DIY Chalkboard Refrigerator

The older I get, the more and more I find myself turning into my mother...and I love it. I hate clutter and crave organization. I'd say those are two admirable qualities, especially if you're a mom running a household. It just makes everything so much easier! Thanks, Mom, for drilling that into my head :)

With that in mind, I wanted to create something that was both cute, functional, and could help us organize our grocery list and weekly meal planning. With limited wall space, I decided it would be fun to turn our fridge into our very own chalkboard! It's perfect for me to plan meals and a fun canvas for Peyton when he is old enough to play with chalk, win-win!

Total supplies for this project only cost me $25!

Here is a shot of the fridge before and after. Quite the transformation, huh?!

Supplies

- RustOleum chalkboard paint (From The Home Depot only $10 vs $25 at Michael's)

- foam roller (owned)

- twine/rope (two 50ft bags from The Home Depot $5 each)

- chalk pen (Amazon $5)

- super glue (owned)

- painter's tape (owned)

Directions

You'll want to begin by giving your fridge a good scrub to get any dirt or food particles off. After that has dried, remove your handles if possible. Next, tape off any areas that you don't want painted with the chalkboard paint. I painted everything except the button section on the front of my fridge. Now, roll on a thin 1st layer and allow that to dry for at least 30 to 45 minutes before adding a second layer. The directions call for 4 hours, but I didn't follow that, call me a rebel. Three layers of chalk paint was the magical number for me, but it could vary depending on how heavy you roll on your layers. You will also need to paint the handles, if you choose. Because my handles are plastic the chalkboard did chip off easily. So, my advice here would be to either prime them first or leave them their original color. Last, you will want to wrap them in the rope. Apply your super glue to the beginning of your rope and hold for a minute so that it will adhere to the handle. Once it is secure, begin wrapping, adding small amounts of super glue as you go until you have wrapped the entire thing. Reattach your handles and then you are done until the fridge had fully dried for 24 hours.

Wait at least 24 hours before using or priming your chalkboard. Before writing on your board, prime it with your chalk. You can use either real chalk or chalk pens. I like the look of chalk pens, but I will likely switch between the two. If you use real chalk, rub a piece of chalk on its side all over the fridge and then wipe away using a wet cloth. Your chalkboard is now ready to use!

Priming the chalkboard...still working on that second handle at this point.

Helpful tips:

- The chalkboard directions suggest using a magnetic primer first, however those have been known to contain harsh chemicals and A.) I don't want that on my fridge, which I'm sure my son will end up licking at some point or another (the chalkboard paint is non-toxic when dried) and B.) the fridge is still magnetic without it, so I wouldn't waste my time.

- If you use chalk pens on your fridge, they will quote-un-quote stain the chalkboard. Meaning that, if you leave it on the fridge for a prolonged amount of time, it will leave behind traces of white, even when wiped away with a wet cloth. The solution here is to get a Magic Eraser, wet it, buff the chalk pen away, and then dry with a clean cloth. Works like a charm and no white traces left.