Sweet Ideas to Decorate a Cork Board

Photo Collage

• Begin by selecting a large assortment of photos for the board. Duplicate photos, photos that are slightly off-center and ones with less than ideal backgrounds are great for this project. Because the photos will have pinholes in them, don't use originals or photos you don't want to part with. An alternative is to have copies made of your favorites. Cut out the backgrounds of the photos and trim them so that only the main object of the photo remains. Arrange the photos to cover the entire board and, when satisfied with the layout, glue them in place. Use lightweight sheet protectors to cover the entire collage. Items are then pinned to the board through both the protector sheets and the photos.

Decorated Frame

• Decorate the frame portion of the cork board by painting it and adding embellishments. The scrap booking aisles of craft stores have a wide array of small embellishments in just about every theme, shape, size and color. Choose decorations that fit on the frame, and purchase enough to space them evenly over the frame. Paint the frame and allow it to dry thoroughly. Next, determine the layout of the accessories before affixing them to the frame. If desired, use solid-colored wrapping paper in a color that coordinates with the frame to cover the cork portion of the board.

Room-Themed Board

• A cork board can be customized to match the theme of the room where it will be used. For instance, for a teen's camouflage-themed room, use a stencil to paint the entire board camouflage or, for a teapot-inspired kitchen, decorate the cork board with images of teapots and use teapot embellishments to decorate the frame. Fabric, wallpaper, paint and wrapping paper are just a few items that can be used to cover a cork board without compromising its functionality. Pushpins that coordinate with the theme of the board are a lovely accent.

Fabric-Covered Board

• You can use fabric to cover the entire cork board or only the cork portion, depending upon your preference. If covering only the board, paint the frame in a coordinating color or use ribbon to decorate it. The fabric needs to be thin enough to allow pushpins to penetrate the fabric and attach to the cork securely. Cut the material to the appropriate size, and pull tightly to cover the entire board. Attach with glue or staples, smoothing out any pockets or wrinkles as you secure it. Strips of ribbon in a coordinating color can be run horizontally, vertically or diagonally for an added design element.