When you look at your refrigerator, do you see a decoupage of notes rather than a fridge with a sleek finish? If you’re unable to find a smidgen of your refrigerator’s exterior peeping out into the sunlight, it may be time for a better way to put notes on your appliance. Perhaps one that is less wasteful of paper? That can be arranged.
With the help of chalkboard paint, your fridge can be written all over, and easily erased, without taking down a tree in the process. Follow these steps to make your fridge a blank chalkboard canvas, ready for anything you scribble its way.
Everything you’ll need:
- Water
- Soap
- Wash cloth or paper towels
- Painter’s tape
- Tarp
- Chalk paint
- Paint brush or roller
1. Clean your dirty fridge
It’s easy to forget to clean your fridge when it’s covered in photos of friends, sticky notes, magnets you’ve received in the mail from realtors you don’t plan to ever use, and old takeout menus. But, as you begin to take every single item off your refrigerator, you’ll notice your grocery lists weren’t shielding the grease and spills of your kitchen creations - they were merely sealing them in. Yuck!
So, once everything is off, and your fridge looks basically naked compared to before, it’s time to clean it! Simply use soap and water to wipe down any bacteria and scum that’s been plaguing your refrigeration unit.
Once your appliance has been thoroughly rid of dirt and germs, take a wash cloth or paper towel and dry it off.
2. Tape and tarp areas you don’t want painted
Grab your handy dandy tape and make sure to cover all the areas you don’t want concealed in chalkboard paint. For example, if your refrigerator has a built-in water or ice dispenser, you’ll want to make sure that’s all taped off. It’s up to you if you want to leave your refrigerator door handle taped up or not, since you’ll probably not be writing on it. But remember, It’s your project and you can do this however you’d like.
The same goes when using a tarp. Lay one on the floor, under and around your refrigerator to prevent chalkboard paint dripping on the ground. If you want to save yourself the hassle of a messy cleanup, scatter some tarps across the floor to keep paint from covering your kitchen.
3. Chalk it Up!
Dip your paint brush or roller in the chalkboard paint and slather it on! It’s normal for your first coat to look thin and even patchy in spots, but don’t panic! After two more coats, your refrigerator will have that smooth, matte finish that every chalkboard has.
And there you have it - a blank chalkboard paint canvas all set for your grocery store lists, messages to the kids, easily erasable calendars, and so much more. The best part about having a chalkboard fridge is that you don’t have to have a specific refrigerator for it to work. You can choose any brand and any style, while still getting to add your own rustic flair to it.
If you’re interested in getting a new refrigerator before embarking on this project, visit us today! We’d love to show you the best options within your budget so your D.I.Y. fridge can look as cool on the inside as it does on the outside.