Choosing the Right Display Board for Your Needs: A Complete Guide for Offices, Schools & Events

By carrie gilbertson03/07/2025

 

 

Choosing the Right Display Board for Your Needs: A Complete Guide for Offices, Schools & Events

Written by Carrie Gilbertson, Commercial Director
Carrie Gilbertson is a display solutions expert with two decades of experience helping businesses, schools, and public sector organisations create clear, impactful communication zones. At Displaysense, she oversees product strategy, buying, and customer experience.


Whether you're pinning up essential notices, curating creative work, or presenting visual content at a conference, the right display board can make or break your message. But with so many options - felt, magnetic, freestanding, mobile - it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

 

This guide breaks down everything you need to know so you can confidently choose the perfect display board for your space and audience. Whether you're in a busy staffroom, a school corridor, or a public exhibition, we’ve got you covered.

 

Why Are You Buying a Display Board?

Before choosing the right finish or fixings, let’s start with the real “why.” What’s the board actually for? The answer shapes everything from the surface material to how it's mounted or moved.

  • Sharing internal info: Ideal for staffrooms, noticeboards, break areas, or communal halls.
  • Creative displays: Showcase work in classrooms, design studios, or community centres.
  • Temporary signage: Great for events, exhibitions, or one-off presentations.
  • Health & safety messages: Fire exits, floor plans, safeguarding alerts — especially in public spaces.
Pro Insight: Start with function over finish. A magnetic board with a sleek frame might look great but won’t work for pin-heavy displays. Let your use case lead the way.



Types of Display Boards: What Fits Your Space?

Type of Board Best For How It Looks
Wall-Mounted Noticeboards Permanent display zones in schools, offices, or corridors. Available in lockable or open styles.
Red noticeboard with a light wooden frame mounted in a primary school hallway, adjacent to a classroom with blue chairs and wooden furniture, ideal for educational displays or student information.
Freestanding Display Boards Perfect for temporary zones or flexible layouts. Can be single or double-sided and easily repositioned.
A freestanding grey felt noticeboard with a white frame on circular bases, displayed in a minimalist office with wooden flooring and two notices pinned on the board.
Mobile Noticeboards Wheeled, height-adjustable boards that are ideal for fast-paced or shared environments.
Three-panel room divider with bright red felt surfaces and silver frame, placed in a colourful primary school classroom beside children’s artwork, plants, and educational storage units.
Combination Boards Get the best of both worlds — half drywipe whiteboard, half pinboard. Ideal for teaching or brainstorming.
Large dual-surface board with a green felt noticeboard and white dry-wipe section in a wooden frame, mounted on a concrete wall in a contemporary classroom with industrial ducting and mixed black and white chairs around wooden desks.
Lockable Display Cases Safeguard key information in high-traffic areas. Shatterproof covers and tamperproof fixings come as standard.
Blue lockable noticeboard with silver aluminium frame mounted on a white brick wall in a classroom featuring wooden desks, chairs, and a large window with natural light.
Pro Insight: Match your mounting method to your wall type — concrete, plasterboard, or partition. It makes all the difference in both safety and longevity.


Display Board Surface Options: Which One’s Right?

  • Felt: The classic choice. Great for push-pins, colourful displays, and school corridors.
  • Velcro-compatible loop nylon: Durable and ideal for reusable signage or exhibition stands.
  • Magnetic drywipe: Perfect for multi-use spaces and frequent changes to content.
  • Cork: Eco-friendly and great for rustic or natural interiors.
Pro Insight: If your board is in a public or semi-public space, opt for a fire-retardant finish — especially in schools, councils, or NHS environments.

Key Considerations Before You Buy

Will it be static or mobile?

Do you need to move it between rooms or store it away?

Who will use it?

Adults, children, or mixed age groups? Height and access matter.

Indoor or outdoor?

Choose a weatherproof model with a sealed frame for exterior use.

Fire safety requirements?

Check BS EN 13501 or Class B certifications for public areas.
Pro Insight: Displaysense carries a wide range of fire-rated, lockable, and portable display boards to suit every industry — from education to exhibitions.


Summary: Take the Guesswork Out of Choosing a Display Board

With the right display board, communication becomes easier, tidier, and more engaging. Whether you need an eye-catching pinboard for a school corridor or a mobile whiteboard for brainstorming, understanding your purpose and your space is key. And if you’re still unsure, our team is always here to help you make the right call.

 

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Whiteboard Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Board for Your Workspace


Noticeboard Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Board for Your Space


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Ready to upgrade your communication space?
Shop the full range of display boards at Displaysense
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