Create a DIY kitchen menu board with this easy-to-follow tutorial. No farmhouse kitchen is complete without a rustic menu board!
I think every family faces a similar problem: people wondering what’s for dinner. In the past, I tried announcing my plan for dinner in the morning, but the kids would forget and ask me again and again.
I got tired of repeating myself! So I decided that our kitchen needed a menu board so that I could write down my menu plan for the entire week and never have to answer the “what’s for dinner?” question again.
If you love all things farmhouse style, you are going to love how this one looks in your farm kitchen. My favorite part is the kraft paper roll! You can write anything you want on it then pull it down and tear it off when you want to change it up.
If you like to save time and money through meal planning, this kitchen menu board is the one project you need to organize your home.
Note: Complete your farmhouse-style kitchen with some of our other projects, including Kitchen Wall Storage, Utensil Organizer, and ‘Fresh Eggs’ Sign.
How To Make A DIY Menu Board
If your kitchen needs a menu board, you’re in luck because this tutorial will show you how to make a simple and gorgeous farmhouse-style board.
Supplies Needed
- Unfinished wood pallet sign
- Kraft paper roll – Make sure the roll isn’t wider than the width of your pallet sign
- Wood stain
- Arrow hook (2 required) – I used silver, but you could use gold or dark finish depending on your kitchen
- 1/2″ dowel rod (at least 17 inches long)
- 1″ basswood strips (2 required)
- Saw
- Screws
- Screwdriver
- Paintbrush
- Rag
- Wood glue
- White vinyl
- Cricut machine
- Transfer tape
- Weeding tools
- Cricut cut file
Farmhouse-Style Kitchen Menu Board Instructions
One of my favorite parts about this project is that you can use your Cricut machine to make this DIY menu board! Just follow these step-by-step instructions.
Step 1
Start by staining all of your wood pieces and use a wood stain in the color of your choice.
Simply brush on the stain, allow it to sit a few minutes, then wipe away the excess with a rag. Repeat the same process for the sign, dowel, and wood strips.
Step 2
Next, cut the dowel and wood strips to size with a saw. Measure and mark the pieces at the appropriate length and then cut.
You will need a dowel and two wood strips that are almost the width of your wood panel.
Note: You will also need to cut four small pieces from the wood strips to help raise them off of the board. Stain the cut ends of each of your pieces and allow them to dry.
Step 3
Once the stain has dried, you can start assembling your DIY menu board. Add the arrow hooks to the top of your board with screws.
Layout the remaining pieces onto your wood panel. You will want a short piece of the wood strip under each end of your long wood strips.
Use wood glue to secure everything into place. Weigh down your joints while the glue dries.
Step 4
While you wait for the glue to dry, you can make the word “MENU” and add it to the top of your kitchen menu board. Here’s how:
Open up the cut file and use your Cricut to cut the word from vinyl.
Weed away all of the excess vinyl, including the centers of the letters.
Then use transfer tape to remove the vinyl from the backing paper and add it to the wood panel.
Does this process seem confusing? Check out the basics of working with vinyl for more details.
Pro Tip: You can choose to add other words to the top and use this project for other purposes if you wish.
Step 5
Now it’s time to just finish your DIY kitchen menu board by putting your kraft paper roll on the dowel and adding it to your hooks.
Your DIY menu board is now ready for display anywhere in your kitchen. Write out each week’s menu on the kraft paper, then just pull it down and tear it off at the end of the week. Easy peasy!
So, grab your supplies and get started on this farmhouse-style menu board today. You will love how it looks in your home.
FAQs
This is such a fun project! Here are a few questions I have seen readers ask about making their own DIY menu board.
What are other ways I can use this sign?
I can see this same board idea used in a variety of ways. Replace the word “menu” with “to do” or “schedule,” and you have another way to organize your home. It could also be a chores board if you have kids that rotate chores each week (or throughout the week).
No matter how you choose to use it, it’s the perfect complement to your Farmhouse Kitchen Decor!
However, if you want a menu board that uses a different design, check out these great ideas from Village Farm Life and Amy Latta Creations.
Can I use hot glue instead of wood glue?
I prefer using wood glue in this project because it’s specially formulated to have a tight hold on wood.
However, if you don’t have wood glue, hot glue would work. It just might not maintain a firm bond over time with the wood and stain.
Will the bottom wood strip break off when I rip my paper to update my kitchen menu planner?
I haven’t had any problem with that happening. The wood strip is surprisingly strong.
However, if you have concerns that you might break the wood strip or snap it off, simply press down on the wood strip (especially at the end where you begin ripping the paper) while you gently tear away the paper.
More DIY Farmhouse Inspiration
Do you love this farmhouse-style kitchen menu board and want more ideas? Check out these popular projects!
Equipment
- saw
- Screwdriver
- Rag
Supplies
Instructions
- You will want to start by staining all of your wood pieces. You can use a wood stain in the color of your choice. Brush on the stain, allow it to sit a few minutes, then wipe away the excess with a rag. Do the same thing with the sign, dowel, and wood strips.
- Then you will need to measure and mark the dowel and wood strips to size and cut them with a saw. Your dowel and two wood strips need to be almost the width of your wood panel. Cut four small wood pieces from the strips to raise the strips off of the board. Stain these pieces and allow them to dry.
- Once your stain has dried, you can start assembling your DIY menu board. Add the arrow hooks to the top of your board with screws.
- Layout the remaining pieces onto your wood panel. Place a short wood piece under each end of your long wood strips. Secure everything into place with wood glue. Weigh down the joints while they dry.
- In the meantime, you will want to add the word "MENU" to the top of your board. Open up the cut file and use your Cricut to cut the word from vinyl.Weed away all of the excess vinyl including the centers of the letters.Then use transfer tape to remove the vinyl from the backing paper and add to the wood panel.
- Then add your kraft paper roll to the dowel and put it on the hooks.
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I love the menu board idea. I was thinking I can add a “cutting edge” taken off a foil box or what ever behind the wood strip at the bottom to make it cut off better??
Such a great idea!