Notice Board Buying Guide: Cork, Size & Colour Explained

Why Cork Still Wins for Notice Boards

Long before magnetic whiteboards and digital planners, cork was the material of choice for pinning up notes, photos, and reminders — and it still is. A good notice board earns its place on a wall by doing one job extremely well: holding pins securely, day after day, without the surface crumbling or the holes becoming permanent. Cork does this better than almost anything else, which is why it remains the default choice for home offices, kitchens, hallways, and classrooms alike. This guide covers what to look for in a cork notice board, from material and size through to colour, alternatives, and mounting.

Cork: The Material That Makes a Great Notice Board

Cork is harvested from the bark of the cork oak without felling the tree, making it one of the most sustainable natural materials available — the bark regenerates and can be harvested again roughly every nine years. Beyond its environmental credentials, cork is also simply excellent at its job: it's soft enough to take a pin cleanly, resilient enough to close back up after the pin is removed, and light enough to mount on almost any wall without special fixings. A well-made cork board will still be taking pins cleanly a decade from now, which is more than can be said for most home office accessories.

Natural cork boards, like the Large Natural Cork Notice Board, keep the warm, honey-toned texture of the raw material and suit most interiors without fighting for attention. If you want something with a bit more visual depth, twist cork — made by winding cork strips into a marbled pattern before pressing — gives a richer, more textured finish, as seen on the Large Twist Black Cork Notice Board.

Choosing the Right Size for Your Wall

Notice board size is easy to underestimate. A board that's too small fills up within a week and forces you to remove old notes before you're ready to. As a general guide, a 45 x 30cm board — like the Small Natural Cork Notice Board — suits a single desk or a small hallway, and works well for shopping lists, appointment cards, and the odd photo. For a home office or family kitchen, a 60 x 45cm board, such as the Large Dark Cork Notice Board, gives enough room for a weekly planner alongside everyday notes. If you're covering a genuinely large wall — a utility room, a shared office, or a classroom — the Extra Large Cork Notice Board at 90 x 60cm gives you the space to organise multiple projects at once without anything overlapping.

Colour and Finish: Natural, Dark or Twist Black

Once you've settled on size, colour comes down to how much you want the board to stand out. Natural cork is the most versatile choice and blends into most colour schemes without effort. A dark cork finish, like the Large Dark Cork Notice Board, gives a more contemporary look and hides pin marks and paper edges more easily than lighter cork. Twist black cork goes a step further — the marbled black finish works well as a genuine feature piece rather than just a functional board, and the Extra Large Twist Black Cork Notice Board makes a strong statement on a large wall.

Magnetic Steel: An Alternative to Cork

If you'd rather use magnets than pins, or you simply want a sleeker, more industrial look, a stainless steel magnetic board is worth considering alongside cork. The Zack Percetto Stainless Steel Magnetic Board is a good example — a matt-brushed 18/0 stainless steel panel that can be mounted either horizontally or vertically, so it adapts to a narrow hallway or a wide office wall equally well. Unlike cork, it won't show pinholes at all, since everything is held with magnets, and the brushed steel finish suits a more contemporary or minimalist interior than a natural cork tone would. The trade-off is weight — at close to 2kg, it needs a slightly sturdier wall fixing than a cork board of the same size — and you'll need magnets strong enough to hold paper and photos securely against a vertical steel surface.

Novelty and Statement Designs

Not every notice board needs to be purely functional. For a study, playroom, or anyone who simply likes to see where their pinned photos and postcards actually are, the World Map Cork Notice Board combines the practicality of cork with a printed map design — genuinely useful for travel planning and photo displays, and a talking point in its own right.

Mounting and Care

Most cork notice boards are light enough to hang with simple wall plugs and screws, or with strong adhesive strips for lighter boards and rental properties — check the fixings included with your specific board before drilling. Once mounted, cork needs very little maintenance: an occasional wipe with a slightly damp cloth removes dust, and a light sanding every few years will refresh the surface if it starts to look worn from heavy use. Avoid hanging cork boards in direct sunlight for long periods, as prolonged UV exposure can fade the natural tone over time. Stainless steel boards need even less upkeep — just an occasional wipe to keep the brushed finish free of fingerprints. Browse the full Memo & Notice Boards collection to compare every size, colour, and design in one place.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best material for a notice board?

Cork remains the best all-round material for a notice board. It takes pins cleanly and closes back up afterwards, unlike foam or fabric boards, which develop permanent holes over time. It's also sustainably harvested, lightweight, and needs almost no maintenance.

What size notice board do I need?

For a single desk or small hallway, a 45 x 30cm board is usually enough. A 60 x 45cm board suits most home offices and kitchens. For shared spaces or heavy daily use, a 90 x 60cm extra-large board gives enough room to keep everything visible without overlapping.

Should I choose cork or a magnetic steel board?

Choose cork if you want to pin paper, photos, and fabric items directly with pushpins, and prefer a warmer, more natural look. Choose a magnetic steel board if you'd rather use magnets, want a sleeker contemporary finish, or don't want any pinholes showing on the surface over time.

How do I hang a cork notice board?

Most cork notice boards are light enough to mount with standard wall plugs and screws through the pre-drilled fixing points on the back. Lighter or smaller boards can often be hung with strong adhesive strips instead, which is a good option for rental properties where drilling isn't possible.

Do cork notice boards need any special care?

Very little. An occasional wipe with a slightly damp cloth keeps the surface free of dust, and it's worth avoiding prolonged direct sunlight, which can fade the natural cork tone over time. A light sanding every few years will refresh the surface if it starts to look worn.