DIY A Magnet Board That Looks Just Like Zara's For Way Less

A household command center is essential, and often the fridge serves as a makeshift location. If you've just bought a non-magnetic fridge, you've lost that spot. A wall-mounted and framed metallic board is the perfect solution. While Zara isn't known for exorbitant prices, their products still don't come cheap. If you're even a little handy, you can affordably DIY some of their most popular homewares. One such easy project is making a dupe of Zara's Magnetic Slate with Wooden Border, which sells for $79.90 or $99.90, depending on the size you choose. You can make your own nearly identical piece for half the price — or maybe even less — with a piece of sheet metal and a wooden picture frame.

It takes just a couple of supplies and a matter of minutes to assemble this Zara lookalike. Make sure the metal you buy is magnetic; sheet metal is most often made of aluminum or steel. Aluminum isn't magnetic, and steel can be hit-or-miss, depending on what it's made of. Take a magnet with you to the hardware store or use terms like "magnetic steel sheet" when shopping online. Wherever possible, check product reviews to see if happy customers mention using the product for magnets. Reviewers of this 24-inch by 36-inch Imperial Steel Sheet Metal from Lowe's share photos of just such a use. The Zara frame is acacia, but you can use any wood you like. This 10-inch by 24-inch Mxtallup Black Solid Wood Picture Frame costs about $30, while this 24-inch by 36-inch Fxojyvo Engineered Wood Frame costs about $32. You'll also need some metal snips and cut-resistant gloves.

A magnet board is an easy way to make your home more organized by giving you somewhere to keep important stuff front and center. That may mean trimming the piece of sheet metal to a specific size — either to fit all the notes, bills, and kid's art you want to pin to it or to fit inside your frame of choice — with metal snips. Wear gloves because freshly cut metal can be sharp. Remove the backing and glass or plexiglass from the wooden frame, slip the trimmed metal sheet into place, and reapply the backing. That's it!

What you use to hang it on the wall depends on the weight of the steel. Choose heavy-duty self-adhesive picture hooks with a weight rating that's higher than the weight of your new magnetic board. If you want something more permanent, use screws and wall plugs. To hold your receipts, notes, schedules, meal plans, and more in place, you can easily DIY unique and meaningful fridge magnets out of useless junk mail. Pair it with a whiteboard or chalkboard to jot down lists and directives in real time.

If you want to cut costs on this project, skip the hardware store. Thrift stores typically stock plenty of affordable framed art that's ripe for repurposing, particularly if you're not fussy about the size. Luckily, the dimensions of the larger Zara frame are common for posters, so that could up your chances of a quick shopping trip. If you don't have the patience to sift through dusty second-hand store shelves, check Facebook Marketplace or eBay for used frames in exactly the size you want. Either way, you'll probably save some dough.