How to make a chess table

Why not paint a checkerboard on your tabletop so you can use it to play chess or draughts?

You will need

• Pencil
• Masking tape
• Ruler
• Medium paintbrush
• Two shades of rust-proof paint, such as White Knight Rust Guard Advantage in ‘Gloss White’ and ‘Fragile Blue’ (all from hardware stores)

1. First, give the table two base coats of paint. Make sure you choose paint that will resist the elements. We used White Knight Rust Guard Advantage in ‘Fragile Blue’. Allow paint to dry thoroughly, otherwise the masking tape used in step 2 will buckle and the stencil will bleed.
2. Next, work out the size of your board – you’ll need eight rows of eight squares (four in each colour). Use masking tape to mark out the perimeter of the board, then measure and mark out the lines for the grid on the edge of the tape.
3. Run a line of tape horizontally between the first two marks at the top of the square, ensuring the top of the tape sits on the marks. Run another length of tape between the next two marks, but align the bottom of the tape with the marks. Repeat until you reach the bottom of the square.
4. Turn table clockwise; repeat step 3, ensuring you create even squares.
5. Paint alternate rows of squares. We used White Knight Rust Guard Advantage in ‘Gloss White’. Allow to dry before painting squares in between; this will create perfectly aligned corners. Two coats of paint are needed. Then, run four lengths of tape parallel to the tape marking the perimeter of the board, leaving a gap of 5mm between them. Fill in the gap with paint to create the border.
6. When paint is thoroughly dry, peel back the tape on the grid.

Photography: Scott Hawkins. Words, production & styling: Jo Carmichael.