A New Paint Concept Turns Household Spaces Into Creative Places

Love the idea of chalkboard paint, but don't necessarily want a black wall surface? Massachusetts-based IdeaPaint has the answer. The company just introduced their latest product, CREATE Dry Erase Paint, which allows you to turn a wall (or whatever area you choose) into a giant dry erase board! The paint comes in white and clear—perfect for use on colored surfaces—as well as black, and it works on any most sealed, non-porous surfaces including stained wood, painted drywall, plastic, metal, aluminum, chalkboards and, yes, even whiteboards.

The paint is eco-friendly. It's both low VOC, adhering to the VOC limits established by South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), California Air Resources Board (CARB) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), and a certified low-emission coating that meets the stringent requirements of GREENGUARD Children & School and CA 01350. All you need is one coat and you can apply it easily with a roller or spray—in fact, it's the only sprayable dry erase formula available. Stage 4 HVLP commercial spray equipment achieves the smoothest writing surface, so consider hiring a painting pro, especially if using it on a large wall or through your kids' playroom. (There's also a professionals-only, high performance formula with a limited lifetime warranty.) In many situations, you won't need a primer, though it's suggested on a new drywall surface that is highly porous, if you're using it to change the color of the wall or if the surface is very damaged.

You will need to wait four days after applying to start having fun, but then you can get creative. Even though any dry erase marker will work and be easily erased using a regular dry eraser or with soap and water, IdeaPaint makes its own WRITE markers that feature an ergonomic barrel design with a performance enhancing erasable ink, as well as eraser cloths and a cleaner.

You can find IdeaPaint at local paint retailers or buy online for $225 http://www.ideapaint.com/products/ideapaint/