• Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Categories
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Media & Press

Smallish Home

Organization

ORGANIZING BOARD GAMES IN BAGS

November 17, 2020
how to organize board games

There’s nothing better on these cold, rainy fall nights than sitting on the floor by the fireplace and playing a board game as a family.  With young kids that are always on the move, it feels particularly special to spend quiet time connecting over a little friendly competition, discussing strategy, and learning about good sportsmanship.   

But goodness, board games take up A LOT of space!  In a small home, it’s challenging to find a place to store all the different sized game boxes.  And let me tell you, I’m just not a fan of looking at mismatched, brightly colored boxes haphazardly piled on a shelf.   I’ve been looking for good storage solutions for years.

board games

I’ve seen a lot of professional organizers use zippered bags or pouches to store and organize board games.  It seemed like a great space-saving solution, but I had reservations. 

Mainly, it felt wrong to take them out of the boxes….and throw the box away.  I’m such a rule follower that I just couldn’t do it.  What if I regretted it?  What if I hate storing them in bags?  They were already in nice boxes, did they really need another container?  

Since I was so conflicted, I chose to keep them in boxes for many years.  

However, this past summer we ended up getting 8 board games from a game shop going out of business and quickly surpassed our available storage space.  I either had to find a different storage solution or I had to get rid of some games.  We just couldn’t store them all.

I decided I’d rather use (and use up) the games than store them in pristine condition with the thought of reselling later. Because yes, I might be able to make a tiny amount of money selling at a consignment sale, but most likely I’d just donate or give to friends.  In which case I’m hoping the labeled bag should be sufficient. 

When it comes down to it, if I’m going to keep board games, I want to make sure we actually play them.  There is no use storing and organizing things we don’t actually use!

Too many games

So I bought these pouches from Amazon and my favorite felt bin from Target.  I took a deep breath to calm my anxiety and decanted my games.  

And honestly, I shouldn’t have been worried.  It was fairly quick and easy and made a nice box of games for our family to enjoy.  

If you are looking to do the same, here’s how to quickly transfer your games to bags:

(1) Location

Choose a location and a basket or bin that can accommodate the games.  Check dimensions of your shelf or cabinet and find a container that maximizes the space you have.  Decorative baskets can conceal the games while looking nice on a shelf or console table in a living room.  These bags would also fit nicely in a cube storage unit in a playroom or closet.  

(2)  Bags or Pouches

Pick up some plastic zippered pouches from Amazon.  I went with A4 letter size at 13.5″ by 9.5″.  These are fairly inexpensive and come in all different dimensions and styles. 

I’d suggest buying the largest size that will fit in your container.  You want the bag big enough to hold the board and all the pieces that go with the game.  Bonus points if you take out each board and measure to ensure they fit.  I should have done this BEFORE I purchased my bags (as you’ll see later…)

pouches for board games

(3) Labels

Grab your label maker or scissors and packing tape.  You will want to label these as you are placing items in bags so that you don’t forget which game is which.  

Any label maker would work nicely, but I chose to use my Brother P-Touch Label Maker PTD600.  I wanted larger labels that were easy to see and read, with the option of putting words on two lines.  

This label maker allows formatting on two lines, which I took advantage of for this project. I was able to use a larger font for the main game name and a smaller font for additional details.  For example, Cranium in large font with “Junior” below in a smaller font.

If you don’t have a label maker, don’t worry! These pouches look equally great with the game name cut out of the box and taped on to the bag.  Use clear packing tape to make sure you have a good seal on the label.  

labels for board games

(4) Transfer

Take all pieces, board, and instructions out of the game box and place in a pouch.  There may be pieces that go with the game that aren’t essential and therefore don’t need to be included.

Take Pictionary Bend-A-Clues as an example.  The giant green plastic piece was designed to hold the cards and the tubes while you are playing.  However, it was extremely bulky and not needed for actual gameplay.  I was able to throw this away and just keep the tubes, cards, and timer in the bag, which saved a good amount of space. 

not needed pieces

(5) Recycle & Trash

Now that all your games have been transferred to labeled bags, you will be left with a large stack of empty boxes.  Break down the boxes and recycle if possible and throw away any plastic pieces.

Now, I’m not going to lie, this step was really hard for me!  Again it felt wrong to get rid of them for good.  I actually kept the empty boxes in my garage for 2 weeks before I decided (1) this system will work for us and (2) it is ok to let the boxes go.   

