DIY: Abbie’s Chalkboard Table

If you follow me on Facebook, you may have seen this picture a few days ago.  Abbie’s chalkboard table, completed.  It was a pretty simple DIY project, and I was really happy with how it turned out!

I started by picking up IKEA’s LATT table and chairs set weeks/months ago.  (Seriously, I think I bought it in like October.)  It’s a great value as is at only $20, but I loved that I was able to change it up into something Abbie can keep for a while.

I then went to Home Depot for my supplies.  I wanted the wood to be easy to clean, so I picked out this stain/poly combination – much easier than doing two separate things!  The instructions called for sanding it down beforehand and sanding between coats…which I skipped.  I though the wood was smooth enough already and didn’t need it, but I can see where sanding a bit between coats would’ve made it look a bit more even.  I did two coats of the stain, applying it with a foam brush.  I let it dry about an hour between coats, then about 24 hours after the second coat.

I also grabbed some chalkboard paint, opting for the spray paint version.  I didn’t want to worry about lumps or bumps, or coating it unevenly.  I did two coats on both the table top and the seats of the chairs, letting it dry an hour between coats and 24 hours after the second coat.  I initially wasn’t going to do the seats, but I decided I wanted the tabletop and chairs to match!

Once the chalkboard was dry, I rubbed the chalk surface with the side of a piece of chalk, then erased it before assembling the table and chairs.

Abbie loves it already (but par for the course, has already tried to eat the chalk), and I can’t wait to see the masterpieces she creates on it as she gets older!

Side note: IKEA didn’t sponsor this…in fact, I’m pretty sure they don’t know I exist…but they do take my money, so there’s that.

About Jess

About Jess

Jess Beer is a full-time working mom of two girls who writes about motherhood, wellness, easy meals and style.

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13 Responses

  1. That transformation is awesome! I’m so not crafty like that but I love seeing what others can do! Great work!

  2. Love it! There’s a good chance I’ll use this when Harper gets old enough. PS love your disclaimer lol.

    aintnodramamama.blogspot.com

  3. This is awesome. Are you on the Ikea consumer panel? LMK. I will send you the link. They ask lots of interesting questions (no discounts, sadly) but still, fun to give them feedback, when you give them your $$! That table looks awesome. Great work!

  4. super cute idea! good choice on the spray version…i make a board with the brush paint and the brush strokes dried harshly 🙁

  5. this idea rocks! I love it. My daughter loves coloring but it never stays on the paper…if she had this, she could just color with chalk on the table. brilliant 🙂

I’m Jess! I’m a working mama of two sweet sisters living in the DC area. This is my space to share inspiration, real stories of working motherhood, recipes, style, and more! I can’t start my day without coffee and always try to show the real side of motherhood – the good and the challenging. I’m so glad you’re here – thanks for following along on my journey!

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