My design wall is vertical, 96x96 (we have 10' ceilings). The design board is formed by two 4'x8' styrofoam insulation panels affixed to the wall with a non-styrofoam-eating adhesive, schmeared with a lightly thinned glue similar to Elmmer's Glue, and covered in gridded flannel.
My husband later added a rack of three 9' dowels running parallel to the top of the design wall - this allows me to work on and store 3 projects more than what's on the design wall. Total cost was $200. If you need more how-to details, just PM me. Photos attached.

Cost breakdown:
2 insulation panels $18
3 "guns" non-styro-eating adhesive $21
1 gallon Elmer's Glue substitute $ 8
6 yds gridded flannel $75
4 pieces molding (design wall sides) $24
4 wooden rosettes (design wall corners) $12
2 Dowel rack brackets $10
3 Dowels (9' each, 1 1/2" diameter) $25

My hubby made me a design wall last year and I love it. We used the foam board (insulation board) from the hardware...we used the thicker board, I think it is 3/4 or 1 inch. My design wall is 6ft x 6ft. We bought 2 boards and cut them 3ft x 6 ft, covered them with batting which was cut to fit and only covered the front of the board to the edge. (glued that down with glue from Walmart, can ask my hubby if you need that info). <br>We then covered the batting with flannel and that was cut to wrap around the edge of the board and cover the back about 3 inches all the way around. I tacked the flannel to the front of the board with thumb tacks and then flipped it over and we glued the 3 inch flannel edge to the back of the board with the same glue. We spread it with a sponge paint brush and then just pressed the flannel to it and it stuck held and dried very well. After it was all dry my hubby screwed both pieces of the board to my sewing room wall with 3 long screws along the top piece and two down the side. The bottom board had 3 screws along the bottom and two up the sides. Hubby bought large washers about as big around as a 50 cent piece to use to keep the screws from being pulled thru the coreboard. He even painted the washers the same creme color as the flannel and after screwing it all to the wall he got a piece of paper and made a little hole and spray painted the head of the screw so it all matched. You barely notice where the screws and washers are. The design wall works great and I am really glad I used the batting behind the flannel to cover the boards. I will take a picture and post it as soon as I can if anyone is interested. I just love it and when I am not using it for quilting I use it to put up photos of my grand kids with a few stick pins. So it serves as a big bulletin board too.

I covered a very large ugly framed oil painting with flannel. Just tucked the top of the flannel around the top of the pic frame. Another idea for a small space is to hang 2 wreath hangers on a door........put a pocket at the top of your flannel......stick a rod in it and hang! :)

A plastic tablecloth(fabricside up) closepinned to the metal on the drop ceiling in my basement sewing room. Works great. Sometimes I have 2 or 3 up depending on the size I need.

Mine is a big piece of ivory felt 72" which is safety pinned to my vertical blinds. When I get my craft room cleaned out and set up for sewing it will probably be tacked to a wall. Some things stick on own. Some need pins.

Beautful quilt in your avatar.

I went to the dollar store and purchased a flannel back table covering for a large table (paid only $1.00) then brought it home and nailed it on my wall behind my sewing machine from the edge of the ceiling down flannel side up. I not only use it as a design wall but sometimes put pictures on it etc. it lays flat on the wall so I never have to move it as it is not in my way and is directly behind my sewing machine so I can actually reach across and put a block on it. Holds large blocks and small blocks and if I need to I can use pins if need be. In case your wondering do the pins ever go into the wall.........No because I pass the pin only on the table cloth like when you are pinning a pattern on fabric. It works great for me and was very inexpensive. Hope this helps.

There is one on the market that opens like an old projection screen. That one I'd like to see. I just tacked up backing on my wall and it hold the squares I'm working on Don't bother with the "don't need pins" fabrics. I did and it did not work. I also know many that use the back side of "oil cloth" the kind you buy at Ace and little ones use to draw on. It is a nice heavy fabric and the back (the side you would use) is a flannel like material

Mine is two big sheets of 1.5" insulation on a frame and covered with white flannel. Actually the flannel is like a big curtain on a rod so I can remove it if it needs washing. I tucked the sides and bottom with some pins. We had a bit of water in the basement last year so I have to be ready if this happens again. I usually pin all my blocks to the design wall.

That is brilliant! I am often annoyed that I have to take something down that's unfinished because I HAVE to start something new. (you know that multi WIP thing!). I am showing this to DH and telling him to modify mine to include something similar. Thank you. :-D From me, probably NOT from him! :lol: