Desk Drawer Chalkboard

This isn't the first desk drawer chalkboard I've made, but I LOVE this one a lot more than the first one I made years ago! This oversized middle desk drawer was the perfect specimen to turn into a handy hanging chalkboard.

How to turn a desk drawer into a chalkboard

This old desk drawer was dropped off to me by Cousin Terry. She knew it would make the perfect chalkboard for her son's new cabin.

Remove Old Hardware

I started by removing the drawer glides and the handles on the front of the drawer.

While removing the hardware, I was investigating how to remove the pen/pencil tray from the desk drawer.

Before PRYING the tray, I flipped the drawer over and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was NOT glued, but held in place by a couple of screws. Easy Peasy!!

After I had the tray removed, it was time to remove the locking mechanism. This involved a couple of screws and some prying .

Removing the drawer lock left a good sized hole, but in the end, it won't be noticeable.

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Clean Desk Drawer

Quality control is number one around here, so Lulu Mae had to inspect my project. To clean and degrease the drawer prior to painting, I used TSP Substitute. It's very easy to use and conveniently applied with a spray bottle.

After cleaning the tray, I noticed that it was a beautiful piece of oak.

Paint Desk Drawer Chalkboard Black

I prefer several light coats of paint on my projects. I used my new favorite color, Iron Gate from All In One Paint by Heirloom Traditions.

Change of Plans | Add Top Shelf to Chalkboard

So, after taking a closer look at the desk drawer, I decided that it becoming a chalkboard would mean beefing it up a little with a top shelf.

I grabbed a piece of scrap wood and cut it to size. I secured it with Gorilla Wood Glue and my nail gun. You could use wood screws or finish nails. The Kreg Jig Multi-Mark Tool was used to make sure the board was centered on the desk drawer.

Spray Paint Desk Drawer Chalkboard

I decided to make it easy on myself, choosing Chalkboard Spray Paint to turn the drawer into a chalkboard. All in all I did about four light coats. After each coat, to make sure there were no runs, I laid the drawer flat. In addition, I tried to rotate the drawer each time I sprayed it to get complete coverage.

Testing the Fit and the Look

It may look finished, but at this point I wanted to see if my plan to leave the tray au natural was going to look okay. So, I snapped a photo and sent it to Cousin Terry to get the gang's approval. Do you love the two-toned look as much as I do?

Add Desk Drawer Tray to New Chalkboard

In order to attach the pen/pencil tray to the drawer in it's new place, I used Gorilla Wood Glue and a couple of screws.

Don't you think the addition of the little shelf really helps this project stand out?

gail

Gail Wilson

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Hi, there! I’m Gail, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

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