(6) Enjoy the games!

You should now have a nice set of board games organized in labeled pouches.  I like to file these in the felt bin to make it easy to flip through and find the game we want to play.  The whole bin fits neatly on a shelf in our built-ins and is easy to carry around the house if we are looking to play a game in another room.

felt bin with organized board games

A REVIEW

So now that these are all in bags, what do we think?  Is it worth the effort to decant these? Do I regret taking these out of boxes?

Let’s look at the pros and cons.

CONS:

  • I still have more games than will fit in one felt bin.  Ideally, I’d prefer to store all games together, rather than spread across the house. Since there is no way I can fit all my games in this bin, I decided to limit the board games to kid games.  All of our adult games (like Settlers of Catan) got moved to a large plastic bin in the garage.  
  • Some of the board games didn’t fit into the pouches.  The spinner for Twister and the board for Sorry were just a few inches too long.  Some games, like Jenga, need the box for setup or gameplay and are not good candidates for bags.  My takeaway from this is 1) buy the biggest pouches you can and 2) expect that some games just won’t fit.  I’ve decided I’m just going to accept that some games will be stored in a bedroom closet and some in the felt bin. 
board game doesn't fit in pouch

                                       Pretty sure this game is mocking me and my organizational efforts.

  • And finally, I’ve noticed that the zippered bags tend to get a bit wrinkled.  Structurally, they are still solid, but everyday use leads to a crinkly appearance, especially at the corners.  This can be smoothed out, but the bags don’t look the same as they did out of the box.

PROS

  • As you can see, it allows us to store quite a few games in a really small space.  By removing the bulky boxes and plastic inserts, we were able to store more games in a smaller footprint.board games in bags
  • I really like the zippered bags.  They are durable, reusable, and easy to see through. The labels stick easily and they file nicely in the felt bin.  And at under a dollar a bag, they won’t break the bank.
  • I think the games look nicer organized in matching bags instead of mismatched boxes.  Some of our boxes were in bad shape and I was happy to tranfer the games into another container. 
  • The zippered pouches are easier for my young kids to open than game boxes.  This also means it’s easier for them to put away on their own (!!!) which is a major win.

ways to store board games

  • The felt bin is stored in a low cabinet, which puts the games at eye level for the kids.  This makes the games incredibly easy for my kids to access and even the toddler can reach in a pull out a game.  We now find ourselves reaching for a board game in the evening instead of other activities.  And as the kids get older, I can see us adding and removing games as interests and ages change.  

board game cabinet

felt bin // clip-on label

When all is said and done, this really is a great solution for storing board games in small spaces.  We love having easy access to our games and our cabinet looks much more organized than it did before.  It’s honestly the only way I can keep as many game as I have.

What are your favorite board games for family game night?  I’d love any suggestions for must-haves that we might be missing!

0
0 Leave a Comment

bins board games organization toys

Previous AN ORGANIZED TODDLER CLOSET
Next WHERE DO YOU HIDE PRESENTS IN A SMALL HOUSE?

Related Posts

How to organize dishes for kids so they can find what they need (and even help put them away!)

organized under the kitchen sink

Steal My 5 Tricks For An Organized Under Sink Cabinet

How to Organize and Store Christmas Wrapping Paper

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

About

About

Hi! I’m Lisa and I dig smallish homes. I believe they bring families together and provide a constraint on the accumulation of stuff. I’m obsessed with rethinking room design and storage solutions in order to live the life I want in the house I have. I hope you stay a while!
read more

Editor’s Picks

  • Lifestyle

    Let’s Get Things Done This Su...

JOIN THE NEWSLETTER

Categories

  • Cleaning
  • Decluttering
  • Design
  • DIY
  • Lifestyle
  • Organization

Instagram

Only three more sleeps until Christmas and I’ve Only three more sleeps until Christmas and I’ve literally just crossed the last thing off my to-do list.  All the planning, shopping and prep work is done and I’m ready to enjoy the next few days.  If you need me I’ll be eating a gingerbread cookie (or two) while drinking cup after cup of coffee.

Before I go, I wanted to share a few pictures of our minimalist holiday decorations in our living room/ dining room. 

