Fall is here - what are your plans for the winter?

With fall in full swing and winter approaching, we have in front of us a time that we start to think more about indoors projects. Granted, there still may be leaves that need to be raked and other final outdoor chores - but for the most part we'll be looking to spruce up our offices, fix our living rooms, and otherwise get our home and offices in better shape now that we'll be using them more!

One way that we've found to use extra whiteboard paint when trying to improve your home or office is to paint smaller areas such as the side of cupboards or bookcases. These areas work really well for several reasons:

• Generally smooth and already "sealed" surfaces - ready for whiteboard paint with minimal absorption
• Edges are clearly defined and likely do not need "framing"
• Already smaller in size and perfect for things like To-Do lists
• Prominent areas that generally don't get much use - "free" space!
• Kid friendly areas
• Can paint several areas with the same amount of paint as one large space
• Easy set up - usually located in areas that need minimal protection from things like drips and mis-marking

So - if you're looking for a fall or winter project to help out your home or office, or both, this should be enough to get you started.

Taking the 30 or so minutes to paint a small area can really help you save time in the future and make your life a little bit easier - and more fun!

Ready to grab your paint? Head to the Thought Formula store and get some today.

 

from Thought Formula Whiteboard Paint - News http://thoughtformula.com/blogs/news/15617372-fall-is-here-what-are-your-plans-for-the-winter

Dry Erase Paint On Wood

There are many options available when considering dry erase paint. Most of the time, a "regular" wall is what you want to have painted so that you can brainstorm, draw, etc. However, there are many non-standard surfaces that will work, and one of these is wood.

In this picture, we have previously shown that whiteboard paint can be applied to wood quite successfully, and that it looks great - especially with a lighter grained wood that will let the markers be easily visible.

We just wanted to go over some specifics that will help you get the most out of your project in case you are contemplating putting Thought Formula whiteboard paint on a wood surface, such as a cabinet, desk, or bare wall.

- Prepare your surface carefully, just like with a normal wall. Remember that a rough surface will be difficult to erase. Prior to painting your wooden surface, sand it down to a smooth finish.
- Use a stain or other sealing product on the wood. Otherwise the wood will be very absorbent and it may take several coats of whiteboard paint to make the surface usable. Applying this stain /sealer coat will help you save time and money.

- Allow extra time to cure. Although the base stain coat should be non-absorbent, it is a good rule of thumb to give the paint an extra few days to cure completely.

Ready to start your whiteboard paint project? Head over to http://thoughtformula.com/products/whiteboard-paint-32-sq-ft today to get started!

from Thought Formula Whiteboard Paint - News http://thoughtformula.com/blogs/news/14171805-dry-erase-paint-on-wood

How To Brainstorm Ideas - Using Your Whiteboard Wall

Many people are looking for better ways to brainstorm ideas - it's a good skill that can help overcome hurdles in writing, creative thinking, marketing, and the sciences. 

Having a large whiteboard or whiteboard painted wall can really help kick your creative brainstorming into high gear. Why?

• Having space is important - if your brainstorming area is cramped you will subconsciously limit yourself by trying to stay "in the space"
• Larger space allows you to express yourself in more ways: words, pictures, flow charts, association diagrams
• Ability to brainstorm with a group

This last point, being able to brainstorm with a group, holds a huge amount of power and potential. Being able to brainstorm alone is important, but you really unlock the power of the human mind when you collaborate. 

Trying to get ideas out as a group onto a piece of paper is difficult - your brain is trying to "be creative" but you are also having to remember what was said, hoping that someone is recording the information correctly, etc. Having your ideas in front of the group is therefor much more powerful - your mind is freed up to wander and not have to keep track of the details.

What are some ways you can better brainstorm as a group?

