Coffee is an experience.
From picking out your perfect mug, to pouring and smelling the hot aroma, nothing says good morning better than the perfect cup of hot joe. Every morning, I take an obnoxious amount of time to sip on my hot cup of wonderfulness and I refuse to be productive until I’m finished. It’s a small joy that I relish in every morning.
My husband who doesn’t drink coffee doesn’t understand this. So when I randomly woke up one morning at 28 weeks pregnant, and told him I was going to turn half of our dining room into a coffee bar… he looked at me like I had three heads. But that didn’t stop me.
After scouring Pinterest for weeks for some inspiration… I decided I wanted a large space to work with but didn’t want to take up and clutter my kitchen counter with my many mugs and cute coffee accessories. So the dining room (which unfortunately is hardly ever used) was a perfect spot for me to work with.
I needed the space to be versatile too…. for example, I needed the coffee bar to easily transition into a wine/beverage bar if we actually did decide to use the dining room for a special holiday dinner or formal gathering. And what’s more versatile than a chalkboard? Draw, color, erase, repeat. And so one trip to Lowes and a can of chalkboard paint later… my endeavor to create a coffee bar was put into action.
Shopping List:
-ChalkBoard Paint (do not mistake this for Chalk Paint… they are different!)
-Sand paper (if working with a less than smooth surface. I used 120 grit for my already painted wall)
-Painters Tape
-Paint Roller
-Paint Roller extender (if painting a large area with a high wall)
-Paint Tray
-Small paint brush (for touch ups)
-Chalk
Tip: Not all chalkboard paints are created equal. Do you research before committing. I chose Rust-Oleum Black Flat Chalkboard paint since I had found success with it in past projects. You can use on many surfaces (wood, metal, drywall, plaster, glass, concrete, etc.), it’s low odor, has a pretty, flat finish, and is easily cleaned with a damp rag.
1 can covers up to 110 sq. ft. so measure your area and plan accordingly.
Steps:
Step 1: If your wall isn’t already smooth/has some texture to it… sanding is beneficial. You’ll want to use about 120 grit but any drywall sandpaper will work just fine. I’m going to be honest… I despise sanding (actually I don’t know anyone who really enjoys it) so I didn’t spend too much time in this area. Because of this, I was aware that I might need an extra coat or so of paint. Pick your poison 😉
Step 2: Wipe down wall with a slightly damp rag to remove all dust and dirt. Don’t get lazy and skip this step! You don’t want dust in your paint.
Step 2: Tape up edges and corners of wall with painters tape. I actually double taped just to be safe because I’m weird like that.
Step 3: Assemble your roller and HAVE AT IT! Use a Solo cup filled with paint and your small brush to paint edges, around corners, or any other small space that your roller can’t touch.
Step 4: Wait 1-2 hours in between coats. I did three coats on my wall (I probably wouldn’t have needed as many if I sanded better).
Step 5: WAIT THREE DAYS to allow chalkboard to dry completely and cure
Step 6: When the board is dry, you’ll need to run chalk over the entire surface then erase with a dry towel before it’s ready to go.
Step 7: Time to decorate!
Start with your main pieces and fill in smaller accessories as you go. The server table I used was from a local auction house and I could have refinished it but didn’t want to mess with it’s beautiful, original cherry wood finish.
Install your shelving & hooks. I used two galvanized shelves that I picked up from Hobby Lobby. Make sure your second shelf isn’t hung too high—You’ll want to place your hooks for your coffee mugs under it so keep it within reach! The hooks that I used are also from Hobby Lobby.
Start by adding your larger accessories first like your coffee machine and tiered tray. I use a Keurig so I also bought an oversized wicker bowl to hold all of my K-cups in.
Next, place a couple of motivational signs on your shelves. Remember… if you are a daily coffee drinker, you’ll be looking at these signs every morning so choose decor with sayings that are going to inspire you to start your day off right 🤩 I got this cool coffee sign and quote wall decor at Hobby Lobby, of course!
Finish off with some foliage and super cute coffee mugs! My mugs of choice are by Rae Dunn—Not only does their white color look fabulous again the black chalkboard, but they are beautifully made with really thick handles and can hold a TON of liquid magic in them ☕️
The best part about a coffee bar? You can change it with the seasons! My kids begged all winter long for hot chocolate so by adding a few festive accessories and setting out a couple of different toppings, I easily transformed the coffee bar into a hot cocoa bar and the kids went wild for it! For a full hot cocoa bar that’s fun for the kiddos (and grown ups), check out this post on how to set it up with just a trip to Target and 10 minutes!
And remember how I said I wanted it to be versatile? Well somehow (I blame my husband) over the winter, it turned into an alcohol bar. So fun and functional, for whatever we need in any season (of weather or life!) 🤪
Do you have a coffee station at home?! Would love to see some photos of yours!
