As part of a room redesign, I decided to replace an old combination bulletin board I had made a few years earlier. My grandchildren used it all the time to play school, but it wasn’t exactly an attractive feature in the room. I wanted to create something that felt less juvenile, worked just as well, and complemented the farmhouse style I love—without spending a fortune.
A combination board like this would also work well in a homework station. If you’re creating one for your family, here are more ideas for organizing homework and school supplies.
I decided on a wood framed, magnetic chalkboard, cork board, and dry erase board combo. Because it is so large and heavy, I will be installing each section directly to the wall. For smaller boards you may want to install the sections onto a piece of plywood, or other backing board first. Then attach it to the wall.
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To read about other projects in this room redesign, and to see the transformation in progress, read my post “Room Remodel – Part One – Plan Your Room.” This post is the introduction to the entire room remodeling project.
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How to Make a DIY Magnetic Bulletin Board
Step 1: Decide on the Size and Measurements
Measure the area where your board will hang and decide how big to build your board. A good rule of thumb for hanging artwork or other items on your wall is to use about 2/3 of the available area.
Step 2: Plan Your Board Layout
Decide which surfaces you want to include: a chalkboard, corkboard, whiteboard, magnetic board, or a combination of several.
Next, choose the arrangement. Will the sections sit side by side or top to bottom? Do you want them to be equal in size, or should one section be larger than the others?
Sketch the overall shape of your board and divide the available space into sections. This makes it much easier to experiment with different layouts before purchasing or cutting your materials.
Step 3: Gather Your Supplies
To make your DIY magnetic bulletin board budget-friendly, I have found some items that will allow you to make a large board relatively inexpensively.
Chalkboard paint: Use spray chalkboard paint to transform the sheet metal into a writable, erasable, and magnetic surface. Spray paint provides a smooth finish without visible brush marks.
Wood for the frame: Choose boards that are appropriately sized for your bulletin board. My board measures 4 by 7 feet, so I used 1-by-4-inch boards. A smaller bulletin board would look better with narrower frame pieces.
Wood divider strips: You’ll also need smaller strips of wood to cover the seams between the different board sections.
Adhesive and hardware: Depending on your chosen materials, you may need construction adhesive, paneling nails, finish nails, and screws to install everything securely.
Step 4: Measure and Cut the Board Materials and Frame Pieces
Once you have finalized your layout, measure each individual section and transfer those measurements to the corresponding materials. Double-check every measurement before cutting the whiteboard panel, sheet metal, cork, and wood pieces to size. Labeling the back of each piece can also help you keep track of where everything belongs during installation.
Now it’s time to build the frame. Measure your whole DIY magnetic bulletin board to get the measurements for your outer frame. If you want your frame to look like a picture frame then you will need to cut your pieces at a 45 degree angle.
Measure the length of your board and make this measurement the inside cut of your 45 degree angle. Do the same with all 4 sides. Keep in mind if you want your frame to cover a bit of the board, (if you have a wide frame), then you will want to take a little bit off your measurements to shrink it down a bit so it covers the edges of your message board.
If you’d rather just do straight cuts, then measure the width of the message board then add the width of your boards x 2 so it extends past the message board on each side. For example: I used 1″ x 4″ boards for my frame, so I would add approximately 8″ to my width. Keep in mind that your actual board measurement will not be what it says on the board. It’s always a bit smaller, so measure your board to get the exact measurement. And if you want to cover part of your bulletin board, keep this in mind.
Then measure your height. Your side boards will sit inside your top and bottom frame boards.
Step 5: Paint and Condition the Magnetic Chalkboard
Use a piece of sandpaper to scratch up your metal before painting to help the paint adhere better.
Then spray at least two light coats of the chalkboard paint to the metal letting it dry for at least one hour in between coats.
Let it dry overnight.
Condition your chalkboard by rubbing the whole board with the side of a piece of chalk, then wipe it off.
Step 6: Attach the Board Sections to the Wall
Attach the sections to the wallAttach the whiteboard to the wall with panel board nails. These are really small nails made to hold whiteboard.
Attach the metal to the wall with screws and glue. You will need to pre-drill the holes in the metal before you attach it to the wall. Make sure if your using the heavier metal that you screw into the studs in the wall to prevent it from falling. Use an all purpose construction adhesive for added support.
Attach the cork board roll or squares to the wall using all purpose construction glue. You can use small nails to hold the edges while the glue dries.
Step 7: Assemble and Attach the Wood Frame
Lay the outer frame pieces on the floor and assemble them using wood glue and finish nails. Allow the frame to dry completely. Once dry, position it around the bulletin board on the wall and secure it to the wall with finish nails or a nail gun.
Step 8: Attach the Divider Strips
Measure and cut the smaller wood strips to cover the seams between each bulletin-board section. Attach the strips with construction adhesive, making sure they are straight and fit snugly inside the outer frame.
This DIY magnetic bulletin board combines a chalkboard, whiteboard, and corkboard in one practical—and attractive—organizing station. Customize the size, layout, and finish to suit your space, whether you’re creating a family command center, homework station, home office, or playroom. I love that it provides plenty of room for notes, schedules, schoolwork, and reminders without looking like something made only for kids.
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