•  Ensure everyone has the ability to offer input - don't let one person dominate
• Take a few minutes in the middle of the session to let everyone think about the ideas and concepts presented - it takes time for each individual to figure out what may work and what may need to be re-evaluated
• Take turn "recording" - this also helps ensure that everyone gets to offer their input to the group
• Use brainstorming sessions to build off of ideas - these times aren't only for coming up with new ideas which may be difficult to do "on the spot"

 

from Thought Formula Whiteboard Paint - News http://thoughtformula.com/blogs/news/13783013-how-to-brainstorm-ideas-using-your-whiteboard-wall

Clear Whiteboard Paint - Thought Formula

Thought Formula whiteboard paint is a clear dry erase paint that lets you keep the color of your walls, or other surface, while making it whiteboard capable.

Why is clear paint important?

Why clear? With a transparent formulation you can paint any color you want underneath - this is a huge advantage over the plain white colors available from most vendors on the market. Most people already have white walls and want to keep it that way for the paint - which works out great. However, some people like having a shade underneath or something totally different - like a red wall! If you can't find the whiteboard paint in the color you want from another vendor you would be out of luck. However, with Thought Formula whiteboard paint you can put down any base color you like and your whiteboard wall will inherit that color.

Some clear paint ideas

• Make a calendar on the wall and then put our whiteboard paint over it
• Make a table or divided area on the wall and after painting over with our whiteboard paint you have neatly divided work areas
• Use our paint on a drawing or painting for a unique drawing and sketching area
• Paint over a natural material like wood and enjoy the tones and patterns of the material while making it whiteboard capable!

There are a lot of cool ways that transparent whiteboard paint can be utilized - get the creative juices flowing and see what you come up with!

 

from Thought Formula Whiteboard Paint - News http://thoughtformula.com/blogs/news/13233837-clear-whiteboard-paint-thought-formula

Home Improvement Ideas With Whiteboard Paint

This week, we came across an interesting blog that has some great renovation ideas and wonderful pictures that really help to visualize the process.

Specifically, a post dealing with painting in the interior of the home was really good and presented some great ideas, especially with respect to whiteboard paint:

"I would recommend putting a frame around the area that is painted with the Whiteboard paint or else paint it on an area that is separate from other walls just in case there’s a momentary lapse of memory as to where the whiteboard paint has been used."

Having the door used with the whiteboard paint is a great idea - and having the frame act as a natural border is really useful.This is a great way to make use of what's already in your home or office; this could save you time versus painting a wall and putting up a separate border.

Having a side wall painted for note taking is also a great addition. With one Thought Formula paint kit you could paint several areas (doors, side walls, etc) for use instead of one large area - several people have done just that as they find the out of the way areas are the most useful for creative thinking.

Another interesting idea that was mentioned in the post was magnetic paint. Putting a base coat of magnetic paint down and then applying dry erase paint over the top gives you some pretty cool possibilities!

Images from http://www.insideoutcolouranddesign.com.au

from Thought Formula Whiteboard Paint - News http://thoughtformula.com/blogs/news/13052121-home-improvement-ideas-with-whiteboard-paint

A Great Idea For A Treehouse Room!

We came across this fantastic looking room - although it's labeled as a "kids room" it's something that we all secretly would love to have. The idea of a tree house of some sort is pretty fantastic - and having one inside the home is really neat.

What could possibly make this better? The addition of whiteboard paint on the walls after you've done the tree painting would be great! Being able to write on the trees, the clouds, the grass, etc, would be awesome!

Take a look at the concept below:

This idea gets pretty high marks from us - the creativity inspired while being around a tree house is great - remember those days as a kid when you would spend hours pretending and inventing while outdoors or climbing around in trees? 

This could even work as a modern workspace for a very creative soul - it might be difficult to concentrate for most people!

Would you do this project if you had the time or space? What would you change about it?

Image and idea courtesy of Boredpanda.com

from Thought Formula Whiteboard Paint - News http://thoughtformula.com/blogs/news/12756633-a-great-idea-for-a-treehouse-room

Why Is Whiteboard Paint So Expensive?

