When we made my design wall, we made it out of z max insulation board from Home Depot. We covered it with batting (glued that on), then covered that with a very light tan flannel. It is 6ft x 6ft. Mine is big and plain looking too but the advantage to having made this type of design wall is I can use it as a bulliten board when not using it for quilting. I have photos of the grand kids up with stick pins. I also have pattern directions and fliers of quilt shows stuck up there. It is handy so I have somewhere to put that kind of thing and not forget where it went. It is nice to look up there when I am sewing and see photos of my grandkids! :o)