Finding the right pin board here in New Zealand can feel like a bigger decision than it should be. Don't worry, it's actually pretty straightforward once you know what to look for. This guide is designed to cut through the noise and help you pick the perfect board for your office, school, or home.

We'll cover everything from the classic cork vs. felt debate right through to custom printing options from local Kiwi experts like SONI DESIGN.

Your Complete Guide to Choosing the Right Pin Board

A pin board is so much more than a spot to stick up a few notes. It's a communication hub, an organisational tool, and a source of inspiration, all in one. Think of it as a physical dashboard for your space—it needs to show you what's important at a glance and be tough enough for the job.

Getting it wrong is a bit like trying to navigate Auckland's Southern Motorway during rush hour using a tramping map of the Tongariro Crossing. It’s just not the right tool for the environment, and it quickly becomes a source of frustration.

This guide is your roadmap. We’ll break down every key factor to make sure you end up with a pin board that not only looks great but genuinely makes your space work better.

Key Considerations for Your Pin Board

Before you start looking at fabrics and frames, take a moment to think about what you actually need the board to do. Your main goal will steer all the other decisions.

Here are a few things to consider right from the get-go:

• Purpose and Function: What's its day-to-day life going to be like? Will it be displaying kids' artwork in a busy school corridor, tracking project milestones in a corporate boardroom, or keeping the family organised in the kitchen? The demands placed on it will point you towards the right material.
• Aesthetics and Environment: A pin board should feel like a natural part of the room, not an afterthought. A sleek, grey fabric board might blend perfectly into a modern office, while a set of bright, colourful felt tiles can bring a classroom to life.
• Longevity and Maintenance: How often will you be pinning things up and taking them down? A board in a high-traffic spot needs to be self-healing and easy to clean. One in a quiet home office, on the other hand, can prioritise style over pure ruggedness.

A great pin board works like a silent assistant, keeping crucial information front and centre. It turns a blank wall into a dynamic canvas for collaboration and creativity, making it an invaluable asset anywhere.

Nailing down these basics is the first step. While our focus is on pin boards, the principle of matching an item to its environment is universal. For a wider look at this concept in a home setting, this guide on how to choose the perfect furniture has some great insights.

With your purpose clear, you’re ready to dive into the different types of pin boards NZ has to offer.

A Guide to Pin Board Materials and Types

Picking the right material for your pin board is the most critical decision you'll make. It’s a bit like choosing the right tyres for your car; what works for a city runabout in Wellington won't suit a ute heading into the backcountry. The material fundamentally defines how your board performs, how long it lasts, and how it looks in your space.

Let's get past the surface-level stuff and dig into what makes each option tick, especially for different Kiwi environments. This will help you find a material that doesn't just look the part but works brilliantly day in and day out.

The Timeless Classic: Cork Boards

Cork is the original, the one most of us picture when we think of a pin board. It's the trusty workhorse of the display world, famous for its incredible self-healing ability. Think of it like our resilient tōtara tree; it’s natural, durable, and built to last. When you push a pin in, the cork granules simply part ways, and when you pull it out, they close right back up.

This self-healing magic makes it perfect for places where notices are always changing—a staff room, a community hall, or your home office. Cork is also a fantastic sustainable choice. It's harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree without harming the tree itself, making it a renewable and biodegradable option. As we know from New Zealand's own forestry sector, sustainable wood products are a cornerstone of a healthy economy. For the year ended June 2024, New Zealand's forestry exports reached $5.75 billion, with sawn timber being a huge part of that. To see the full picture, you can read more about NZ's wood product markets.

The Versatile Duo: Fabric and Felt Boards

If a cork board is the reliable ute, then fabric and felt boards are the tailored suit. They offer a massive step up in looks and durability, making them a go-to choice for professional settings and public-facing areas.