First off - it's all relative! Think about the cost of a huge whiteboard that you can hang in your home or office. A lower quality whiteboard will cost between $100 and $200 and a higher quality board with a large surface area can be several hundreds of dollars more. 

If you're interested in the cost breakdown of Thought Formula whiteboard paint versus a regular whiteboard, you can read our previous post on that subject here where we go through the cost breakdown and compare the two.

The short answer to the question, "Why is whiteboard paint so expensive", is that it really isn't! When shopping around it may seem like a bit, but keep in mind that you can cover a very large area with your paint when compared to a regular whiteboard. Even after adding in the costs of brushes, rollers, and a paint tray, the cost comes out in favor of whiteboard paint.

 

Different brands obviously cost a different amount of money - this is partially where the misconception of expensive dry erase paint comes from. Thought Formula paint is more affordable than other brands - we hope that you will grab your own paint today and start your whiteboard paint project!

Do you have any questions? Contact us here.

 

Help spread the word of affordable whiteboard paint! Like our Facebook page or give us a +1 on Google Plus!

from Thought Formula Whiteboard Paint - News http://thoughtformula.com/blogs/news/12569805-why-is-whiteboard-paint-so-expensive

Does Whiteboard Paint Come In Different Colors?

If you're interested in painting your wall with whiteboard paint you might be interested in finding out if whiteboard paint comes in different colors. Good news - Thought Formula whiteboard paint can make a whiteboard wall with any color! 

How does this work? Well, our whiteboard paint is transparent. This means that it 'takes on' the color of whatever paint you have underneath it. This is usually unnoticed by most people since walls are traditionally white. However, if you want to paint your walls black, yellow, red, or anything else, you can then roll the whiteboard paint over it and have a different colored surface.

There are companies that offer whiteboard paint in pre-tinted colors. If you find one that you really like, then that may be the best choice for you, assuming you already have a good base coat down on your surface you want to paint. Otherwise, the color choice is very limited and you are probably better off going with a transparent dry erase paint like Thought Formula.

If you are going ahead with a non-white dry erase surface you should keep in mind that not all colors will work well with dry erase markers - at least in terms of visibility. If possible you should try a sample area to see if it works as well as you had imagined. This will save you time and effort in case it turns out to not be a great combination. If that happens, you can paint right over the test patch, wait for it to dry, and start again.

 

from Thought Formula Whiteboard Paint - News http://thoughtformula.com/blogs/news/12279785-does-whiteboard-paint-come-in-different-colors

What Are The Top Reasons For Using Whiteboard Paint?

There are many reasons that people use whiteboard paint - below is an infographic showing the top responses for that very questions. Creativity and brainstorming are the top 2 responses - the interesting answer is savings; the cost comparison between dry erase paint and regular whiteboards shows the reason why!

 

(If the graphic is not visible, view it as this location: https://infogr.am/whiteboard-paint?src=web)

from Thought Formula Whiteboard Paint - News http://thoughtformula.com/blogs/news/12055409-what-are-the-top-reasons-for-using-whiteboard-paint

Does Whiteboard Paint Work On Textured Walls?

Many people wonder if whiteboard paint will work on textured walls. The short answer is yes! This is good news for many people that want to put up a whiteboard wall in their homes, as many home walls have some sort of texture and are not perfectly smooth (smooth walls are more commonly seen in offices and industrial areas).

