Miles M.'s mom, Mary, of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, transformed an old dresser into a fun and functional tool for her son by painting the drawers with chalkboard paint. "Now that he is older, dressing himself and learning to read, he can have his drawers labeled," says Mary, who likes the educational aspect of her design.

Tips

• When applying chalkboard paint, the smoother the surface, the better the result.
  
• Incorporate color for extra pop. "Adding red stripes to the front really helped accent the chalkboard drawers," Mary says.
  
• Take your time. This project is not difficult, but it's important to allow ample drying time between coats of paint.
  
• For best results, use a wet washcloth, rather than a chalkboard eraser, to erase chalk designs and writing.

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