• Fabric Pin Boards: These are usually built with a solid backing (often cork or a similar material) and then wrapped in a high-quality, commercial-grade fabric. The fabric adds an extra layer of protection, hides pinholes beautifully, and can be chosen to perfectly match your brand’s colours.

• Felt Pin Boards: Often made from pressed wool or synthetic fibres, felt offers a surface that’s soft but incredibly tough. Its dense texture grips pins securely and is remarkably resilient, which is why you’ll see it in high-traffic spots like school corridors and busy creative agencies. It even helps with acoustic dampening in noisy, open-plan offices.

Choosing between fabric and felt often just comes down to the texture you prefer and the specific colour palette you need for your space.

This decision tree infographic can help you narrow down your choices based on what you need a pin board for.

This visual guide makes it simple, showing how starting with your purpose—whether it's planning, display, or collaboration—points you toward the best material and size for the job.

Modern and Multi-Functional Options

Moving beyond the traditional materials, today’s boards offer much more functionality for dynamic, collaborative workplaces. They’re designed for environments where information moves fast and needs to be displayed in different ways.

Think of these as the Swiss Army knife of visual communication. They pack multiple functions into a single, streamlined tool, making them perfect for project management, brainstorming, and interactive displays.

Magnetic boards and combination boards are the two main players here. A magnetic pin board has a steel surface, letting you stick up documents with magnets. It's a great pin-free way to display items without poking holes in them.

Combination boards are even more versatile. They typically merge a pin board surface (like cork or fabric) with a magnetic whiteboard. This dual-purpose design means you can pin up permanent notices while using the whiteboard section for brainstorming, daily tasks, or quick notes. They’re an incredibly efficient tool for meeting rooms and project hubs where you need that flexibility.

Finding the Perfect Fit: Sizing and Mounting Your Pin Board

A pin board really only works well when it’s the right fit for its environment. Getting the size and mounting method spot-on is a bit like framing a piece of art—it has to complement the space and serve its purpose. When you get this right, your board stops being just a board and becomes a natural, functional part of the room.

Think about it: a tiny notice board in a massive school hallway will just get lost. On the flip side, a huge board can completely overwhelm a small office, making it feel cramped. The trick is to match the board’s scale to its job and the wall it’s going on, striking that perfect balance between being useful and looking good.

Common Pin Board Sizes in NZ

Here in New Zealand, we tend to see a few standard sizes that cover most situations. Knowing what they’re typically used for can help you picture what will work best for you.

• 900mm x 600mm: This is a great all-rounder for personal use. It’s perfect above a desk in a home office for keeping track of tasks or in the kitchen for family reminders. It gives you enough space for the important stuff without taking over the whole wall.

• 1200mm x 900mm: You’ll see this size a lot in small team spaces, meeting rooms, or classroom corners. It’s got plenty of room for project updates, staff notices, or showing off a decent collection of student artwork.

• 1800mm x 1200mm (and larger): These are the big guns, the command centres for busy, high-traffic areas. We’re talking main school corridors, corporate reception areas, or factory floors where safety notices have to be seen by everyone. They’re built for maximum impact and visibility.

A quick tip before you commit: grab a tape measure and mark out the dimensions on your wall. A few bits of masking tape can give you a real-world preview of how the board will fill the space. It’s a simple step that avoids any nasty surprises when it arrives.

Choosing the right size isn't just about fitting a wall; it's about creating a functional focal point. A well-proportioned board invites interaction and makes information accessible, turning a passive display into an active communication tool.

Secure and Smart Mounting Options

How you hang your pin board is just as crucial as its size. The right mounting makes sure your board is secure, level, and suited to its surroundings, whether it’s there for the long haul or just for a temporary event.

Screw-In Mounts

This is your most secure, permanent option. It's the go-to for busy places like schools and public hallways where you can't risk it getting knocked about. The board is fixed straight to the wall with screws, which are often hidden behind neat corner caps for a tidy finish. It’s total peace of mind.

