Sharing all the details of how we made a DIY cork board for our kitchen wall to hold of our kids artwork, important papers & schedules & help keep us organized with our kids homework & home school.
A few years ago I had a little bit of a dilemma.
I had no idea where to put all of my kids artwork….there was only so much room on our refrigerator. 🙂
Every time I went to open it something would fall off!
I wanted to have a nice place to display their artwork and encourage their creativity without sacrificing on style.
So I started to look around for cork boards but they either looked really cheap or were way more money than I wanted to spend.
We decided to make our own DIY cork board instead that was large enough to hold all of their artwork, papers etc.
DIY Cork Board – Home School Organization
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Supplies & Tools Needed to Make an Easy DIY Cork Board
Our DIY Cork Board is 3 Foot Tall by 3 Foot Wide by 1/2 Inch Deep
- 1/4 inch roll of cork (36″ by 36″)
- 1/4 inch plywood board cut 35.5 inch tall & 35.5 inch wide
- Strong Glue like Liquid Nails
- Saw to Cut Plywood Board
- Screws & Screw Driver to Hang DIY Cork Board
Instructions for Buying Roll of Cork
Jason found a big roll of cork online.
You can find these on Amazon…
Flipside FLP38001 Cork Roll, 4′ x 8′, 3mm Thick, Natural Cork, Light Brown
Decide on a size for your cork board prior to ordering.
We ordered a roll that was 3′ x 6′ so that we could create (2) 3 x 3 foot cork boards.
We went with 1/4″ thick cork & I would recommend sticking to close to that.
Going with less of a thickness might prevent you from pushing the pins all the way in.
Don’t Forget to Flatten the Cork Roll Before Using It
We had to flatten the cork for a few days by rolling it out and stacking some books on it.
Cutting the Plywood to Fit Under the DIY Cork Board
Jason cut a slightly smaller piece of 1/4″ plywood as a backer for the cork board.
We cut this slightly smaller than the cork itself so you wouldn’t really see the plywood when the cork board was hung.
Attaching the Cork to the Plywood
We attached the cork to the plywood board with liquid nails.
If you are going to put a frame around the cork board you would want to cut it the same size & then frame it out.
But don’t feel like you have to frame it…the frame most likely will be covered with art work anyway!
Attaching the DIY Cork Board to the Wall
Then you just have to attach it to the wall.
Jason simply found the studs and put 2 screws directly through the cork and backer into the studs.
The screws disappear in the cork.
It is that easy!
Here’s what our DIY Cork Board Looked like when my kiddos were little.
There is no more arguing over where we can put their precious works of art.
Every couple of weeks I go through what’s up on the DIY Board & put some of the favorites in clear bins I keep in each kids rooms.
These bins also make it easy to find favorites from previous years to decorate the house seasonally.
The rest of the artwork gets discreetly recycled. 🙂
As my kids have gotten older their tends to be less artwork & more important papers & school schedules.
After all these years, our DIY cork board is still keeping us organized in the kitchen!
I hope this inspires you to create a DIY cork board for your home!
by Tara Lehman
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