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How to Paint a Chessboard on a Dresser

Chess is considered the sport of kings, and even though you may never get to lord over any lands in the near future, there's no reason you can't enjoy some fine mental stimulation provided by a good game of chess. Historically, the game is said to have originated sometime during sixth-century India, and its popularity has remained unhindered since. Serious players drop serious cash on ornate and finely detailed boards and pieces, but if your bank account is rather un-kingly, making a simple chessboard on a dresser top is an easy task.

Things You'll Need

Carpenters pencil or wax pencil
Black acrylic paint and small brush
Clear coat spray
White acrylic paint and brush (optional)
Ruler
Cloth

Instructions

- 1
  Clear the dresser top and wipe clean with the cloth to remove debris and dust. Chessboards are 8-by-8 inches, so center according to the size of your dresser top. From the left side, use the ruler to measure around 6 to 8 inches and draw a vertical line. From the bottom of the line you just drew, draw a second 8-inch line going left to right.
- 2
  Draw another 8-inch line, right to left, from the top of the first line. Complete the square by drawing the last vertical line on the right hand side. Measure 1 inch from the bottom left corner of the square and draw one tic mark. Repeat, tic marking every 1 inch increment. Center your ruler over the first tic mark and draw a vertical line from the bottom of the square to the top.
- 3
  From the left side line (the very first line you drew when making the square), measure and tic mark 1 inch from the bottom left corner. Continue measuring and marking 1-inch increments, going from bottom to top. Draw straight horizontal lines to connect the tic marks, left to right.
- 4
  All chessboards contain light and dark colored blocks. Some wooden boards color in the dark blocks but allow the wood to be the light blocks, creating a nice aesthetic. If you like this design, use the black paint to color in the block on the bottom left corner and continuing to color in every other block, then allow to dry before applying the clear coat.

Chess & Checkers