While I was standing in line at the paint counter at Lowe’s yesterday, I started reading about IdeaPaint. It lets you paint a dry erase white board directly on the wall.
According to the web site, you can create your own dry erase board by applying just one coat and any dry erase markers will work on it.
Obviously, there’s the benefit of not having to deal with chalk dust, but I have to say I’m still drawn to the texture (and dark color) of chalkboard paint. I think using IdeaPaint in office settings is a pretty cool concept, but I’m not sure I’m a fan of using it in the home.
Kids’ rooms seems like the obvious choice and this little tree is a cute idea. But, I know way too many people in the Clark household who like to color outside the lines, and Mama would not be a happy camper if she found marker all over the wall. (Actually, I have found marker on the wall, but that’s another story for another day.)
I thought this was a smarter idea if you’re going to use it in a kids’ space:
It’s definitely a little pricier than chalkboard paint. If I remember correctly, it starts at around $30 for a kit that covers six square feet, and also comes in several different colors.
I think I’m still a chalkboard girl myself. But, if you’ve tried IdeaPaint, I’d love to hear what you think about it.
Westbrook Interiors via DecorPad
I've used it in my office before. I like it better than a regular white board because you can always paint over it when it needs to look refreshed. I don't think I could handle the dust of chalkboard paint!
ReplyDeletethat is SOO cute! wonder if those dry erase markers would migrate over to say, my white couch....
ReplyDeleteBethany
http://www.powellbrower.com/2012/02/im-kind-of-mess-about-lighting.html
So funny you posted this because I saw this at Lowes just a couple days ago and these same thoughts. I can handle a dry erase board or calendar (my son has them in his closet) but paint on the wall I'm not sure I would like. I'm still a huge fan of chalkboard paint.
ReplyDeleteWe have the idea paint on the walls of every conference room in my office. It is a nightmare to get clean. You aren't supposed to use the dry erase spray on it apparently, and you are just supposed to use soap and water. The markers stain the wall and it requires a good scrubbing to get it off, even then you can't get it all off. We are getting it all repainted, I think that you need a good few coats in order for it to work properly.
ReplyDeleteLove this idea (if they can fix the kinks form what Sarah commented on). I am not a fan of chalkboard paint. I feel it's way too messy. I don't think you'd have a problem with this paint if it was framed (although I guess you could just frame a whiteboard as well). I used multiple white boards through my house for lists and projects so I could totally see this in my house.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. Great idea for a kid's space, but if you have young kids, how do you explain to them that you can only write on the walls in one room and not the others? No thanks.
ReplyDeletei work in education, and it's been so funny to me to see chalkboard all over the decor blogs, because i don't think a school in the US has purchased a chalkboard in at least 15 years :) everything has been whiteboards (and then SMART boards). so it was always kinda counter-intuitive to bring back the chalkboard and do it in the home.
ReplyDeletei *have* seen whiteboard paint used well in a conference space, and specifically for the wall that is being projected on to. it's nice because then you can circle things, etc. (did i mention i work in math ed, so this is a GREAT tool for us.) i think there are a few brands out there, so i'm wondering if the difference in people's experiences are with the brands.
if i were going to paint a wall to be written on, i would def go the whiteboard route over the chalkboard. i can't stand the dust and the physical writing on the chalkboard. but that's just me :)
I actually like both! My studio has darker furniture, so I'd probably go for the white "marker board" if I were to try this.
ReplyDeleteI don't have any kiddos, but I would be wary of using either one for a kid's space until they were old enough to know that they can't color on *every* wall. That could be bad.
My problem is that dry erase markers stain my kids clothes. I can never get it out. Anyone else have this problem?
ReplyDeleteA co-worker of mine actually put it on his wall office. It works great and he used regular dry erase markers. It kept him from using so many sticky notes.
ReplyDeleteWhat happens when you want a change? Can it be painted over, or will it leave a weird textural patch?
