A homemade magnetic message board is handy for holding important papers from work, school, or church. It can also display dated reminders such as invitations, plus inspirational pictures or sayings!
I use my magnetic message board as part of my command center near the kitchen. It holds my girls' school lunch calendar, the ballet schedule, my daughter's recent artwork, and a few inspirational sayings. I tidied it up a bit for the photo shoot, naturally.
This message board was very easy to make, and I built it mostly from supplies I already had. If you don't have them, though, they're easy to find and inexpensive. Affiliate links are included for your convenience. Read my complete disclosure policy here.
Supplies for a Homemade Magnetic Message Board
- Large piece of sheet metal – (I used a 24″ x 12″ sheet, but any size you like will work. I found mine at Hobby Lobby.)
- Fabric – (Large enough to cover the metal sheet with a little extra. I used leftover fabric from another project. The best part of making your own board is that you can choose any fabric you love, and it can match your room!)
- Wood trim long enough to frame your metal – (I used leftover lattice from another project, but if you're buying new, go with something thicker, such as a 1 x 2 board.)
- brass L-brackets
- Glue gun and glue sticks
- Stain (optional) – (I went with Minwax’s Early American.)
- Miter saw or miter box
- Command strips – (I always keep these around for hanging things throughout the house. I love how easily they hold something up without leaving a hole in the wall!)
- Don't forget the cute magnets!
Steps for Making a Magnetic Message Board
Step 1
Cut your boards to frame the metal sheet. I laid them out, measured, and cut them with my miter saw. They're small pieces, so a miter box with a hand saw is an inexpensive option if you don't own a big miter saw.
In the photo above, look at where the far left screw goes in. The board splits a little there. To prevent that, pre-drill the wood before screwing in your bracket.
Step 2
Fasten the boards together at the corners with your L-brackets. I assumed I could just hot glue the boards to the metal and they'd stay put, but that didn't work! The L-brackets keep everything snug and secure, and they look charming too!
Step 3
Cut the fabric about 2 inches bigger than the metal sheet, then hot glue it down along each side. Pull it taut, but not too tight. You want it smooth without puckering or gathering, yet not loose either.
Step 4
Hot glue the frame onto the fabric-covered metal. Since both pieces are quite lightweight, hot glue held them perfectly.
Step 5
Hang up your new message board! I used Command strips, which are very easy and worked well with the metal.
Side note: If you frame with lattice like I did, the L-bracket screws can poke through the back of the wood. I had to make sure they sat on the outside of the metal, but they still protruded enough to scratch my wall when hung. So I added felt chair pads over the screw tips, which keeps my walls unmarked! With 1×2 boards, I think you could find shorter screws and avoid this problem altogether.
I hope you enjoy making your own magnetic message board! I love mine! If any steps are unclear, let me know and I'll do my best to explain them better. And please send a photo if you make one. I love seeing what readers create from my tutorials!
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