It’s time for a board meeting — not a corporate one, but an actual meeting of cork boards. I wanted a small, hidden bulletin board inside my closet to pin magazine tear-outs: outfits, haircuts, little reminders (yes, I keep a note on how to check freckles for signs of skin cancer). Instead of stuffing those pages in a drawer or letting them pile up on my desk, I wanted them visible at a glance — but only when I want to see them.
The solution was simple: a fabric-covered cork bulletin board mounted on the inside wall of my closet. When I push my clothes to the side, there’s a perfect swatch of unused wall that’s mine alone. If I don’t want anyone else to see my cuttings, I just leave my hangers in place and the board stays hidden.
For materials, I used two $6 packs of cork tiles from Target — eight squares total, though I only needed six for this board (I plan to use the extras for a dollhouse floor sometime). I covered them with leftover Robert Allen fabric called Khanjali Peacock that I already had from other projects, which kept the cost very low. If you need to buy fabric, expect this size board to cost around $15–$25; a smaller four-square board can be made for about $6 in cork alone.
I lined up six cork squares into a rectangle and used duct tape to join their backs. The cork is the same on both sides, so choose either side as the back when taping. Because thin cork sheets can be floppy, I reinforced the seams with a second layer of duct tape.
Next I cut a fabric piece about 2 inches larger than the 36 x 24-inch cork rectangle so I could wrap the edges. I paid attention to centering the fabric pattern so it would look neat from the front. After pulling the fabric snug around the back, I secured it with duct tape, smoothing the front so the pattern read nicely.
I mounted the board to the closet wall with six small nails — one in each corner plus one at the top middle and one at the bottom middle. This simple attachment is secure but easily removable if I want to repaint the closet or move the board later.
Then came the fun part: pinning up pages. I started with a few practical items — notes from a favorite book on natural living, a Real Simple article about reducing allergies (pollen season is brutal), and a skin-check checklist from Glamour. Those reminders live next to the pretty stuff.
Next I added the inspirational tear-outs: hairstyles, outfits, bags, coats — little visuals to motivate me when I’m stuck in a Mom Slump. If you prefer a calmer look, choose a subtler fabric like burlap or linen, or leave the cork exposed. The patterned fabric plus a jumble of images can feel chaotic, but I love the imperfect, collage-like look — it’s oddly comforting.
Then I kept pinning. I don’t intend for the board to stay this cluttered forever — I’ll remove items as I try looks or shop for similar pieces — but for now it’s delightful to stand in my tiny closet, surrounded by things that make me smile.
I’m not suddenly more stylish, but I did spend a cozy evening in a five-by-six-foot closet with a lot of aspirational style. When I want to hide the board again, I simply slide my hangers back into place and it disappears.
If you’ve ever tucked a poster or special keepsakes behind hangers or created your own inspiration corner, you know the small, private joy of it. A simple DIY cork board like this is an inexpensive, low-commitment way to keep ideas and reminders organized and out of sight when you want privacy.
Psst — another cork-square pinboard project exists if you want more ideas for adapting this concept to different spaces.