However, as you can imagine, it really depends on the specific wall and the application. Here's a quick rundown of the things you want to consider before dry erase coating a textured wall:

• Is the wall covered with a base paint that is not too absorbent? If it is different than 'normal' wall paint you may run into issues with application of the paint. In this case you are better off to sand the wall smooth and then repaint the base coat before applying whiteboard paint.
• How textured is the wall? Walls can vary from slightly non-uniform to the 'popcorn' finish. Anything 'spiky' or very textured will make applying the paint very difficult and erasing will not be ideal. In the case of highly textured walls you are generally better of sanding down the wall, cleaning it off, and reapplying a base coat of regular paint prior to using Thought Formula whiteboard paint.
• The texture on a wall can decrease the area you can paint. The more textured a wall is the more surface area it has. For a given amount of paint you will be able to cover less square feet on a textured wall than on a smooth wall. This is something to keep in mind if you are trying to cover the maximum amount of area. In the end, if you are unsure of the area you will be able to cover you should order another bottle - the cost of the additional bottle will still result in a lower overall cost than a large traditional whiteboard.
• Ability to completely erase becomes more difficult the more textured a wall is. While you can still erase from a textured wall it will take more time and may not look as complete as a fully flat whiteboard surface.

All that said, many people paint on their home walls that have a small amount of texture and have found no problems - these are just guidelines to keep in mind so that you get the most out of your paint project. Have questions? Contact us today.

from Thought Formula Whiteboard Paint - News http://thoughtformula.com/blogs/news/12002601-does-whiteboard-paint-work-on-textured-walls

Is Dry Erase Paint Magnetic?

Lots of people want to know if dry erase paint, or whiteboard paint, is magnetic, or can be made to be magnetic. Well, the short answer is that it can be made to be magnetic. Out of the paint container, there are no magnetic properties, but there are ways that you can make your whiteboard project have some awesome additional properties.

 

Ready To Get Started On Your Magnetic Whiteboard Wall?

 

There's really only a few things you need to do to make a wall turn out like one of these magnetic whiteboards:

First, you need to have your project planned out, just like any other whiteboard paint project. However, you will also need to take the surface flatness into consideration even more. Why? If the surface is rough or heavily textured (most home walls are) then you will find that magnets do not stick with as much force. It is recommended to smooth down the area you want to paint prior to painting. Be sure to clean the area you sand down for smoothness.

After you are ready to get started, you can use a product like this magnetic primer paint to give your wall the magnetic properties you want. 

After following the directions for the primer and allowing enough time for it to cure, you are ready to move on to the final step.

Applying Thought Formula whiteboard paint over the top of the primer finishes the project. After curing, you will have a wall with a huge magnetic whiteboard surface!

Do you have any questions about whiteboard paint? Come to the Thought Formula website and let us know.

 

from Thought Formula Whiteboard Paint - News http://thoughtformula.com/blogs/news/11726945-is-dry-erase-paint-magnetic

How Well Does Whiteboard Paint Work?

If you're starting down the path of painting your wall into a giant whiteboard you probably want to know who well will it work over time. It's a good question and one that has a few variables.

The two most important factors are the following:

• How absorbent is your wall (or other surface you are painting)?
• How smooth is your wall?

The first point, how absorbent your wall is, means that if you are doing a large project you should test a small area or a similar area first. This can be a simple as a corner of a wall or just using a paint sample and painting over it. If this is not possible, due to cost or other issues, then make sure that you have a good base layer down that will stop the base material from absorbing too much paint. Standard wall paint is a good base coat.

The smoothness of your wall is another large factor. Part of the reason that regular whiteboards work well is due to their smoothness. When they become old and rough they stop functioning as well. Keep this in mind when beginning your project. If you start with a rough and highly textured wall, the end result may be harder to erase than you think. That said, with Thought Formula whiteboard paint you can still erase from a textured surface, but we always advise customers to test first!

If you are worried about the surface smoothness or want the best possible results, take some fine grit sandpaper and smooth down your wall before painting. After sanding you will need to remove any particulate and then possibly put down a base layer of regular paint (since some of this was removed in the sanding). Doing this can greatly improve your whiteboard wall and help make it last a very long time.

Looking for more information on whiteboard paint? Check out our blog.

Ready to buy? Click here!

from Thought Formula Whiteboard Paint - News http://thoughtformula.com/blogs/news/11459869-how-well-does-whiteboard-paint-work