??

Well, fast forward to later on in the fall when a friend and I were out shopping at the neighborhood-wide yard sale and I bought a can of chalkboard paint for $2. Yay!

I then got semi-serious about my project and went hunting for a tutorial. I found this one.

If I hadn’t read really carefully, I would have missed that Jess’s chalkboard is actually magnetic, too! What an awesome idea. And did you know they sell magnetic primer at your local hardware store? Well, they do and you just paint it under the chalk board paint and it will be magnetic.

This was an awesome discovery for me because I don’t have a magnetic refrigerator. So, I thought this would be the perfect solution for Miss A’s magnetic letters and numbers without a home. It didn’t quite work out as I’d planned though. Keep reading …

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Supplies to Make a DIY Giant Magnetic Chalkboard

OK, these are the supplies I used:

• 4 x 6 Masonite/hardboard in 1/8 inch thickness (I had them cut two feet off of a 4 x 8 board. The hardware store did this for free.)
• Rustoleum magnetic primer paint (or any other primer if you don’t want it to be magnetic)
• Chalk Board Paint
• 1 – 1×4 at 8 feet long (I had the hardware store cut this into two 4 foot pieces so it would fit in my van easier.)
• 2 – 1×4 at 6 feet long (or you can use any type of moulding for the frame)
• Chalk
• 2 D-ring hangers
• 1/2 inch screws
• Nails
• Level
• Circular Saw – This is the one I have and it’s small and great for little projects!
• Paint for the frame
• Wall Anchors

This is the way I had the wall decorated before. It’s just screaming for a huge piece of art or a chalkboard, don’t ya think? I wouldn’t want to let a huge wall like that go to waste.

Steps for Making a Giant Magnetic Chalkboard

1. Paint the Masonite or Hardboard with Magnetic Paint Primer

I brought the hardboard in and nailed it to the wall. I thought it would be easier to paint it on the wall than crawling around on the floor.

And I just taped newspaper behind the board to protect the wall.

I was super excited about the magnetic paint primer. I had read online reviews that said to stir it really well before and during painting. This will make sure the magnetic qualities are mixed throughout the paint.

So I stirred it very well, and painted four thin coats. I used every last drop of this paint in hopes that the magnets would stick well.

But when it was dry, my smaller magnets did not stick at all. They just slid down the board. Boo. But it does hold larger magnets. I’ll have to buy some pretty large magnets if I want to hold anything on the board. Bummer. So, unless you really, really want a somewhat magnetic board, then I’d skip it and just use regular primer.

2. Paint the Board with Chalk Paint

Once the primer dried, I waited four hours and then painted two coats of chalk paint.

3. Season the Chalkboard

I had to wait 24 more hours before I could season the chalkboard.

To season or cure the chalkboard, you’ll need to rub the side of a piece of chalk all over the board the first time you use it. Otherwise the first thing you write on the board will stay permanently. Trust me … it’s a messy job. I think everything in my kitchen was covered in a fine layer of dust.

4. Cut the Boards for the Chalkboard Frame

Once I’d finished seasoning the chalkboard, I pulled it off the wall. I laid it on the garage floor to measure the trim. The 6 foot pieces worked perfectly on the long sides.

And I just had to cut a few inches off of the 4 foot pieces for the top and bottom using my circular saw. I didn’t do miter cuts since my saw is still out of commission.

5. Paint or Stain the Frame Pieces

Once I had the frame cut to the right size, I brought the four pieces into the house and painted them with some old white trim paint I had on hand.

I used push pins to hold the boards off of the table a little bit. It kept them from sticking to the paper while the paint dried.

6. Attach the Frame to the Chalkboard with Screws

Once the boards were dried, I placed the un-painted side up on the floor.

And I put the chalkboard on top. I used screws to screw the chalkboard into the frame.

7. Attach Hangers to the Back of the Chalkboard and Hang it Up

And I screwed two D-ring hangers into the back in order to hang it on the wall.

I used these heavy duty drywall anchors to hang the chalkboard on the wall!

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And there you have it, folks! My very own, giant magnetic chalkboard. I’m so glad it’s finally done.

It cost me about $50 for everything. (The magnetic primer was $20, so if you don’t use that, it brings the price down quite a bit. And I only paid $2 for the chalk board paint at a yard sale.)

I quickly wrote one of my favorite verses on the board. I need to work on my handwriting and I plan to change it up quite a bit with some prettier writing.

I’ll have to spend some time learning chalk board calligraphy. 🙂 The possibilities are limitless and I can’t wait to use it in so many different ways.

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