My Vintage Porch

Interior Design, DIY, and Refurbishing

Painting A Checkerboard/ Chess Board

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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.

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Comments

  5. 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? ????

  6. You never fail to scare me surf problems on a piece but amaze me with solution for remake. Lovely piece

  7. So cool! I love it!! ???? My brother made a chess board in shop class when he was in high school!

  9. 11heavenlygifts
    Love how this turned out! You are a miracle worker ????????????

  10. 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!! ????????

  12. Love watching how you have so much talent and always inspiring others you are amazing!!????

  13. I soooo love how this turned out! It’s such a fun piece. Love that your kids are playing with it too. ????????
    @b2982

  14. I love how you camp up items I would have never thought of to do! ???????? @whatrtheeodds

  15. 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?

  17. I love the chessboard. You really made it look brand new. Glenda Livingston ????

  18. 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.

  19. 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…

  28. Forgot to leave my instahandle earlier! Keep sharing your cute finds and makeovers!!
    ????
    @kentuckyanne

  36. Awesome job, Natalie! I have one that I could do! Maybe I will attempt it.

  45. 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! ????????

  46. 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

  48. Looks great, not sure I would have the patience. You did great. ???? @mindydaum

  49. 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

  50. My son plays chess. I never learned. It looks great on your coffee table. ????????
    Shanna @our_military_home_front

  52. 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!

  59. ????What a beautiful chess or checker board.My grandpa had the exact board and I hope to have it some day!!????

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