ReplyDeletewherever you apply an isolated coat of paint that does not stretch to the perimeter of the wall, there will always be at least 1/1000 inch raise. (small, but yet very visible to the human eye. it can be sanded down later however.
DeleteErin- I wondered that too!! I am not a fan of chalkboards- they are always messy and never look truly clean. I like the idea of the white board wall in the office--but I don't think I would let it be a "kid" thing because of them not understanding the boundaries of why they can draw on that wall and not others-- or anything white for that matter!
ReplyDeleteHop on over to my site, I am having a give away today!!
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Erin--their web site says it can easily be painted over :)
ReplyDeleteNeat-o! I think it's a neat idea, but I'd most likely use it on a table as you said. I love dry erase boards, but prefer the acrylic glass like we used in our office at our last house. Must more classy and pretty. Neat idea, though.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think it's cool, but so expensive. I'm not sure that it's worth it over the chalk paint.
ReplyDeletei have to say no to this one! don't want to give any of my three an inkling of a possibility that writing on the walls is acceptable. didn't even allow them to have the *crayons* that would write on the bathtub walls. how's that for a mean mommy? nope, they can put their creativity down on paper. a few years ago one of ours got a crayola dry erase item for their birthday... i wrongly assume that since it is crayola it's washable. could not get it off their clothing.
ReplyDeleteLove chalkboard paint, but not sure about this one. I know using chalkboard markers can be a nightmare on walls painted with chalkboard paint, so I would think this wouldn't be so easy to clean.
ReplyDeleteMy husband's office is entirely painted with this stuff, and the engineers can stop and write on any wall. They love it.
ReplyDeleteI researched it recently too and I agree, it's a bit pricey. I like the idea of putting on a kids's table top. Still loving chalkboard paint!
ReplyDeleteI am hung up on the fact that there is still that marker residue. And the smell of those markers. Maybe I am too OCD for this new trend! I think the table idea is pretty darling, though.
ReplyDeleteWe used dry erase paint on our office walls, and a week later, the smell was still giving us headaches. It also required 3 coats, and an absolutely smooth wall surface. Those 4X8 $11 masonite panels from Home Depot are a much more economical and easy installation.
ReplyDeleteWe painted an entire wall in our office with the dryerase paint, and found it to be expensive, stinky (a week later, it was still giving us headaches), and it required absolutely smooth walls. The 4X8 $11 masonite panels from Home Depot are a much more practical option.
ReplyDeletemy BIL gave my husband a can for christmas so he could turn one wall in his office to a huge white board. We decided not to use in the office but are thinking of using it in our basement on a wall to make bracket for sport events and our goup ping pong tournaments.
ReplyDeleteCurrently my husband uses the glass on the doors of his office as a white board, good thing there's a shade in between the glass to hide all his craziness!
I just couldn't handle chalkboards. Sorry they make my skin feel creepy and my bones shake! Ugh! I have no idea how I survived school. I could get into Idea Paint and I could keep up with all my decorating blogs but just in a different sort of way. I hung a Dry Erase board up for my message station and the kids will not leave it alone. Its MINE! I think they all need their own board. :-)
ReplyDeleteI love the idea in theory but don't like the idea of it in terms of a big messy wall. I did like the table in the kids space. My daughter would write all over the walls when she was younger but she would include her name so she was always busted:)
ReplyDeletegreat idea for kids rooms or an office break room!
ReplyDeleteAnd then, once upon a time, I thought my white refrigerator was EXACTLY the same as a dry/erase board. Three guesses if it is or isn't...
ReplyDeletehttp://rumblesandroars.blogspot.com/2009/10/it-doesnt-get-more-julie-than-this.html
Things could be worse than coloring outside of the lines..
I would be worried about the issue of having this around small children. My kids have the dry erase books to practice writing and my two year old took one of the markers and colored on my new white sofa. I have been able to get markers, crayon, food stains out of my sofa, but this I could not get out. I guess if you are a very organized Mom and you would never leave one of those markers lying around then your good. Me being a Mom with 3 boys running everywhere...I will stick with chalk.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of this Emily! I think it could work great for older kids! I think I would like it on my bedside table for all those things I think of after I go to bed!!! LOL!
