Board game storage ideas? Say no more. These 17 ideas will keep everything nice and tidy.
Board games can be notoriously tricky to organize – from their decor-clashing boxes to sheer accessibility…not to mention stray game pieces. Here are some genius ideas to keep you sane and your home organized!
Have you noticed that the bigger your board game collection grows, the smaller your storage space becomes? What a crazy coincidence! As much fun as family game night can be, it can also become a messy disaster.
Cue flashbacks of precarious stacks of boxes that topple over and spill small game pieces everywhere each time someone tries to pull out their favorite game.
Or, perhaps you can relate to the nightmare scenario of finding a random, stray game piece on vacuum day and trying to dig out the box it belongs to. Suddenly you’re buried under a mountain of toys and other games.
There must be an easier, and more attractive way to store games! If this thought has ever crossed your mind, you’ve come to the right place.
Below is a great round up of tips, ideas and solutions to take your board game storage to the next level. Before we dive in, be sure to check out my IKEA Lazy Susan Game Board Hack. It will make family game night SO much easier!
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Board Game Storage Tips & Tricks
Here are some smart tips to get you started on your organizational journey.
- Pare down your collection. Get rid of games that no one in your household plays anymore! You heard me. If it hasn’t been opened in a year, it never will be again. If it’s in good shape, donate it to your favorite secondhand store. Believe me, no one will miss it (especially you).
- Group game boxes by similar box size. Instead of organizing alphabetically by name or by topic, arranging boxes with others of similar sizes will help you find space on shelves and will look better, to boot.
- Line your storage shelves. Speaking of shelves, if they are painted, boxes will stick over time and peel off, ruining both the box and shelves. Keep everything protected by using shelf liner.
- Ziploc bags will save the day. They may not be chic, but they sure are good at their job. Use Ziploc bags to contain small game pieces, especially if you are saving your original game boxes. You’ll lower your risk of losing small parts.
- The dollar store is your friend. Scour your local dollar store for additional solutions, such as small storage containers or organizers, and be sure to use your creative thinking. Sometimes products designed to store food or other items can be perfect for storing game boards and small pieces.
17 Board Game Organizational Ideas to Keep You Sane
Without further ado, here are some brilliant ideas to get you inspired to up your game on board game storage!
Don’t forget! As you look through all of this organizing eye candy, you can make some extra cash as you sort and declutter!
1. Repurposed Ladder Shelf | Hometalk
User Dami B on Hometalk knows the pain of missing game pieces and dangerously high stacks of board games that run the risk of toppling over and making a mess!
That’s why she repurposed an old ladder shelf into a smart board game storage idea.
2. How to Store Board Games | Geek Gear Galore
Byron from Geek Gear Galore understands the many headaches that come with storing an ever-growing collection of board games. Coincidentally (or not), storage space seems to shrink at the same time. Wonder why? 😉
Another dilemma is deciding whether to store board games in an aesthetically pleasing display or to maximize storage space. This idea seems to satisfy the best of both worlds: storing boxes vertically in a bookcase as it maximizes space AND looks great!
Bonus: you can remove and replace boxes without precariously disrupting the other games.
3. DIY Board Game Storage Unit | Home Made by Carmona
Okay, so I know some of you are very particular about your personal decor style, especially in living spaces where guests are frequently entertained. I get it. So does Ursula from Home Made by Carmona.
This self-proclaimed European board game enthusiast is also very particular about home style. She does not like the sight of extensive game collections piled up on shelves in the living room, and I don’t blame her.
Fortunately, she’s come up with a much more attractive solution, and shares her secrets for building a DIY board game storage unit.
4. BoxThrone Board Game Shelves | Store My Board Game
Sometimes serious endeavors such as board game storage are best left to the professionals. BoxThrone created this optimal, modular shelving unit for gamers who would rather buy than DIY.
5. Game Board Storage Art | Infarrantly Creative
I love this idea from Infarrantly Creative. I never would have thought of making board games into framed wall art, but now I am all about it. This would be especially cute in a playroom!
6. The Best Storage System EVER!! | The International Mom
The International Mom has put in a ton of careful thought into developing a board game storage system that works for her family.
