How to Make a Fabric-Covered Cork Board

Cork boards are functional. Many people use them in offices to tack up reminders, directions, pictures, or office information. Some homes have cork boards in the kitchen so family members can leave messages to one another. The thing about cork boards, though, is that, although they serve a purpose, they often don’t fit in with the surrounding decor.

Cork boards are not usually expensive. Most are made rather plain with a simple wooden frame surrounding the cork board. Ordinary tacks hold papers and other items onto the board. After awhile, the board gets cluttered and sloppy-looking.

There’s not a lot you can do about the clutter that gathers on a cork board, aside from keeping it neat and organized, but there is something you can do to improve the look of the actual cork board.

A simple piece of fabric will do wonders for your cork board. Choose a fabric that will cover nicely but not a really thick fabric. Lay the cork board flat on a table, with cork side upward. Put a layer of batting over the board. Align the cloth on the board then flip over and staple or tape to the back.

An empty picture frame is a great addition to the board. It could be expensive to go out and buy a large frame, but you can sometimes find ones at yard sales and flea markets, with the glass missing or broken. These are perfect since your project needs a frame with no glass or backing.

If you can’t find a frame for your cork board, make one. Paint one around the cork board, arrange small mirrors around the perimeter of the board, or even use small branches to frame the board. Choose something that ties in with the theme of the room, though. You can also make one from foam and fabric. Choose dense foam from a foam supply store. They’ll usually cut the pieces for you if you ask.

Measure the finished cork board to see how long you need each piece to be. The width is decided by how wide you want the frame. The frame will look best if you choose a different color or pattern of cloth than what you chose for the board itself. Cover the foam pieces in the cloth and glue them to the perimeter of the cork board.

Use ordinary tacks with the new board as you did with the old board. Another way to hold papers and such, without the tacks, is to attach stretchy lace or cord to the front of the board. Tack the elastic piece to the back of the frame, then pull it around to the front of the board. Staple the opposite end to the back of the board. You can cris-cross these elastic pieces or arrange them in vertical or horizontal rows. To attach notes and other items, simply pull the elastic slightly and place the note behind the elastic. You can catch just a corner of the note with the elastic, keeping it where you can view it without removing it from the elastic strip.