I took a sewing class many years ago and the instructor said the best ironing board is to take 3/4" plywood board and on top of it layer 3 Army wool blankets cut to size and then top with a canvas or duck cloth type fabric. I did this for the top of a cabinet I have in my sewing room and it is the only ironing surface I use. It is great and it is multi-purpose. I use it for cutting and anything else you can imagine that I need a flat- surfaced work area for. When the top fabric is soiled, I just replace it and it is good to go again. I am attaching a photo.
I wish someone could tell me how to rotate my photos. I have not figured this out yet.