Damage-Free Adhesive Strips

If you’re renting, setting up a temporary display, or just don’t fancy drilling holes in your walls, high-strength adhesive strips are a brilliant choice. Modern ones can hold a surprising amount of weight and peel off cleanly later. They’re fantastic for lighter cork or felt tiles in offices and homes where you want a bit more flexibility.

Mobile Stands

For ultimate freedom, you can’t beat a pin board on a mobile stand with castor wheels. These are perfect for dynamic environments like conference centres, training rooms, or collaborative offices. You can easily wheel it between rooms or reconfigure a space for a workshop on the fly. They offer a level of versatility that a fixed board just can't.

Branding Your Space with Custom Pin Boards

While a standard pin board certainly gets the job done, off-the-shelf options can feel a bit... anonymous. They’re functional, sure, but they don't say much about your brand. This is where customisation comes in, turning a simple notice board into a powerful communication tool and a genuine brand asset for your NZ organisation.

Think about it. A potential client walks into your reception. Instead of a plain grey board, they’re greeted by a beautifully finished fabric board, colour-matched perfectly to your brand palette with your logo subtly printed on the surface. Suddenly, it’s not just a place to pin notices; it's a statement about your commitment to quality and detail.

This bespoke approach lets you go beyond pure function and properly weave your display boards into your interior design and brand identity.

Why Go Custom?

Investing in a custom pin board is about more than just looks. It turns a piece of office furniture into an active part of your company culture and marketing. A well-designed board can reinforce your brand’s values, sharpen up internal communication, and create a polished, professional environment that impresses visitors and motivates your team.

The New Zealand business scene is thriving and competitive. The March 2025 quarter saw total sales hit $190 billion (a 3.3% increase), and business purchases grew by 3.6% to $133 billion. With operating profits jumping an impressive 8.0% to $26 billion, it's clear Kiwi businesses are investing in growth and looking for any edge they can get. You can explore these NZ business financial trends here. A custom pin board is a small but surprisingly impactful part of that investment in brand presentation.

Here’s what a custom solution brings to the table:

• Perfect Brand Alignment: Match your exact brand colours, print your logo, or even feature your mission statement right on the board itself.
• Unique Sizing and Shapes: Need a board to fit a quirky alcove, run the entire length of a hallway, or be cut into an eye-catching shape? No problem.
• Enhanced Functionality: Mix and match materials to suit your needs. You could integrate a magnetic whiteboard section into a custom-sized fabric board, for instance.

The Customisation Journey with SONI DESIGN

Working with a specialist like SONI DESIGN makes creating custom pin boards NZ businesses love a simple and collaborative process. We guide you from that initial spark of an idea to a final product that perfectly captures your vision.

The whole thing follows a few key steps to make sure you get exactly what you're after.

1. The Initial Brief: This is where it all starts. We sit down and chat about your vision, your goals, and your practical needs. What’s the board for? Where will it live? What message does it need to send?
2. Design and Mock-Up: Our design team takes your brief and creates a digital mock-up. This gives you a clear visual of how the final board will look, from colours and logo placement to exact dimensions.
3. Material Selection: Now for the fun part. You’ll choose the ideal materials for both function and feel—maybe a specific fabric texture, a unique frame finish, or a certain type of backing for extra durability.
4. Production and Quality Check: Once you give the thumbs-up on the design, we get to work building your custom board. Every part is crafted to spec, and we do a thorough quality check to make sure it’s perfect.
5. Delivery and Installation: Your finished, bespoke pin board is delivered to your door, ready to transform your space.

A custom pin board acts as a permanent, silent ambassador for your brand. It communicates professionalism and a cohesive identity from the moment someone walks through your door, reinforcing your culture without saying a word.

For example, a real estate agency in Auckland could order a long, narrow fabric board printed with a subtle map of their key suburbs. An architecture firm in Wellington might opt for a minimalist, frameless felt board cut into an abstract shape to complement their modern office. The possibilities are truly endless, allowing any organisation to turn a functional item into a unique part of their brand story.