This unconventional approach involves throwing out the game boxes (but she promises it will be okay!) and using labeled plastic drawers to contain all the game pieces.
This genius idea solves the many problems that come with having a large collection of games, such as accessing boxes from the bottom of a large stack, replacing stray game pieces and saving on storage space.
This system is a true winner!
7. Tips for Storing Board Games and Puzzles | Joyful Homemaking
Joyful Homemaking has gone through the trouble of compiling some out-of-the-box (get it?!) ideas for storing board games.
Her hanging closet organizer as pictured below is a great small-space solution for any home!
8. How to Get the Most Out of Your Board Game Storage | Board Games for Learning
I can’t think of a better authority for managing board games than Board Games for Learning. This post is full of great tips, like scouring the Dollar Store for organizational containers and ideas for organizing small game pieces.
They’ve even taken the guesswork out of finding the best shelves for storing board games. Be sure to check out this handy post!
9. Storage Ideas to Organize Board Games and Cards | Home Money Habits
Misty from Home Money Habits makes a great point: while classic games like Monopoly always fit nicely back into the box after use, other games like Mouse Trap, Soggy Doggy and Flying Pigs (oddly, all animal-themed games) seem to require an engineering degree to put away.
Fortunately, she’s offered up some great ideas for maximizing a board game storage area like the one pictured below.
10. Organizing our Board Games | A Few Thoughts
Here’s a little organizational inspiration for gamers with large collections of board games. Serious gaming goals, right?
11. Organize Archives | Life with Fingerprints
This game closet features storage containers to contain the pieces of smaller games. The genius thing about these is they stack beautifully on shelves.
Games that have large boards stayed in their original boxes, and many are stacked vertically for easy, disaster-free access.
12. Drowning in Games? Here are the Best Board Game Storage Ideas | Board Games for Learning
So glad Board Games for Learning popped up again with some additional ideas for board game storage, including these amazing, colorful photo organizing boxes that you can buy on Amazon.
13. Playroom Reveal | Infarrently Creative
Board games aren’t always stored in the living room. Often times, they are part of a larger playroom and thus require a different approach for storage.
Rebecca from Infarrently Creative shares some awesome ideas for keeping playrooms nice and organized.
14. How to Organize Board Games | Live Simply by Annie
This post from Live Simply by Annie is chock full of smart tips and ideas for organizing board game collections, from practical (like getting rid of games that don’t get played or enlisting the help of Ziploc bags) to attractive.
You’ll definitely want to check out her photos of a vintage Coca Cola tray and drawer dividers. Who knew that storing board games could be this aesthetically pleasing?
15. Creative Board Game Organization | White House Black Shutters
I am absolutely head over heels for this pretty, pretty DIY project by White House Black Shutters.
This genius solution dresses up the existing, overly-colorful boxes with wood birch veneer and uses a wood burning tool and hot alphabet stamps to label them in the most attractive, farmhouse-chic way.
16. Show Us Your Board Collection and Where You Keep It | Houzz
There’s nothing like crowdsourcing when it comes to sharing home organization tips and ideas. In this article, Houzz called upon their readers to share their board game organizational methods in the comments.
I am absolutely loving this photo of a New York townhouse’s custom built-in shelves, displaying a collection of games, puzzles and children’s books, softly styled with mason jars, candles, and portraiture.
17. Purge the boxes, bring in the pouches | TF Diaries
Bulky boxes getting you down? Banish the boxes and opt for pouches instead.
18. How to Turn a Coffee Table into a Rolling Game Table | In my Own Style
Have an old coffee table that’s not serving its purpose any more? Why not transform it into a rolling game table! This brilliant post from In My Own Style will show you how to do it, step by step.
Et voilà! 18 brilliant board game storage ideas to keep family game night – and your home – under control. Which of these ideas do you think would work best for your home?
Want more awesome storage and organizing ideas? We’ve got you covered! Be sure to check out these posts, too!
Pin this post for later! And if you use one of these ideas, leave a comment (or better yet, a photo) on the pin! That helps others know whether they want to try one of these ideas, too!
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