DIY Chalkboard Backpack Station

This post for a DIY Backpack Station was sponsored by coupons.com. All ideas and opinions are mine.

Need a fun back to school project? A DIY Chalkboard Backpack Station is the perfect way to keep kids' school bags and important notes all in one spot.

I've been so excited to show you guys one of the latest projects in our kitchen redo. This DIY Chalkboard Backpack Station is going to make things so much less fussy when school time rolls around. It's so nice to not have back packs on my kitchen chairs anymore!

DIY Backpack Station

I've been wanting something like this in the breakfast area for-evahhhh. The boys do their homework at our kitchen table. And, as you can see from the below photo, their backpacks were kept on the backs of their chairs. While logistically this worked for us, aesthetically...this mom was not so happy.

How to Create this Backpack Station

Supplies

• 5MM 4x8 Underlayment (cut to your size needs)
• 1x6" boards (for the framing)
• Liquid Nails
• Wood Screws
• Wall Anchors
• Drywall Screws
• Chalkboard Paint
• Paint for frame
• Coat/Hat Hooks

Directions

• We started with 5MM 4x8 Underlayment. We discovered this underlayment when we did the $30 board and batten job in our younger son's room. 
• We cut it to the size we wanted with a circular saw and mounted it to the wall with anchors and dry wall screws. 
• We sunk the screws as much as we could since we'd be covering them with a frame.
• I used two coats of chalkboard paint on the underlayment. Since it was to be framed, I didn't have to do the edges very well (obviously).

As I mentioned, this is in the midst of a kitchen redo and I was also updating the paint in the kitchen (to date, this is the only wall completely painted...LOL). I painted the new color on the outside of the board, so I wouldn't have to painstakingly cut in around the frame later. Then I used regular chalkboard paint to paint the inside area.

• We used a compound miter saw to build a frame with mitered corners. 
• We used the 1"x6" boards for this.

• I painted and distressed the frame pieces.

• We used both liquid nails and wood screws to put the frame in place.
• We always go for overkill in the attaching process.
• There will be nothing falling off a wall in this house. Nothing.

• Then we attached them to the underlayment board. 
• I intentionally did not fill the mitered corners on this piece, as I've done on others in the past. I wanted to keep the look of the rough frame...old and chippy and imperfect. 
• I did, however, fill the sunk-in screws. Nothing like a shiny screw-head to scream "this is really new...just meant to look old".

• We attached the hooks to the bottom board. 
• Since we used anchors to put the board into the wall and then everything else mounted onto that...I'm pretty sure these could hold ten full backpacks per hook. 

I seasoned the chalkboard well before we put the board to use. See my tutorial for How to Prime a Chalkboard.

Happiness is neat and tidy bags all in a row (and not on chair backs). My boys literally did a double take when I started pulling out backpacks and lunch boxes and hanging them up. We had a bit of an Awww Freak Out moment. Then I started writing dates on the board and had one in tears and the other burying his head in a pillow. Good times.

I added a flirty little banner to the corner. Feel free to print one of these for yourself. They were Friday's Free Printable here.

Looking for More Chalkboard Fun?

I love chalk-anything...from printable chalk designs to hand-lettering on chalkboards. I have lots of tutorials and freebies for you listed below (from both my site here and some of my blogger friends): 

• Not into chalkboard messiness, but still love the look of chalkboards? Grab my three most popular free chalkboard printables here:
• Free Butcher Beef Cuts Print
• People who Love to Eat are the Best People (Julia Child quote) Printable
• Printable Chalkboard Banner Letters (A-Z)
• Shannon, from Homemade Lovely, has a great tutorial for building a Farmhouse-Style Oversized Chalkboard.
• Canary Street Crafts has a nifty tutorial for Pretty Chalk Lettering.
• I am in love with this Chalkboard Sandwich Board shared by my friends, Kim and Liz, over on Today's Creative Blog.