This year we tried something different and cut our own mountain grown tree and I’m LOVING the change.  Even though it’s real skinny, it has the nicest placement of branches and is truly a beautiful tree.

The delicate branches can’t hold heavy lights or ornaments, so I reused the white crocheted snowflakes  and matte black balls from last year, along with a single string of copper LED lights.  So simple, so easy, but still beautiful.  Just what I needed this year.

Wishing you a very happy holiday!
The crows are back! The best decorations are the o The crows are back!
The best decorations are the ones you are  EXCITED to see each year. The ones you instantly pull from the box and start placing in your home. They don’t need to be fancy, or new each year. They just need to bring joy to you and your family. ✨❤️
Surprise! We bought a new home!  And sold our ho Surprise!

We bought a new home!  And sold our home!  It’s been a whirlwind and I’m exhausted.

We are incredibly lucky to have bought our neighbor’s home FSBO.  It’s larger than our current home by ~700 square feet and is a split entry home with most of the living space upstairs and a bonus family room/bedroom in the basement.  

While the rooms (and closets!) are still small, there are more of them.  There will be room for office space for both my husband and myself, a bit more storage, and even a laundry room/mudroom (woo hoo! No more garage laundry for me!)

So what do you think? Do I need to change my name from smallishhome to sortofmidsizehome?  No matter what, I’ll continue to share how I maximize storage in small spaces, because, well, that’s my life and my passion!  

Be sure to check out my stories for a walk through of the new house.  Don’t miss the avocado green tub and original 1960’s kitchen cabinets. So many projects ahead of us!
Hey there! It’s been a while! I’ve had a lot Hey there! It’s been a while!

I’ve had a lot on my plate personally these last few weeks and have had to drop all social media as a way to stay sane and focused on the path ahead.  I love this community, but I just couldn’t give it the time it deserved, so I took a break.  Hopefully you understand. 

I’m trying to ramp back up but could use your help.  What spaces are you having trouble organizing?  What kind of videos would you like to see?  I appreciate each and every one of you and love hearing your suggestions.  It’s what keeps me going when I start to feel stuck!

Disclaimer

© Smallish Home, 2020. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Smallish Home with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Amazon Associates Disclosure

Smallish Home is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

Archives

  • June 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • June 2020
Only three more sleeps until Christmas and I’ve Only three more sleeps until Christmas and I’ve literally just crossed the last thing off my to-do list.  All the planning, shopping and prep work is done and I’m ready to enjoy the next few days.  If you need me I’ll be eating a gingerbread cookie (or two) while drinking cup after cup of coffee.

Before I go, I wanted to share a few pictures of our minimalist holiday decorations in our living room/ dining room. 

This year we tried something different and cut our own mountain grown tree and I’m LOVING the change.  Even though it’s real skinny, it has the nicest placement of branches and is truly a beautiful tree.

The delicate branches can’t hold heavy lights or ornaments, so I reused the white crocheted snowflakes  and matte black balls from last year, along with a single string of copper LED lights.  So simple, so easy, but still beautiful.  Just what I needed this year.

Wishing you a very happy holiday!
The crows are back! The best decorations are the o The crows are back!
The best decorations are the ones you are  EXCITED to see each year. The ones you instantly pull from the box and start placing in your home. They don’t need to be fancy, or new each year. They just need to bring joy to you and your family. ✨❤️
Surprise! We bought a new home!  And sold our ho Surprise!

We bought a new home!  And sold our home!  It’s been a whirlwind and I’m exhausted.

We are incredibly lucky to have bought our neighbor’s home FSBO.  It’s larger than our current home by ~700 square feet and is a split entry home with most of the living space upstairs and a bonus family room/bedroom in the basement.  

While the rooms (and closets!) are still small, there are more of them.  There will be room for office space for both my husband and myself, a bit more storage, and even a laundry room/mudroom (woo hoo! No more garage laundry for me!)

So what do you think? Do I need to change my name from smallishhome to sortofmidsizehome?  No matter what, I’ll continue to share how I maximize storage in small spaces, because, well, that’s my life and my passion!  

Be sure to check out my stories for a walk through of the new house.  Don’t miss the avocado green tub and original 1960’s kitchen cabinets. So many projects ahead of us!
Hey there! It’s been a while! I’ve had a lot Hey there! It’s been a while!

