So, for various fire marshal reasons, we have to paint our bulletin boards or leave it brown. What color would you paint it? I'm thinking of maybe black since it goes with most colors.... or I may very well leave it brown. I'm just not sure! Right now I have cute name plates that are red with white polka dots and was thinking of mixing in some turquoise with polka dots.... of course I also have things out in the hallway that have bees on them... man am I indecisive!!! And I'm pretty sure my spelling stinks tonight
We have a textured vinyl 'wallpaper' sort of covering over all our BBS...ours are all a nice light blue color.
I actually love the look of regular cork (when used as backdrop, of course, for other things). Unless it's not cork but some of the other materials used in bulletin boards...if so, then I'd paint it. I would want something simple so my decorations and student work would pop.
Nope no paper or cloth. If we put that up, nothing can go over it. It's just regular brown cork right now. I'm trying to decide on a color. My husband recommends just to leave it.
Yellow is one color that goes with any other color. I believe I'd go with a medium yellow. not too light.
I personally always use black because you can dress it up and do not have to worry about other colors you use clashing or the board being too busy.
Could you treat fabric with fire retardant spray? If that's a no, then I would paint one board with green for grass and a bright blue for sky...you can do so much with seasonal things on a board like this.
I think I would go for red. I know that public schools don't do Christmas, though (as a secondary Catholic high school teacher) it's one of the few holidays I decorate my classroom for. But apples for fall, Valentines Day, Memorial Day-- the red would give you a headstart for all of them. And during those dark cold days of winter, a bright color is a must! On the advice of people here, I bought a flat red bedsheet at Walmart for my background. It was wonderful!!
I don't know if it is black you are referring to as morbid, but assuming. I know that I have argued with many people at my school about using black for bulletin boards. For me personally, you don't want anyone to be distracted by or looking at the background- it should "fade away." Black makes things "pop" and makes you see the work better. I feel sometimes with other bulletin boards you are focusing on the border and the background and not the important work. Then again I guess it matters what type of bulletin board you are doing. I teach a much younger grade and prefer when my boards are filled with process art from my children. I wish I took a picture of my collages board my students just did- it looked awesome- but I forgot and it came down last week. Also- think about if you use the base color how the marks will show (staples, push pins etc.)- maybe they don't- but if they do you can always do a touch up if you paint. if they don't show in what you have up now it is a moot point.
My boards used to be black. I don't do displays on my boards because we do LFS. My room looked so dark and uncheerful every time we started a new unit I had to change them. I painted each one a different primary color and made it so much brighter in there. (I teach Kindergarten though.)
My bulletin board backgrounds are always black with colourful borders; I don't paint them, but have them covered with vinyl tablecloths.
Sandra, this was my next question I like the idea of a navy blue but I'm not sure if I should use acrylic, tempra, or something else. Any ideas?
You're going to need primer first, or the paint will sink into the bulletin board material. I think a washable latex wall paint is your best bet. It won't chip as easily as tempera or acrylic paint, and of course, it's washable. You can buy one of those small touch up(or test) containers, and it should cover the board if you prime it.
