How to Create a Whiteboard Wall in any Colour in 4 Steps

So you want to install a whiteboard wall in your office but don’t want it to be white?
We have the solution for you…

You can turn any coloured wall into a dry-erase writable surface using clear whiteboard paint. You will end up with a large writable surface for your teams to collaborate and brainstorm on while retaining the original colours of your office walls. In this post, we’ll discuss the steps of creating a coloured whiteboard wall and share some interesting ideas for you to explore.

What is a transparent or clear whiteboard paint wall?

A whiteboard paint wall is a wall that you use as a whiteboard – you can write on it with markers and wipe off the writing with a dry microfibre cloth. A transparent whiteboard wall is one that retains the original colour of the wall. So, if you have a blue wall in your office that you want to turn into a whiteboard without changing its colour to white, you go for a clear whiteboard paint and apply it straight over your blue paint.

The great advantage of a full whiteboard wall in a colour of your choice is firstly it can match things like corporate branding or colour schemes of a business or school but more than that, it’s the large writable surface area you get. Without the size limitations of a traditional board, a whiteboard wall changes the way people interact with space. It motivates collaboration and drives creativity without constraints.

How does clear whiteboard paint work?

Clear whiteboard paint is made from a special resin infused with nanotechnology, that when the paint is dry it creates a smooth, durable, and invisible barrier between the surface of the wall and the ink of the dry-erase markers. Hence, you can easily write on and clean off the whiteboard wall.

Steps to creating a clear whiteboard paint wall

Turning a regular wall into a large whiteboard wall in any colour is a fairly simple task that can be performed even by non-professionals. You just need the right guidelines.

Step 1: Measure the area
Measure the height and the width of the wall you want to convert into a transparent writable surface. Multiply the height and the width to get the area. So, if the wall has a height of 3 metres and a width of 4 metres, you’d need enough paint to cover an area of 12 square metres.
Smarter Surfaces has a simple guide on each pack to explain the exact surface area you can cover with a tin of paint in the product descriptions. For instance, you can buy clear whiteboard paint in three sizes – 2 m², 6 m², and 18 m².

Step 2: Prepare the wall
If your wall is painted and smooth, it won’t need a lot of preparation. Just cover the edges of the area where you’re about to apply the clear whiteboard paint using a broad masking tape.

In case your wall is not smooth, has holes and inconsistencies, or if the paint colur has faded, you need a few more steps of preparation but not too much.

• Fill the holes: Use a regular decorator’s filler to fill any holes in the wall. Sand the area off to make it smooth.
• Colour the wall: Apply the coloured paint of your choice and wait for it to dry completely.

Step 3: Clear Whiteboard Paint
The Smarter Surfaces Clear Whiteboard Paint has two parts: Part A and Part B.

Once your wall is ready for application, pour the entirety of Part A into Part B and stir it for at least 5 minutes with the stick provided in the application kit until you achieve a perfect blend.

You’ll find a roller handle and a pair of roller sleeves in the application kit. Use them to prepare the roller. You should prepare the roller before mixing the paint as you must apply the paint on the wall within an hour of mixing part A with part B.

Step 4: Apply the paint
Apply the clear whiteboard paint in sections and check each section as you go to ensure no missed spots

• Pour the paint mix into a painting tray and soak the roller in it
• Make sure the entire roller is covered in paint but it’s not dripping
• Apply the paint with the roller passing over the surface 10 times with even pressure to ensure no missed patches
• Check for inconsistencies from at least 3 viewing angles and apply more paint if necessary

The clear whiteboard becomes touch dry in 5 hours but you should 4 days before using it as a whiteboard to allow those nanoparticles to do their work. This amazing product comes with a 10-year performance guarantee from Smarter Surfaces.

Is it possible to turn a wooden surface into a clear whiteboard?

Yes, it is.
Wood is porous and soaks in paint. Hence, you would need to prime the wooden surface using a clear primer to prepare it for the clear whiteboard paint. Once the clear primer dries out completely you can apply the clear whiteboard paint.

Is it possible to create a magnetic clear whiteboard wall?

Yes, it is. In fact, Smarter Surfaces has a specially designed package for it complete with smart magnetic paint, clear whiteboard paint, neodymium magnets, and everything else necessary for application. Creating a magnetic clear whiteboard wall has the additional step of applying the magnetic paint before you paint the wall with the colour of your choice.

DIY with expert guidance from Smarter Surfaces

Thanks to the all-in-one application kit, detailed guidelines, and application videos, you can easily create a writable transparent whiteboard wall by yourself with Smarter Surfaces products. However, some issues may arise while doing it. In any such event, you can consult with the experts at Smarter Surfaces for free advice and guidance

Even before making a purchase, you can book a free video consultation call with our product advisors. If you’re unsure what product to choose or how much to buy, simply upload pictures and videos of your wall, and we will guide you through.

You can always refer to the video application guides during the process of application to ensure that you’re doing it correctly.