{framed magnet board & white board}

I LOVE these. We did this in our original playroom upstairs, but used magnet spray paint instead of the sheet metal. When we moved our playroom downstairs after finishing the basement, (see THIS post), we discovered that sheet metal definitely works better--much stronger, and more workable in a playroom. Here's how we did it:

ITEMS YOU NEED:

• 3/4 inch MDF, cut into the lengths and widths you need (a large hardware store will do this for you)
• spray paint
  
• sheet metal (**Check out your are for sheet metal companies. They will be able to cut your sheet metal to the exact size you need it, rather than having to use 2 pieces from the local hardware store. This eliminates a rough seam, and having to figure out how to cover it to protect little fingers, and for aesthetics. Thanks to a friend's referral, I found one here where I live. It was slightly more expensive than buying it Home Depot, but it was the right size, and MUCH thicker and more durable.)
  
• shower board (that white, slick stuff that's for shower walls--the hardware store will cut this too!)
  
• air nail gun
  

1. Measured the wall, figured out the space we could fill.
2. Using the MDF, create a frame to surround your sheet metal and shower board. One of my favorite tools ever is the pocket jig--if you want to make frames, this is a tool that can't be beat. It makes it much more streamlined, and secure. You don't have to miter the edges--you can just square them off. OR...you can cut your pieces and put them up separately, if you're not sure how to make the frame. Then paint!
3. Once you have your frames (or wood pieces, cut to size), you're ready to get them on the wall. If you have a air nail gun, or access to one, I highly recommend it. It makes the work so much faster, and cleaner. It takes 2 seconds to get them secure and in place.

**If you have any further questions about how to do the frame, or getting it on the wall, let me know.