Whiteboard Wall: How to Paint and Keep It Fresh
Have you ever stood in front of a blank wall? Did you think, “Wow, a giant whiteboard would look amazing right here”? Maybe you imagined one that stretched four feet by five feet—a glorious, uninterrupted twenty square feet of writing freedom. Or maybe you dreamed even bigger. You pictured a whole section of the room transformed into a crisp, bright canvas. It could be for ideas, reminders, doodles, or whatever inspiration decided to show up that day.
Well, that’s exactly where my mind went when I looked at my youngest daughter’s bedroom. She’s always been the imaginative type. She’s the kid who loves to play school, scribble little masterpieces, or decorate her space with spontaneous bursts of creativity. Between her window and closet was this awkward bit of wall that never really served a purpose. It was too small for furniture, too bland to leave empty, and too noticeable to ignore. So one day, the thought struck me: Why not turn this forgotten corner into something magical?
With a little cleaning and some planning, that dull patch of wall was transformed. A spark of DIY determination made it a bright, functional writing board—just like the ones she admired at school. Suddenly, it wasn’t wasted space anymore. It was a place where she could draw. She could practice her letters or play teacher. She could jot down the big ideas only a kid’s imagination can produce. And honestly, watching her light up the first time she used it made every bit of the project worth it.
Whiteboard wall paint research
The market offers a few dry erase whiteboard paints. Prices can range from around $40 up to $600, depending on the square footage and brand. First, you have the high-end paints. Remakeable Paint costs $150 for about 35 sq ft of coverage. IdeaPaint is $200 for 50 sq ft of coverage. These options were too expensive for me. I didn’t try them, so I can’t say if they are worth the cost. But I can tell you about a cheaper option that works amazingly well. Rust-Oleum makes a dry erase paint that is $40 for about 50 sq ft of coverage. It’s also simple to use and has a low odor. It also comes in the typical white color base, as I used, or in a clear formula. Read through this entire article before starting! Promise me, it will save you trouble.
Equipment Needed
- Rust-Oleum dry erase paint
- Painter’s tape
- Small paint roller kit includes 4-inch paint roller, dense foam covers (very important for the best and smoothest coverage), paint tray and liner
- Interior/Exterior Spackle
- Spackling Sanding Block
- Wood Chisel only if you are working with old wooden walls like I did
- Paint sticks for mixing
- Makers for non-porous surfaces: dry erase, wet erase, liquid chalk
How to prepare for the whiteboard wall
- Determine size.
- By this point, you should have a place in mind where you would like to paint your whiteboard. In order to determine how much paint to purchase, measure the square footage of your space (length x width).
- Determine if you want everyone in the family to write on it. Paint closer to the ground to let the little ones take part.
- Prepare the wall space.
- Patch any existing holes with spackle, let dry, and sand until smooth.
- For new drywall walls, you need to paint a coat of primer first. Otherwise, the whiteboard paint will soak in and not work as it is intended. You do not need to do anything if your walls are already painted. But you may want to paint a specific color if you want to use the clear coat whiteboard paint.
- If you have wood walls, as I do, use a chisel to scrape any larger paint or wooden protrusions. You can also sand down the wall until it is completely smooth. This is too much work for me. Once you have bare wood, it would be best to prime again. Treat it as if you had new drywall.
- Tape the area you wish to paint.
How to paint a whiteboard wall
- Now paint!
- Using the Rust-Oleum brand is simple: open the two containers labeled A and B.
- Pour the smaller A, your resin activator, into the larger B paint can. Mix the contents with a stirring stick.
- Next, pour paint into the tray with a liner. Roll a foam roller into paint and roll paint on the wall.
- Tips to remember.
- You must work quickly. You have 45-60 minutes to use the combined paint and activator. This depends on the temperature of the room. Do not leave the paint in the tray to do something else. It will turn into a goopy, slimy mixture. This mixture can no longer be painted on the wall.
- If you want a white-colored whiteboard and plan to paint on a dark-colored wall, paint the wall white first. One coat of Rust-Oleum is perfect for use, but dark colors will show through.
- You can paint a second coat within 3-4 hours, or it’s dry to the touch. But remember, this second coat cannot come from the first mixed paint batch. That will be a gloopy mess. A second coat will need to come from a new batch of paint.
- Writing.
- Let the wall go through its proper cure time. Do not write on your new whiteboard for four days after painting it.
- Many markers work on this paint: dry erase, wet erase, and liquid chalk markers. As a precaution for reducing shadowing, we make sure we erase the wall each night.
- Don’t use harsh chemicals to clean the wall. Light soap and water will suffice.
- Use stencils and bright color markers to bring the wall to life.
Other projects to dive into
How to Paint a Whiteboard Wall
Materials
- 1 set Rust-Oleum Dry Erase Paint Kit white or clear
- 1 roll Painter's tape
- 1 4-inch paint roller
- 1 Painter's tray and liner
- 1 4-inch dense foam roller
- 1 tub Interior/Exterior spackle
- 1 Wood chisel optional for wood walls
- 1 stick Painter's mixing stick
Instructions
- Determine size.By this point, you should have a place in mind where you would like to paint your whiteboard. In order to determine how much paint to purchase, measure the square footage of your space (length x width). Determine if you want everyone in the family to write on it; thus, paint closer to the ground to let the little ones take part.
- Prepare the wall space. Patch any existing holes with spackle, let dry, and sand until smooth. For new drywall walls, you will need to paint a coat of primer first; otherwise the whiteboard paint will soak in and not work as it is intended. You do not need to do anything if your walls are already painted. But you may want to paint a specific color if you want to use the clear coat whiteboard paint. If you have wood walls, as I do, use a chisel to scrape any larger paint or wooden protrusions. You can also sand down the wall until it is completely smooth. I find this too much work, and since you will then have bare wood, it would be best to prime again, like if you had new drywall.Tape the area you wish to paint.
- Now paint!Pour the smaller A, which is your resin activator, into the larger B paint can and mix with a stirring stick.Next, pour paint into the tray with a liner. Roll a foam roller into paint and roll paint on the wall evenly. Be sure to roll out any paint drips.
- Tips to RememberYou must move in a timely manner because you must use the combined paint and activator within 45-60 minutes, depending on the temperature of the room. Leaving the paint in the tray to do something else will cause a goopy, slimy mixture that can no longer be painted on the wall.If you want a white-colored whiteboard and intend on painting on top of a dark-colored wall, I would recommend painting the wall white first. One coat of Rust-Oleum is perfect for use, but dark colors will show through.You can paint a second coat within 3-4 hours, or when it's dry to the touch. But remember, this second coat cannot come from the first mixed paint batch. That will be a gloopy mess. A second coat will need to come from a new batch of paint.Let the wall go through its proper cure time. Do not write on your new whiteboard for four days after painting it.Many markers work on this paint: dry erase, wet erase, and liquid chalk markers. As a precaution for reducing shadowing, we make sure we erase the wall each night.