I found this cute little checkerboard/chess board at a thrift store for only five dollars and thought it would be fun to fix it up! I’ve had these little glass chess pieces for quite some time that don’t have a home. When I found the board at the thrift store, I could tell that it was made with plywood, or some type or pressed board. I thought maybe I would try to sand it to see if it lightened up the pattern.
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As you can see in the photo below (right side sanded), sanding did nothing, other than scratching it up and fading it out a little…none of the coloring was lightening.
I decided to tape it off and paint it. I used frog tape, and taped off the squares that I could, painted those, and then taped off the remaining squares.
It took four separate times of taping it to get all of the squares painted. This would be a challenging project to complete if the squares were not already existing. I know there are probably tutorials out there of how to tape off a board and paint it from scratch, but I’m glad the squares were already there. I can barely draw straight line sometimes!
I painted the darker squares, a deep dark brown color match that I had on hand. And then I used “Cottage White” Behr paint for the lighter squares, and after they dried, I wiped antiquing glaze over them. For the border, I painted it with “Burnished Clay” Behr paint and then wiped antiquing wax over that as well. I like how the border turned out a little different than the lighter squares, hence why I used two different colors.
I mentioned, on my Instagram stories, that with as much tape as I used, I could probably have bought a new chessboard. I’m kidding, but it was a lot of tape!
I love how it turned out and Chester seems to like it too! Or, he might be looking for that treat that I threw on the board.
I’ve realized that sitting out games will make my kids want to play them! When I came downstairs this morning, Hallie was playing against herself. I love that!
I’d say it was a pretty budget friendly project for $5, some paint, and some tape. And, it goes so much better in this room now! Yay! I see a lot of these around at thrift store and they are so easy to update! It makes it so much easier when the lines are already there! I will eventually seal it with water based poly. I’m going to try the poly spray and hope it comes out super smooth.
Tammy says
Wow! You never cease to amaze me! ????
Danielle says
Love how this turned out!
Heather says
That’s beautiful ???? I need to do that!
Angie says
Love what you do ????????????????@my1910craftsman
Karyn says
Looks awesome…so much better and fits in better with ur decor! Love it sitting out on the coffee table. Trouble is dusting…a job I dislike. But we need cute decorations! Right? ????
Susan Gray says
You never fail to scare me surf problems on a piece but amaze me with solution for remake. Lovely piece
Julie says
So cool! I love it!! ???? My brother made a chess board in shop class when he was in high school!
sonyajo12 (Insta) says
Love the checkerboard!!
Robyn Lawrence says
11heavenlygifts
Love how this turned out! You are a miracle worker ????????????
Tamara_r3 says
I will definitely being on the hunt for a chess board now. The orange-y wood of most of them was always a turn-off, so several years I bought a glass chessboard. Yep..sounds as unattractive as it was in real life. Your idea of painting the board is a perfect solution!! ????????
Tamara says
Oopsie….Tamara_r3 is my IG name
Linda says
Love watching how you have so much talent and always inspiring others you are amazing!!????
Brandi McMillan says
I soooo love how this turned out! It’s such a fun piece. Love that your kids are playing with it too. ????????
@b2982
Traci says
I love how you camp up items I would have never thought of to do! ???????? @whatrtheeodds
ALH says
Every wall in my house is painted Behr “Cottage White”.
It’s my favorite! I also used this same color in my last house.
Sister! Is that the color of your walls, too?
Ann V @rekindledsigns says
It looks sooo good painted! Love the chess pieces too.
Glenda Livingston says
I love the chessboard. You really made it look brand new. Glenda Livingston ????
Peggy Brittain says
I love what you did. I hope it is in your story highlights. You make everything so fun! And I can’t decide if I want a board just so I can look for the chess pieces.
Crystal says
This comment isn’t related to your chair…but somehow I need to communicate this with you. Have you watched The Chosen ? You often talk about things you’ve watched. And this show may be the most well done,impacrful show about Jesus ever…
Brandy says
Love a your projects, always come out beautiful.
Laura Bader says
Wow! I would’ve never thought about doing this! What a great idea!????
Brandy says
Love all your projects, they always come out Beautiful. ????????
@brdeleon75
Shawnia Holler says
You truly have a gift????☀️
Becky Deaton says
Love this and Chester ????????
Laurena Wright says
I LOVE how you can turn any old ordinary thing into something so new and beautiful!! ????????????
Sonyajo12 says
Love the chess board! 🙂 ????????
Julianne Rader says
Love it! You are so creative. I wish I had your eye for design! ????
Julianne Rader says
Forgot to leave my instahandle earlier! Keep sharing your cute finds and makeovers!!
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@kentuckyanne
Jordyn Pounders says
I don’t even play chess but this makes me want to get a chess board to refinish ???? ????????
Jordyn pounders says
I don’t even play chess but this makes me want to get a chess board to refinish ????????????
(I forgot to add my insta handle) oops!
http://Www.Instagram.com/our.southernbelle.home
@our.southernbelle.home
Diane Armour says
Diane armour on Instagram. ????????It turned out so good. ????????
Windie D says
But the question is….did Chester win the game?
???????? (windie1)
Kim Spaulding says
I would learn to play chess to play on this board!
Norma Fox says
Amazing as always ???????? moonpie46
Shela says
Chester playing chess! ????
Christina says
What she said you never cease to amaze me!!!
Debbie Anstey says
Awesome job, Natalie! I have one that I could do! Maybe I will attempt it.
Bonnie says
You amaze me. I love the cherboard????
Nancy says
WOW!! I LOVE IT!!! ♟You can make anything beautiful!! ???????? @nancysthename
Jenn Booth @booth1jk says
Looks awesome!!????????????????
Amy Lepke says
????you inspire me! @amylepke
Ashley King says
Cute ????
Ashley says
@ashleydking
Jean S says
Nice makeover! ????????????
@jean.schaffer
Jennifer Schriewer says
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Janie Fox says
You’re the best! It turned out great! ????????
IG Janiefox2
Wendy Taylor says
I love the chess board! It’s the little things ! And then seeing Haley playing on it when you can down in the morning makes it all worth it! ????????
Wendy Taylor says
Sorry forgot to leave my IG
I love the chess board! It’s the little things ! And then seeing Haley playing on it when you came down in the morning makes it all worth it! IG _sunshineinmysoul
Shae Brooks says
How are you so talented!? Love this ????
@shae.brooks536
Mindy D says
Looks great, not sure I would have the patience. You did great. ???? @mindydaum
Alycia Aiello says
I literally almost pitched our checker/chess board because it didn’t go with the vibe of our family room. I am totally doing this!! ????@alyciaaiello
Shanna Teusch says
My son plays chess. I never learned. It looks great on your coffee table. ????????
Shanna @our_military_home_front
Eileen Mass says
How great is this!?!?????????????
Betsy Meyer says
This turned out SO GREAT! You always know the perfect neutral color choices for the project! That is something I really have to work to achieve!
Betsy Meyer says
Forgot my love ???? in my previous post!!!
Melissa George says
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Gretchan says
You are so creative and hilarious ! ????????
@gbsenft
Jessi says
So creative ???????????????????????? @somismommax4
Elaine says
I love everything you do! I love Chester too ????????
@elaineianniello
Betty says
Love the chess DIY! I need to do this! ????????????
@asoundhome
Terry Rambin says
Chester????????????
Kimberly Walter says
????What a beautiful chess or checker board.My grandpa had the exact board and I hope to have it some day!!????
Kimberly Walter says
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