Choosing the Right Board for Your Sector

There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all pin board. The best board for the job is one that’s perfectly suited to its environment. A board that looks great in a quiet office reception would likely get destroyed in a busy school hallway. It all comes down to matching the board’s features to the day-to-day demands of your industry.

This is the difference between buying a pin board and investing in the right pin board. By looking at how they're used in different Kiwi workplaces, you can get a much clearer idea of which materials and designs will actually solve your problems and be a tool that serves you well for years.

Education and Schools

Schools are tough environments. Pin boards in corridors, classrooms, and staff rooms see a huge amount of traffic and constant use, so durability is non-negotiable. They have to be robust enough to handle everything from kids’ artwork to urgent notices for parents, day in and day out.

For these high-wear areas, highly durable felt boards are the clear winner. Felt has a dense, self-healing surface that grips pins tightly and hides pinholes remarkably well, even after years of use. It simply won't crumble or look tired like a standard cork board would under the same pressure. To make sure important notices are seen by everyone, large format boards like an 1800mm x 1200mm are perfect for main hallways.

This focus on building things to last is a nationwide priority. As of July 2025, New Zealand’s National Infrastructure Pipeline included projects valued at over $200 billion, and Budget 2025 has put $700 million toward new school classrooms. It just goes to show how vital it is to invest in infrastructure that can stand the test of time. Learn more about NZ's infrastructure growth and planning.

Corporate Offices and Workplaces

In a corporate office, a pin board has to do more than just hold paper; it needs to look the part. It should blend in with the office design and feel professional, so the focus shifts from pure ruggedness to a mix of style and function.

This is where sleek, fabric-wrapped boards really shine. They come in a massive range of colours and textures, making it easy to match them to your company branding for a polished, cohesive look in reception areas, boardrooms, or breakout spaces. They’re brilliant for:

• Project Management: Mapping out timelines, workflows, and key tasks for team sprints.
• Company Culture: Showcasing company values, celebrating team wins, and sharing announcements.
• Client-Facing Areas: Presenting a sharp, organised image right from the moment visitors walk in.

In a corporate space, think of a pin board as an elegant organisational tool. It’s less about pinning up random notices and more about creating a central hub for strategy, inspiration, and brand storytelling.

Combination boards, which mix a fabric pinning surface with a magnetic whiteboard, are also a fantastic option. They give teams a dynamic space for brainstorming and collaborative planning sessions.

Retail and Hospitality Settings

For a shop, café, or restaurant, a pin board is less of an internal tool and more of a customer-facing marketing asset. Its main job is to catch the eye, promote specials, and add to the overall customer experience. What you need here is something visually striking and easy to change on the fly.

Custom-printed pin boards from SONI DESIGN are a game-changer for this. Picture a local café with a board printed with its logo and branding, used to display the daily coffee specials. Or a boutique clothing store using a board with a stylish graphic backdrop to highlight a new collection.

These boards are designed to be vibrant visual displays, acting as a flexible and surprisingly cost-effective alternative to permanent signage. A custom board gives a business a unique focal point that's practical for staff but also genuinely engaging for customers, helping to drive sales and cement your brand identity.

Installation and Care for Lasting Quality

You’ve invested in a great pin board to get your space organised and looking sharp. Now, let’s make sure it serves you well for years to come. Just like any good piece of equipment, a solid installation and a bit of upkeep are all it takes to keep it looking and working its best.

Getting the board mounted securely is the first step. It needs to be stable and safe, especially in busy spots like a school hallway or a bustling office. Before you start, grab a drill, a spirit level, a pencil, and the right fixings for your type of wall. A level board isn't just about looking professional; it ensures the frame isn't under any unnecessary stress.

A well-maintained pin board is a clean, professional canvas for your ideas. A little bit of simple, regular care will preserve its surface and extend its life, protecting your investment and keeping your space looking its best.

