How to Decorate Cake Boards and Drums

October 9, 2025 • Lynsey Macdonald

You've got it all planned out, the cake of your dreams. Whether it's a birthday bake for a family member, a housewarming gift for a friend or even a wedding cake, you have every detail in mind. And that should include the board it sits on! Sometimes your cakey masterpiece deserves so much more than your standard silver foil finish. Here are our top tips on how to decorate cake boards and drums.

If you've come to this post unsure if what you need is a board or a drum, we're here to help! Check out our guide to learn the difference between cake boards and drums.

Contents

Wrap with Ribbons Cover with Contact Paper Add piping or sugar decorations Add texture with crumbled sponge Cover with sugarpaste or fondant icing Pre-designed options

Why decorate cake boards?

It's easy to see a cake board as a (literal) supporting character for your cake. The effort goes in to creating a beautiful bake, and the board is just there to keep it in one piece! But, the truth is, your cake board is as much a part of your design as anything else. So, it's worth putting the effort in to ensuring it matches the vibe of the cake itself.

Whether you choose to cover the board in matching sugarpaste to make it seamlessly blend in, or wrap it with an eye-catching ribbon so it stands out, don't skip out on decorating your cake board.

If you're short on time, however, number six on our list might be just what you need...

6 Creative Ways to Decorate Cake Boards

Wrap With Ribbons

For a simple yet stylish finish, why not opt for a ribbon finish around your cake drum? A ribbon that perfectly matches the depth of your cake board looks super effective when wrapped round. The orange ribbon on this adorable capybara cake by @acakeonlife was the perfect finishing touch.

This is a really easy way to level up your cake boards, perfect if you're short on time! And with endless coloured and patterned ribbons available, there's a perfect match for every project.

Cover with Contact Paper

Pick the perfect pattern for your finished bake, then lie it face down on a flat surface. Place your cake board upside down on the paper so the silver foil side is facing down to make sure it will be completely covered.

Peel away the sticky backing from your contact paper, then press down your cake board as you practiced before. Trim around the paper until you're left with an edge just enough to cover the sides of your board. With the excess, cut them into strips and carefully stick them down one by one. Here's a video to help you on your way.

Decorate cake boards with piping, cake toppers or sugar decorations

When it comes to decorating with piping, toppers and sugar decorations, it doesn't have to stop with the cake! These can be excellent options if you want to decorate cake boards and drums.

Why not pipe a beautiful border around your cake using your favourite piping nozzle? You can use the same colour as any piping on your cake, or go for a contrasting colour for an eye catching finish!

Or, like @acakeonlife did in this super cute dinosaur cake, add themed toppers or candles to extend your design! Vicki created a small grassy border using sugarpaste and added these sweet Dinosaur Candles to her cake board. So creative!

Add texture with crumbled sponge

Okay - this might not be an option you choose every day! But using blended or crumbled up cake sponge can be a great way to create a textured covering for your cake board!

Use a golden sponge like Vicki (@acakeonlife) used to create a sand texture, or a chocolate cake to create a soil texture for a nature inspired cake!

Just keep in mind that you may have to carry the cake after you've decorated the board! So this might not be a cake board you can reuse as you'll need to use edible glue or some buttercream to get the sponge to stick!

Cover Cake Baords with Sugarpaste / Fondant Icing

To begin, brush a small amount of water or edible glue over the entire surface of your cake board. Knead and roll out your sugarpaste as you normally would, then drape over your cake board so that it covers all edges. Cut away the excess sugarpaste and gently rub over it with a smoother.

We recommend covering your cake board a couple of days ahead of time, so that when it comes to decorating, the sugarpaste has had plenty of time to harden.

Opt for Pre-Designed Cake Boards

Short on time? A work around is to buy a pre-designed cake board! There are lots to choose from.

Although many cake boards come readily presented in a silver foil coating, some cake boards (often masonite boards) are available in a unique pattern or design, to give your cake an edge when it comes to presenting your showstoppers. Some popular designs include marble effect, wood effect and even grass effect coatings. We also have a stunning range of glitter cake boards, perfect for adding a touch of instant glam to your cakes!

Ready to get started?

We hope this guide has inspired you to get creative when it comes to decorating your cake boards! Shop our collection of cake decorating products to get started...