The days of plain old bulletin boards as the only way to do a little decorating with cork board have passed. Today, there are a variety of creative and interesting ways to use this very versatile material.
How to Begin Decorating with Cork Board
First things first, you already know you want to use cork board, now you must decide the way in which it will be used so that in the end, your room design will look fantastic. To help you through this process, there are a few questions you can ask yourself to help narrow down the field of possibilities.
- Is this going to be a big project or a small project? - This decision is made in order to estimate time and cost.
- What is your budget? - This consideration is more necessary for larger projects like cork board flooring.
- Will it be a functional item? - Decide whether the cork board is going to be put to use or is purely for decorative purposes.
- What type of cork material will you be using? - There are a few choices: cork sheets and rolls, cork panels and pre-made cork boards (such as bulletin boards).
Cork Board Decorating Ideas
Don't settle for the plain and unimaginative store bought bulletin board or cork board. Consider some of the following possibilities while making a decision as to how you will be decorating with cork board.
- Cork board room screen - If you have been on the hunt for a room screen then you know that they can get pretty pricey. A cork board room screen is an inexpensive alternative. This is a great idea for a home office or kid room because the screen can also be used to hang up notes, reminders, "to-do" lists or just about anything you please.
- Fabric covered cork board - Take a plain piece of cork board and cover it with a fabric of your choice like racecar fabric for little Tommy, Tulip fabric for Susie and sophisticated toile for you. The possibilities are endless.
- Cork board flooring - The end result does not look like a giant bulletin board on your floor. Cork board floors add warmth and character to any room.
- Cork board wall coverings - Consider cork board as an alternative to paint or wallpaper. Use the cork board on one wall of your house like the kitchen, kid's bedroom or home office.
A Few Parting Words about Cork Board
For anyone who is still on the fence about decorating with cork board, consider these facts:
- It is environmentally friendly - Only the bark from cork trees is used to manufacture cork board. Meaning, not a single tree meets its untimely demise in order to make cork board.
- It is environmentally sustainable - The bark that is stripped from the trees only takes about 6 years to grow back.
- There are rules - Harvesting rules, that is. Cork board is harvested about every 9 years and can generally only be done so when the tree is in its dormant cycle. This helps to prevent the tree from incurring any diseases. A very important consideration, because in all likelihood a diseased tree would have to be cut down, which is not environmentally friendly or sustainable.
- It naturally battles microbes - Human-made germ fighters are unnecessary for cork board because it has been blessed by mother nature to fight mold and mildew all on its own and it is hypoallergenic.
- Cork board insulates - Due to its natural composition of tightly packed closed air cells; cork board effectively insulates sounds and temperatures.
- It is moisture resistant - This is important to know when you are considering using cork board in your bathroom, kitchen, laundry room or as a floor covering. So, if you are considering installing cork floors but are worried about how you are going to finish them, worry no longer. Cork floors are finished in the same manner as any hardwood flooring.