ReplyDeleteI think I like it for the table best - but then, the first question I have is: what kind of prep will you have to do to the wall when it's time to go back to regular paint? Will it leave an odd spot, or be hard to paint over?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a chalkboard girl, too! In my marketing class, all the walls are painted with white idea paint and at first I thought it was so cool, but the markers do not erase well off the walls. (Maybe because they are heavily textured...they needed a designers help on that one ;) ) I can't stand half-erased white boards or walls, so it's not my fave!
ReplyDeleteYears ago, there was an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition that was filmed in my home town (probably the only reason I remember it - My sister and I skipped school to try to get a glimpse of Ty Pennington). The family had sextuplets, and in the toddlers' playroom, the designers put a dry erase board on the bottom half of the wall.
ReplyDeleteThe kids got so excited, they started drawing everywhere. Before the show ended, they had already drawn on every door and wall surface in the room. For that reason, I couldn't buy this product. lol, it was pretty funny on the show though.
I'm so excited to give this a try! I Just put together a playroom for my daughter. She is old enough that she will not be drawing on any other walls but young enough that she still loves to play school. We had a chalk board in the old playroom and I'm ready for a cleaner option. I'm hoping this is it!!!
ReplyDeleteWith small kids around I say chalk all the way! Dry erase markers often smell and many times are not washable. Or they use the wrong marker on the dry erase board. I prefer the kids just using the easel for drawing period. Nobody gets confused with drawing on walls and tables and whatnot. If they want more space to draw there is always the driveway. I don't love the texture of chalk but it is a good sensory activity for kids for sure.
ReplyDeleteAfter teaching school for 10 years, I can tell you that there is still quite a bit of "dust" from dry erase markers. If small hands also use them on other surfaces, oh say the carpet... it doesn't come out... trust me on this...
ReplyDeleteI love this idea for a table, like you showed. Like you though, I think on the walls it would lead to other places and I have a darned hard time getting dry erase off anything but dry erase or laminated surfaces. They do have washable markers now...waiting to have to try to get them off something :)
ReplyDeleteThis is def. a better idea than chalkboard paint. I had a chalkboard wall and it never erased nicely and the dust was a huge problem.
ReplyDeleteDoes the dry erase paint erase well?
Kris @ reddoordesigncompany.com
We have these walls in our office- they're super fun!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of dry erase paint! This would be perfect for the PR firm I work at.
ReplyDeleteI wanted a large dry erase board for my office. I considered Ideapaint, but I think I found a cheaper (cleaner!) option. I got a 4' x 8' sheet of white marlite board for less than $15 at the hardware store. It was easy to hang - I just nailed it in the studs with finishing nails. I then framed it with molding (painted black.) I couldn't be happier with my HUGE dry erase board - all for less than $40!
ReplyDeleteIt really depends on the surface you want to put it on. With the correct preparation you can put it almost anywhere. Basically it comes down to this: the rougher the surface, the more difficult it will be to erase. Other than that it works great and is a lot of fun. Check us out if you are interested in a lower cost option for dry erase paint!
ReplyDeleteAdam
Surface Solutions Dry Erase Paint
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ReplyDeleteIf you are all looking for more of the idea paint, I happen to have a large stock of it. In both the 20 sq foot and 40 sq foot kits. If you are interested, send me an email at JBrose07@gmail.com and i'll get you the link to my ebay page.
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DeleteErin, I do love whiteboard paint on walls. BUT...we are renting a home where the previous renter did a BAD whiteboard paint job on brand new beautiful counters!! It has been on about a year and some places are flaking off. How do we remove it without destroying the counter?
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Can dry erase markers be used on the lighter colors of chalkboard paint?
ReplyDelete