DIY Linen Pinboard

play table | play chairs | picture light

This pinboard was a SUPER easy DIY project and was incredibly inexpensive. It cost me about $15…much cheaper than this exact same size $169 Pottery Barn one that I used as inspiration! I put it in Wyatt’s playroom to display his artwork, but it can be used anywhere- a kitchen for all those miscellaneous papers, pictures & coupons, an office or even a bedroom.

Materials:

• 1″-1.5″ Foam Board Insulation cut to your desired size
• Fabric of your choice
• Iron or steamer
• Staple gun & staples
• Command Strips
• Pins or tacks

Time:

10 minutes once you have your materials collected

Instructions:

1. Measure the space and decide your board dimensions. Because this is a DIY, you have the freedom to choose what size & shape pinboard you want…could be a square, a long skinny rectangle, a gallery…whatever you want! I had a pretty big space, so I went with a 4′ x 3′ or 48″ x 36″ size.play table | play chairs | picture light
2. Head to Home Depot to get your foam board insulation. (or Lowe’s, or anywhere that carries foam board insulation.) You can get foam board delivered instead, but I would recommend going in and having it cut for you while you’re there…I managed to find a board that was a little beat up so the nice gentleman helping me gave me 50% off of it, making my 1-1/2″ board only $12 instead of $24. (You can get a 1″ board instead, this one was just on clearance and therefore cheaper anyways.) Since I was having it cut up and would be covering it anyways, I didn’t care that some of the edges were not so perfect. The cuts took about 30 seconds and I got two 48″ x 36″ boards out of one piece! So again, depending on what size you make your board, you can make multiple boards from once piece of foam board insulation…just make sure the boards will fit in your car!
   (If you don’t have a staple gun, you could pick one up at Home Depot as well…some are just $10…but if you think you won’t really use it again, borrow one like I did from my dad, or try out a regular stapler…I haven’t tried this so I don’t know if it actually works, but worth a shot!)
3. Pick out your fabric. I went to Jo-Ann for my fabric, but you could really use any fabric, even if you have an old pair of curtains that is a material you like and a big enough size for your board! I wanted a natural, linen look…a la my inspiration, so I chose this fabric. Again, they will cut it to size in-store for you, so it makes sense to go look at the fabrics yourself and choose. Have them cut the fabric to whatever the dimensions are of your board, plus the width of the sides, plus an inch or two to wrap around the back. Mine was cut to 54″ x 42″. If it’s a little bigger, thats fine too, better to be safe than sorry…you can always trim it on your own. Most craft stores usually have great coupons online, so before you check out, just google around…I found one for 50% off so my fabric was only $9!
4. Iron or steam your fabric. Make sure you get out any wrinkles or creases so your fabric lays flat on the board. It’s okay if you can’t get everything out, you’ll pull it taught anyways.
5. Staple the fabric to your board. Lay your fabric out on a flat surface, I did it on my dining table, but you could do it on the floor. Center the board in the middle of the fabric making sure there is enough to wrap around all sides to the back. Starting on any side, staple the fabric to the back of the board, then do the opposite side, the top, then the bottom, making sure you’re pulling the fabric taught, but not too tight all the way around. Leave the corners free so you can “wrap” them like you would a Christmas present, then staple those down too.
6. Hang it. I used Command Strips because the board is light and I didn’t want to put unnecessary holes in my walls. 
7. Pin away! Display your papers & pictures, I use these small pins they don’t distract from any artwork.

I hung this picture light above my board to highlight Wyatt’s art…and to give it a “gallery” feel.

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