I’ve had a lot on my plate personally these last few weeks and have had to drop all social media as a way to stay sane and focused on the path ahead.  I love this community, but I just couldn’t give it the time it deserved, so I took a break.  Hopefully you understand. 

I’m trying to ramp back up but could use your help.  What spaces are you having trouble organizing?  What kind of videos would you like to see?  I appreciate each and every one of you and love hearing your suggestions.  It’s what keeps me going when I start to feel stuck!
⁣I woke up today and saw it - 10K. I’m in sho ⁣I woke up today and saw it - 10K.  I’m in shock. ⠀
⠀
I’m so grateful for each and every one of you who chose to follow my account and watch me organize my smallish home. ⠀
⠀
My goal has always been to share my love of organization and design - while hopefully inspiring others to show their own home some love. ⠀
⠀
No matter how small or large your space may be, I hope you are able to walk away with a few ideas of ways to maximize the space you have.⠀
⠀
In the meantime, I’ll keep working space by space in my own home, adding functionality and order that fits the needs of my family and the space that I have.⠀
⠀
I’d love to know what you would all like to see more of - let me know in the comments what you’d like to see me tackle next!⠀
⠀
⠀
#10k #10kfollowers #organizationmotivation #motivation #simplifylife #simplify #organizedmom #organizing #homeorganization #declutter #diyorganizer #diyorganization #smallhomeliving #getorganized #stayorganized #letsgetorganized  #tidyhome #mysmallishhome #lessismore
⁣It’s a rainy Monday here and all I want to do ⁣It’s a rainy Monday here and all I want to do is drink mugs of hot tea nonstop.  But tea can be a tricky item to store!⠀
⠀
When it’s in the box, you never know how many tea bags are left.  But take them out of the box and they slide all over the shelf!⠀
⠀
Using some sort of small, clear, lidded container keeps the bags together and helps you see when it’s time to restock.  Bonus points if the containers can stack, allowing you to store multiple varieties in a small space. ⠀
⠀
These containers are from Target, but any food storage container will work. Even the cheap plastic food storage containers from the grocery store. ⠀
⠀
What is your favorite variety of tea?  I’m a big fan of English Breakfast if I need a little caffeine boost (which I’m definitely in need of today!)
⁣Do you ever have weeks where you just can’t g ⁣Do you ever have weeks where you just can’t get back on track?⠀
⠀
Where you feel tired, and all you see is work that needs to get done?⠀
⠀
It can be hard to figure out where to start.⠀
⠀
I’ve been struggling to get myself moving the last few weeks after experiencing a family emergency that knocked the wind out of my sails. ⠀
⠀
But I know it’s time to turn things around.  Here are my go-to steps for getting back on track: ⠀
⠀
1️⃣Get those machines working for me.  I always get the dishwasher running and then start a load of laundry.  It makes me feel productive and gets the momentum going for the rest of the day.⠀
⠀
⠀
2️⃣Grab a pen and a notebook, plus either a glass of water or a cup of coffee, and sit down.⠀
⠀
⠀
3️⃣Take everything in my head and write it down.  Everything that needs to be done, everything that needs to be bought, every card that needs to be written, bills that need to be paid, people I need to message back.  I write it down so it isn’t in my head.⠀
 ⠀
4️⃣Circle one thing that I can do now and finish.  Maybe I only have 10 minutes, but in those 10 minutes I can pick up a room, put away laundry, or go through a stack of paperwork.  Anything that will make progress on my list but Isn’t too big of a project that I can’t finish.⠀
⠀
⠀
5️⃣Once I’ve done just one thing, I try to reward myself with some sort of self care.  It can be anything that makes me feel good - going for a walk, stopping in at a store, looking at a magazine, or maybe just scrolling on my phone for a few minutes.⠀
⠀
⠀
6️⃣Then, I look back at my list and prioritize in order of importance.  I’ll choose the task with the highest priority and start working down. ⠀
⠀
While this process works, it sometimes takes a few days.  I just keep repeating it over and over until things start clicking again. ⠀
⠀
Getting outside helps too.  Fresh air and movement seem to do a world of good.⠀
⠀
How have you been feeling lately?  Are you crushing that to-do list or are you feeling like you need like 3 clones of yourself in order to get it all done?⠀
.⠀
.⠀
Photo by @callimechemphotography

ConvertKit Form

Copyright © 2022 Smallish Home · Theme by SheShoppes