Can You Spray Paint Cork Board? (DIY Guide + Inspiration)

Cork boards are functional decorations for your home and office. However, it can be boring, and the lack of variety can make many people think painting it will add value to their interior.

If your home is following a specific theme and a corkboard’s original look may be out of place, painting it over can help it blend well with your home’s design. But can you spray paint cork board?

This article will discuss if spray paints are ideal for cork boards, how to do this project at home, and tips that will help make the process easy for you.

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Can You Spray Paint Cork Board?

If you own a corkboard at home, it's probably more for practical use than aesthetic reasons. You're probably using it to remind yourself to pay bills or write notes to your family members.

But even if it has so many uses, cork isn’t aesthetically pleasing and can disrupt the design of your home, especially if you have a color theme. The best way to keep it without ruining your home’s design? To paint it over. But does spray paint work on corks?

Yes, it does. You can spray paint a corkboard. However, you need to use a sealant to ensure that your paint job will last. Cork is porous, so you need to ensure that the paint or any other liquid that can potentially ruin the look won’t seep through the holes.

Another thing you need to remember is not to skip the primer. While it won’t even out the texture of the cork, it will make the paint last longer, saving you money and time in the long run.

But there are other types of corks available in the market apart from corkboards. Can you also spray paint them? Let’s find out:

Can You Spray Paint A Cork Bulletin Board?

If you have a bulletin board made of cork, you can use spray paint to spice it up and give it a new fresh look. However, like your regular corkboard, it’s important to use a primer and seal it properly to ensure that the paint will last longer.

Can You Spray Paint A Cork Coaster?

Absolutely! Cork coasters can be boring and ordinary. If you want something unique, you can spray paint your coasters depending on the theme of your dining area. To get more crafty, you can use painter’s tape to create designs over the coasters.

Can You Spray Paint A Cork Board Frame?

Yes, you can. While the natural color of corkboard frames is not entirely dull, some people want theirs to be unique to everyone. However, that isn’t possible with this material unless you’re willing to create it yourself. The best way to do that? Spray painting it.

How To Spray Paint Cork Board Yourself

DIY projects can be daunting for many people, especially if they require you to invest in many materials while putting in your time and effort. Fortunately, corkboards are generally smaller in size, so if you're just new to the DIY world, you don't have to be scared to try it yourself.

However, before you begin to paint, you need to understand the nature of corks. They're porous, so you will need to purchase a sealant to ensure that they will last long. Some may say it's optional, but we recommend you use it to save time and money in the long run. Ready to paint your corkboards? Let’s get started.

What You’ll Need

Spray paint
Spray primer
Spray paint sealer
Plastic sheets or newspaper
Painter's tape (optional)
Gloves (optional)
Protective mask (optional)

Instructions

1
Before you begin the painting job, make sure you protect the area you’ll be working on. Cover any furniture that may be painted on with a newspaper or plastic sheet, and cover the flooring. It’s recommended to work outdoors or in a well-ventilated place. But if it’s not available, you can use a protective mask instead so you won’t inhale the fumes.
2
Once your workspace is ready, it’s time to remove the frame of the corkboard. If it’s permanently attached, you can tape it over with painter’s tape and make sure it is fully covered to avoid paint on the edges. But if you want to also paint the frame, skip this step.
3
Next, spray the board with a spray primer. This will allow the paint to stick longer to the corkboard. After spraying the first layer of primer, wait for it to dry for at least two hours before applying it again.
4
Then, after another two hours, start spray painting the corkboard. But don’t just create one thick covering. Lightly spray the paint on the board to ensure that there are no drips that could ruin the entire look. Depending on how light or dark you want the paint to be, coat it again or not.
5
After you’re done painting it, let it cure for at least 24 hours and apply the sealant. Again, you may want to skip this step, but it will be necessary to achieve quality output.

Why Use Spray Paint On Cork Board?

Spray painting is the easiest method of painting any surface or material. Unlike traditional painting methods, you don’t need to buy other materials such as crushes or rollers. At the same time, you don’t need to learn any special techniques to ensure that you coated the surface evenly.

With spray paint, you don’t need to have any painting experience. All you need to remember is to purchase the right paint for the surface you’ll be painting, and you’re all good. With the painting process, you don’t need to learn any strokes. Just make sure that you won’t rush into painting the board with a thick layer, and you’ll get a beautiful board in no time.

DIY Tips To Consider

Painting a corkboard is quick and easy, especially with spray paints. You just need to protect your area and cover anything you don’t want to be painted.

If you have an outdoor space, it’s better to do it there than inside the house. It will minimize any accidents of painting something and ensure that you won’t inhale any paint fumes. Again, don’t forget to use primer and sealant. This will keep your paint sticking to the board longer.

In addition to protective tips, below are some design tips that will help you get more creative with this DIY project.

Design Tips

Painting corks can be a great idea, but if you want to get creative and adventurous rather than painting it in one single color, here are some painting ideas you can try:

Stripe design
If you want to achieve a strip design on your corkboard, the first thing you need to do is choose a base coating for it. Paint over and let it dry. Once dry, apply strips of painter’s tape to the board in your desired pattern.
Spray paint on it with your preferred color and peel the tape once it dries up. If you want variety, leave out the base color; just apply the strips and paint over them.
Monogram or silhouette design
To do this design, cut your desired background shape using cardboard. You can use any form you want. You can print a design and use it as a pattern if you can't draw.
Then, tape the cutout onto the middle of the corkboard or any place where you want it to be. Using spray paint, paint over it and let it dry. Remove the cutout, and you’re all set.
Graphic design
If you want your corkboard to have more graphics in it, you can do so with spray paint. It just requires more time and effort, but trust us; it will be worth it. First, choose your stencil. If you don't have a stencil, print some and cut them out.
Lay it on the corkboard depending on how you want the design to look. Then, tape it with painter’s tape to secure their positions. Once secured, spray paint it and let it dry. If you want more colors on your board, use a base coating before applying the cutouts and painting them.

Spray Painting Cork Board FAQ

Which is better, paint or stain on cork?

That depends on what design you want to achieve. Both stain and paint work well with cork, so it’s all up to you.

Can you chalk paint a corkboard?

Yes, you can. It’s almost the same as painting it with spray paint; you just need to skip the primer and sealer.

How long does it take for paint to dry on a corkboard?

It depends on the type of paint you use. For spray paints, it will dry as fast as 10 minutes. However, you need to let it cure for 24 hours to ensure that the paint is coated correctly.

What spray paint brands are best for painting cork?

All spray paint brands work well with cork, but many users have recommended Rustoleum or Kryolan.

Conclusion

Say goodbye to boring corkboards with this DIY spray painting project. Since you can use spray paints on corkboards and other things that use cork, you can now create your own design that will blend well in your house. Just follow our design tips above if you want to try something new, but feel free to experiment to achieve the design you want.