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Chalkboard Dresser

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My chalkboard art dresser has become a craft supply storage solution! The hand lettering on each drawer tells me which craft supply is in that drawer making things easier to find. Since it is written in chalk, I can erase and rewrite the labels when I move items around.

chalkboard dresser.

 

In September 2011, I did a bedroom makeover for Vanessa. The makeover included painting her dresser white and adding chalkboard paint to the drawers. She was able to write on each drawer in chalk. Well, she no longer uses that dresser so I took it for my craft room.

a hand holding a piece of white chalk.

The previous hand lettering and drawings didn’t want to come off very easily. I tried wiping the surface with a wet rag but some of the previous drawings still showed up. So, I rubbed the side of a piece of chalk over the entire surface.

a hand holding a chalkboard eraser.

Then, I used a foam eraser to smooth things out.

A hand using a rag to wipe off chalk dust.

Finally, I wiped all of the drawers with a damp, lint free cloth.

measure and draw chalk lines.

Once the surface was fairly clean, I measured the empty spaces on either side of the drawer pull and drew a few guidelines.

chalk lettering on a drawer front.

Then, I started with the chalkboard hand lettering. I erased the guidelines with the damp cloth once I didn’t need them anymore.

Chalk lettering on a drawer.

I also added a chalkboard number to each drawer.

White chalk lettering on a drawer front.

I looked online at various chalkboard art items and chalkboard fonts for some inspiration, but mostly I was just winging it.

White chalk lettering on a drawer front.

I read at Burlap and Denim that you can lightly spray chalkboard art with hair spray to keep things in place. Since my craft room is open to the rest of our basement and kids often play in our basement, I might end up spraying it.

White chalk lettering on a drawer front.

I used cheap white chalk and changed pieces a couple of times. I also read at Sassy Style that you can sharpen chalk with the wider end up a makeup sharpener. But I don’t have one so I just used the chalk as is.

White chalk lettering on a drawer front.

I might end up going back to add more decorative touches in the blank spaces.

chalkboard dresser

Even though my chalkboard “font” isn’t perfect and my lines aren’t straight, I am delighted with how it turned out! I am really surprised at how much fun I had doing the hand lettering with chalk! I am already wondering what chalkboard art project I can do next!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Randi Sowders says

    I did chalkboard drawers for my son’s dresser and absolutely love the idea. The only downside was that my daughter would go in and wipe off what I wrote on the drawers. Then I discovered chalkboard markers, which are basically the same but in order to wipe them off, you have to use a wet rag. Now I have labeled all this drawers with the markers, it’s colorful, simple, and my daughter can’t wipe off my work 🙂

    I hope you link up with our party this week too!
    http://www.sowderingabout.com/2013/06/on-display-monday-linkup-6.html

    Reply

    • Tonia says

      Thanks Lyuba! I know what you mean! I seem to always be moving things around too but I could see your little boy having way too much fun with your chalkboard dresser! 🙂

      Reply

  10. Vanessa says

    This is a great idea to store office/craft stuff. I am going to do this. I have been looking for something to store my stuff. Have a great week.

    Vanessa

    Reply

  13. Trish @ Uncommon says

    Tonia,

    I just love it! I have a dresser in my craft room that would love to look just like this! Wanna come paint it?! Your chalk technique is just perfect, too!

    Take care,

    Trish

    Reply

  14. Alice Hanson says

    You are a clever one! Love the dresser. I think you have inspired me. Three days before Christmas I painted my whole back door with chalk paint. It was a big hit with the family.
    Smiles, alice

    Reply

    • Tonia says

      Thanks Michelle! I really do like it but I can see all the flaws too. I’m not a perfectionist though (I’m too lazy to be…LOL) so I will just leave it as it is!

      Reply

  17. Aly says

    Wow your typography drawing or writing skills are great! Is the chalk board material removable if you decided to restore the dresser back to its original?

    Reply

    • Tonia says

      Thanks Aly! No it is not removable. The dresser isn’t something that would be restorable (even though that isn’t a word) so I am not worried about it. If I got tired of the chalkboard front, I would just sand it down and paint it another color.

      Reply

  20. Jenna says

    Cutest thing ever! Simply Brilliant Tonia, I want to do this for my studio! What a great organizing solution for the hard to store craft items! Thanks so much!

    Reply

  23. Robin {Mom Foodie} says

    I LOVE this. I’d probably coat it with a clear matte spray paint, so I wouldn’t have to re-do the drawers. I know that ruins the point of a chalkboard, but the graphics came out really cool 🙂

    Reply

  25. Reecea says

    Tonia,

    This is amazing. I love it! I am not a big fan of chalkboard paint on everything, but I totally love this! Pinning!!! When you change the organization of the drawers, it is so easy to change the front!!! In my house, there is more than one crafter. This idea helps everyone know where to find things and where they belong when the craft is done. You post lovely ideas. The chalkboard dresser is one of my favorites thus far:)

    Reecea

    Reply

  27. Jodi says

    I love this… It looks so neat… Love that the handles kind of look like the mustache trend right now 🙂 and the very bbasics of black and white

    Reply

  29. Tonii says

    Tonya, this is quite possibly the cutest thing I have ever seen!! I love the idea of being able to label the drawers…and change it up if needs be!! So so fantastic!!

    Tonii

    Reply

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