Faux Dresser Harp Chalkboard

No Dresser Harp? No Problem!

I’ve always wanted to make a dresser harp chalkboard. However, I don’t think I’ve ever come across a dresser harp in my junking adventures. So, I decided to make a faux dresser harp chalkboard out of some random bits and pieces!

It really is the perfect addition for a dresser or buffet, don’t you think?

These are the bits and pieces I selected for my faux dresser harp chalkboard.

Easy way to cut on a miter saw

After getting a measurement on the cabinet door, I headed to the miter saw to cut the decorative piece I’ll use for the bottom.

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Designing a dresser harp chalkboard project

Now that I have the decorative piece in place, I need to figure out the placement of the spindles. All of this, of course, is subjective to how you would want the look to be.

Since I figured out all the placement, it’s time to connect all the pieces.

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Mark all pocket holes before drilling

I highly recommend marking your pocket holes before drilling. I’ve drilled hundreds of pocket holes, and I can still make a mistake as I head to the Kreg Jig.

Kreg Jig Pocket Hole joints

Using the Kreg Jig, I drill pocket holes on each end of the bottom decorative piece.

In my opinion, this is the single most important  tip when making a project like this. Centering the pieces on the spindle will make this project shine. To do that I used a scrap piece of lumber to raise the decorative piece off the table.

The same technique was used at the top of the cabinet door chalkboard, raising it off the table to center it on the spindle

Faux Dresser Harp Chalkboard Project

Here’s part one of the faux dresser harp chalkboard. But I think it needs a little something extra. I’ll let you decide if you think I went too far.

Don’t decide yet, wait until it’s painted to make up your mind, k? To get this look, I cut off the ends of the original piece and attached them on the back with pocket hole screws.

So, what do you think? Did I mess up by adding the side pieces?

Smoked Glaze for DIY projects

You know I couldn’t leave the faux dresser harp chalkboard white! Of course I had to bring out the smoked glaze and a chip brush to give it that finishing touch.

For more tips on glazing see my article How to Glaze Painted Furniture .

Chalkboard Painting Tips

See, isn’t the smoked glaze the perfect option? Now it’s time to paint on the chalkboard paint with my favorite craft paint brush.

It was a chilly, windy day. I had an issue with the chalkboard paint drying too quickly and becoming goopy.

Keeping it real folks, this was starting to worry me. Maybe it was the wind, or perhaps the paint was too cold? I used a piece of 220 sandpaper on a wooden block to smooth out the uneven chalkboard paint.

Unique Chalkboard looks like a dresser harp

Success! I painted another coat of chalkboard paint, using a foam brush. It started drying too quickly again, so I used the craft brush dipped in water to smooth out the chalkboard paint.

While the chalkboard paint was drying, I did a light wet distressing on the smoked glaze.

You may want to fill your pocket holes. I generally do on furniture pieces, but on the back of hanging pieces, I don’t find it necessary. Of course, I added my favorite d rings in case the future owner wants to hang the faux dresser harp chalkboard rather than lean it on a buffet.

I love, love, love this Dr. Seuss quote from The Lorax. It’s so me, don’t you think? It really is what My Repurposed Life is all about! Pin it!

I used a Chalk Couture transfer and Chalk Paste to decorate the chalkboard.

This really was a fun project. Y’all know I love mixing and matching bits and pieces to make new projects. I bought a mess of those spindles years ago when one of the Peddler’s malls closed. There are many more in storage, just waiting.

Won’t you pin it for me? I’d be forever grateful!!!

Where would you use this chalkboard? Would you hang it or rest it on a piece of furniture?

gail