Keeping track of everyone’s schedule can be tricky in a busy household, so DIY a stylish solution with a wall organiser made from a photo frame. It’s got a chalkboard daily planner, a cork section for pinning cute kids’ drawings, postcards and notes, and handy hooks for hanging keys and kitchen essentials. Finish it off with distressed chalk paint for a rustic, country kitchen vibe.
How to make a wall planner
Get organised with a family wall planner made from a wooden frame, and give it a distressed painted finish for a vintage look
Published: July 23, 2021 at 7:00 am
Step 1
To make the central strut, take a pencil and ruler and draw a 4 x 19cm rectangle onto a sheet of 4mm thick ply. Use a fine hand saw to cut it out, then lightly sand it. Apply three thin coats of RustOleum Chalky Finish paint in Duck Egg, leaving it to dry fully between each coat. Once dry, apply a thin coat of clear furniture wax with a clean, dry cloth, then buff the surface gently until the wax has soaked in.
Step 2
Apply three thin coats of paint to the wooden knobs, taking care not to let the paint build up or drip. As before, once the paint has completely dried, apply a coat of furniture wax and buff with a clean, soft cloth.
Step 3
Remove the mounts and backing board from the frame and use masking tape to cover the white outer edge. Measure and mark out four evenly spaced holes along the bottom edge and drill each one – these will be used to fix your knobs in place later. Apply three coats of paint all over, leaving each coat to dry. As before, use a soft cloth to apply clear wax over the paint, this time rubbing a little harder at the edges to create a distressed effect.
Step 4
From a piece of 4mm thick ply, mark out a 20 x 20.5cm rectangle with a pencil and ruler. Use a fine hand saw to cut the piece out, then gently sand the edges to remove any splinters. Apply three coats of chalkboard paint to one side using a paintbrush, letting each coat dry before you start the next.
Step 5
Place a cork tile down on a cutting mat, right side (RS) facing up. Draw a 20 x 20.5cm rectangle onto it using a pencil and ruler, then use a craft knife to cut the shape out.
Step 6
With both the chalkboard and the cork pieces prepared, it’s time to glue them into place. Turn the frame over, so the back is facing upwards. Apply a small amount of Gorilla wood glue around the lipped inner edge of the frame, then place the chalkboard piece (with the RS down) at the top of the aperture, aligning the top and side edges. Repeat to place the cork piece (with the RS down) in the bottom half of the frame. Turn the frame over, gently apply pressure, then wipe away any glue that might have leaked out. Leave to dry, then turn over the frame and replace the backing board.
Step 7
Glue the strut you cut in step one into place. Lay the frame down with the RS facing up and apply a line of Gorilla wood glue to the back of the strut, then push it into place across the middle of your frame. Apply gentle pressure and leave to dry, then use paint to cover the joins. Use a screwdriver to fix each of the knobs into place along the bottom of the frame.
Step 8
With the frame finished, it’s time to draw the chalkboard grid. Use a ruler and a pencil to mark a seven by five grid onto the chalkboard, then go over the lines with the Duck Egg paint. Write the days of the week (or letters to represent them) above each column to finish.