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My Vintage Porch

Interior Design, DIY, and Refurbishing

Painting A Checkerboard/ Chess Board

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: checker board, checkers, chess, chess board, cottage style, diy checker board, diy project, how to make a checker board, how to make a chess board, open shelving, rustic style, shelves

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.

*Affiliate links used in this post

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

  1. Tammy says

    June 21, 2021 at 4:05 pm

    Wow! You never cease to amaze me! ????

  2. Danielle says

    June 21, 2021 at 4:26 pm

    Love how this turned out!

  3. Heather says

    June 21, 2021 at 4:32 pm

    That’s beautiful ???? I need to do that!

  4. Angie says

    June 21, 2021 at 4:39 pm

    Love what you do ????????????????@my1910craftsman

  5. Karyn says

    June 21, 2021 at 5:28 pm

    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. Susan Gray says

    June 21, 2021 at 5:31 pm

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

  7. Julie says

    June 21, 2021 at 6:26 pm

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

  8. sonyajo12 (Insta) says

    June 21, 2021 at 6:36 pm

    Love the checkerboard!!

  9. Robyn Lawrence says

    June 21, 2021 at 8:52 pm

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

  10. Tamara_r3 says

    June 21, 2021 at 10:55 pm

    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!! ????????

  11. Tamara says

    June 21, 2021 at 10:57 pm

    Oopsie….Tamara_r3 is my IG name

  12. Linda says

    June 22, 2021 at 4:41 am

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

  13. Brandi McMillan says

    June 22, 2021 at 5:08 am

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

  14. Traci says

    June 22, 2021 at 5:33 am

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

  15. ALH says

    June 22, 2021 at 6:22 am

    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?

  16. Ann V @rekindledsigns says

    June 22, 2021 at 6:27 am

    It looks sooo good painted! Love the chess pieces too.

  17. Glenda Livingston says

    June 22, 2021 at 7:39 am

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

  18. Peggy Brittain says

    June 22, 2021 at 6:53 pm

    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. Crystal says

    June 23, 2021 at 7:33 pm

    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…

  20. Brandy says

    June 24, 2021 at 10:30 am

    Love a your projects, always come out beautiful.

  21. Laura Bader says

    June 24, 2021 at 10:32 am

    Wow! I would’ve never thought about doing this! What a great idea!????

  22. Brandy says

    June 24, 2021 at 10:33 am

    Love all your projects, they always come out Beautiful. ????????
    @brdeleon75

  23. Shawnia Holler says

    June 24, 2021 at 11:29 am

    You truly have a gift????☀️

  24. Becky Deaton says

    June 24, 2021 at 11:48 am

    Love this and Chester ????????

  25. Laurena Wright says

    June 24, 2021 at 12:00 pm

    I LOVE how you can turn any old ordinary thing into something so new and beautiful!! ????????????

  26. Sonyajo12 says

    June 24, 2021 at 12:01 pm

    Love the chess board! 🙂 ????????

  27. Julianne Rader says

    June 24, 2021 at 2:21 pm

    Love it! You are so creative. I wish I had your eye for design! ????

  28. Julianne Rader says

    June 24, 2021 at 2:23 pm

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

  29. Jordyn Pounders says

    June 24, 2021 at 2:43 pm

    I don’t even play chess but this makes me want to get a chess board to refinish ???? ????????

    • Jordyn pounders says

      June 24, 2021 at 2:45 pm

      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

  30. Diane Armour says

    June 24, 2021 at 3:04 pm

    Diane armour on Instagram. ????????It turned out so good. ????????

  31. Windie D says

    June 24, 2021 at 3:06 pm

    But the question is….did Chester win the game?
    ???????? (windie1)

  32. Kim Spaulding says

    June 24, 2021 at 3:17 pm

    I would learn to play chess to play on this board!

  33. Norma Fox says

    June 24, 2021 at 3:44 pm

    Amazing as always ???????? moonpie46

  34. Shela says

    June 24, 2021 at 4:05 pm

    Chester playing chess! ????

  35. Christina says

    June 24, 2021 at 5:33 pm

    What she said you never cease to amaze me!!!

  36. Debbie Anstey says

    June 24, 2021 at 5:35 pm

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

  37. Bonnie says

    June 24, 2021 at 8:32 pm

    You amaze me. I love the cherboard????

  38. Nancy says

    June 24, 2021 at 8:57 pm

    WOW!! I LOVE IT!!! ♟You can make anything beautiful!! ???????? @nancysthename

  39. Jenn Booth @booth1jk says

    June 24, 2021 at 10:17 pm

    Looks awesome!!????????????????

  40. Amy Lepke says

    June 25, 2021 at 5:58 am

    ????you inspire me! @amylepke

  41. Ashley King says

    June 25, 2021 at 7:48 am

    Cute ????

    • Ashley says

      June 25, 2021 at 7:52 am

      @ashleydking

  42. Jean S says

    June 27, 2021 at 10:43 am

    Nice makeover! ????????????
    @jean.schaffer

  43. Jennifer Schriewer says

    July 1, 2021 at 11:56 am

    ????

  44. Janie Fox says

    July 1, 2021 at 12:03 pm

    You’re the best! It turned out great! ????????
    IG Janiefox2

  45. Wendy Taylor says

    July 1, 2021 at 12:31 pm

    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. Wendy Taylor says

    July 1, 2021 at 12:33 pm

    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

  47. Shae Brooks says

    July 1, 2021 at 12:42 pm

    How are you so talented!? Love this ????

    @shae.brooks536

  48. Mindy D says

    July 1, 2021 at 1:03 pm

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

  49. Alycia Aiello says

    July 1, 2021 at 3:22 pm

    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. Shanna Teusch says

    July 1, 2021 at 3:57 pm

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

  51. Eileen Mass says

    July 1, 2021 at 4:15 pm

    How great is this!?!?????????????

  52. Betsy Meyer says

    July 1, 2021 at 4:21 pm

    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

      July 1, 2021 at 4:23 pm

      Forgot my love ???? in my previous post!!!

  53. Melissa George says

    July 1, 2021 at 5:06 pm

    ????

  54. Gretchan says

    July 1, 2021 at 5:16 pm

    You are so creative and hilarious ! ????????
    @gbsenft

  55. Jessi says

    July 1, 2021 at 6:29 pm

    So creative ???????????????????????? @somismommax4

  56. Elaine says

    July 1, 2021 at 7:23 pm

    I love everything you do! I love Chester too ????????
    @elaineianniello

  57. Betty says

    July 1, 2021 at 9:23 pm

    Love the chess DIY! I need to do this! ????????????

    @asoundhome

  58. Terry Rambin says

    July 2, 2021 at 2:21 am

    Chester????????????

  59. Kimberly Walter says

    July 2, 2021 at 11:01 am

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

  60. Kimberly Walter says

    July 2, 2021 at 11:02 am

    ????????????

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