Fun Kitchen Helper: The Classic, Practical Chalkboard

Chalkboards and their dust were overthrown from the classroom long ago by dry-erase boards. While those whiteboards may be cleaner to use, they don't hold a candle to their counterparts' old-school aesthetic. Chalkboards have become a big trend in home design for their fun and striking appearance, but trends aside, the chalkboard — especially in the kitchen — is a classic tool that offers practical solutions to an array of issues.

Let's start by acknowledging that the chalkboard will indeed get messy after repeated use. Alleviating this is relatively simple. First, wipe the erased chalkboard down with a clean cloth, removing as much dust as possible. Then soak a clean cloth in a mixture of warm water and vinegar. Wring out the cloth and wipe the chalkboard, each time in the same direction.

The owner of this Toronto kitchen, designed by Affecting Spaces, isn't worried about dust, but rather embraces the ever-changing inspiration over the eat-at counter that doubles as office space.


Take the mystery out of who sits where by creating seat assignments, like in this kitchen, designed by SB Architects.

As a bonus, chalkboard paint is simple to create yourself. How to make your own chalkboard paint


Life can be crazy, especially for a big family. Keep it manageable with a chalkboard calendar that's viewable by all and easy to update.

Tip: Paints are available in a variety of colors; brands include Benjamin Moore, Rust-Oleum, Valspar and Martha Stewart Crafts. To add extra utility and fun to a kitchen calendar, like Mueller Nicholls Cabinets and Construction did with this cabinet feature, make a magnetic chalkboard out of sheet metal.


Homeowners who enjoy frequent visitors (or homes that are used as vacation rentals) could benefit from chalkboard cabinets. Besides offering a distinctive look, the chalkboard feature can provide a guide to help the uninitiated find what they're looking for.

Tip: Painting old cabinets can be an affordable and effective way of changing up an aging kitchen.

Cabinet-painting tips from the pros


A floor-to-ceiling chalkboard, like this sleek panel in Iron Chef Marc Vetri's kitchen, offers space for the entire family to use. The adults can leave love notes for each other or enjoy an art gallery courtesy of the kids. Meanwhile, the children can entertain themselves on the lower half without disturbing important phone numbers or messages left for babysitters.


Positioned next to the cooktop, a chalkboard offers a convenient spot for posting a recipe, a grocery list or the evening's menu. This kitchen design has a chalkboard to tie in with the slate countertops.


Chalkboards aren't just for walls. Contact paper or a swipe of paint can give personality to jar labels.

Tip: You can find chalkboard contact paper or small quantities of paint suitable for this sort of project at craft stores. You can also find ready-made chalkboard labels in the Houzz Products section.

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