Mounting Your Pin Board Securely

Getting your board perfectly level and securely attached to the wall is pretty straightforward when you know how. It’s a simple job, but doing it right makes all the difference.

1. Position and Mark: Hold the board up to the wall and use your spirit level to get it dead straight. Once you’re happy with the position, lightly mark where the drill holes need to go with your pencil.
2. Choose the Right Hardware: This part is crucial. For Gib board (plasterboard), you'll need specialised wall anchors so the screws have something to bite into. If you're drilling into concrete or brick, you'll need proper masonry plugs and screws.
3. Drill and Fix: Drill your pilot holes, pop in the wall plugs, then screw the board firmly into place. Just be careful not to overtighten – you don’t want to damage the board or the wall.

Simple Maintenance for a Lasting Finish

Once it's up, keeping your board in great nick is easy. The material of your board will determine the best way to care for it.

For the fabric or felt pin boards NZ businesses often choose, a quick vacuum with a soft brush attachment is perfect for getting rid of dust without harming the surface. If you get a small mark on it, just gently dab it with a damp cloth and a touch of mild soap.

With classic cork boards, the magic is in letting the cork do its thing and self-heal. The best tip here is to simply rotate where you stick your pins. This gives the cork fibres a chance to recover and helps keep the surface looking smooth and professional for much longer.

Your Pin Board Questions, Answered

Over the years, we've helped countless Kiwis find the right pin board for their space. Naturally, a few questions come up time and time again. Here are our straightforward answers to some of the most common queries we get, designed to clear up any lingering doubts you might have.

Let's dive into the nitty-gritty, from which boards can handle the chaos of a school hallway to the best way to keep them looking sharp.

Durability and Customisation

What is the most durable pin board for a busy school environment?

For high-traffic spots like school corridors and classrooms, you can't go past felt or a high-quality fabric-wrapped pin board. The fabric acts as a tough, protective layer that resists crumbling far better than standard cork, and it does a brilliant job of hiding pinholes from constant use.

Felt is especially tough and comes in a huge range of colours to match school branding, making it a smart, long-lasting investment that will look good for years.

Can I order a pin board in a custom non-standard size?

Yes, absolutely. Here at SONI DESIGN, we know that one size rarely fits all. We specialise in creating custom-sized pin boards tailored to your exact measurements. Whether you need a long, thin board for a narrow hallway or a massive one to fill a specific alcove, we can make it happen. Just give us the dimensions, and we'll craft the perfect fit.

Think of a custom board like a tailored suit for your wall. It’s made to fit perfectly, reflect your style, and do its job without compromise—something you just can't get off the rack.

This approach ensures your new board looks like it was always meant to be there, fitting seamlessly into your space.

Cleaning and Environmental Impact

How should I clean a fabric or felt pin board?

Keeping these boards looking good is surprisingly simple. For a quick dust-up, just run a vacuum over it using the soft brush attachment. This will lift any surface dust without snagging the fibres. If you get a small spot or mark, gently dab it with a damp cloth and a touch of mild soap or upholstery cleaner.

A good rule of thumb is to test any cleaning product on a small, out-of-the-way corner first. And be sure to avoid harsh chemicals or soaking the board, as too much moisture can damage both the fabric and the backing material.

Are cork boards an environmentally friendly option?

They certainly are. Cork is a fantastic eco-friendly material. It’s natural, renewable, and biodegradable, harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree. The best part is that harvesting the bark doesn't harm the tree at all—it simply regrows its bark over the next nine years.

This sustainable cycle makes cork a brilliant choice for environmentally conscious businesses and homes across New Zealand. When you choose cork, you're supporting a process that is both regenerative and gentle on the planet.

---

Ready to find the perfect pin board? From standard sizes to completely bespoke creations, the team at SONI DESIGN is here to help bring your ideas to life. Have a look at our options and get your project started today at https://www.sonidesign.co.nz.