We are so lucky that there is such a vast range of board games out there to suit just about any taste. Depending on the game they can be expensive and sometimes come with a ton of fiddly counters, figurines, or cards. The last thing you want is to find that one of your family’s favourite games starts to get damaged over time, or worse a key piece is broken in the box. Don’t worry we have you covered with some tips to help organise and protect your board games that will keep them in top shape over the long term.
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Store square boxes vertically to protect them
Now just to warn you, there are different perspectives on this one. Some people prefer to stack their games, others to store them vertically, I prefer a mix and I will explain why below.
Boxes generally come in either square or rectangular shapes. If you stack your game boxes on top of each other it will be a pain to get the ones at the bottom. Worse than that the boxes above can damage the ones below over time, making your once striking game box look shabby.
For any square shaped game boxes store them vertically on your shelf (like the photo). This will make sure none of your games are damaged by heavy boxes stacked above them and make it easier to get them off the shelf without damaging other boxes.
For any rectangular shaped boxes, you can’t store this way, try to stack them with like sized boxes if possible so that the edges on the box at the bottom help to support the weight of the box above. If the boxes above are heavy and a smaller size, they are likely to damage the weaker centre parts of the lid.
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Avoid storing boxes in direct sunlight
Board games exposed to direct sun light over prolonged periods will start to fade. Some people may not care about their board game boxes fading over time but if you do like to keep your boxes looking bright keep them away from direct sunlight.
Keep your games safe from moisture
Try to avoid storing your games in places they are likely to get exposed to excessive moisture. if moisture gets into the box it can damage pieces and boards. Rooms that are damp are likely to cause you issues and are usually not good homes for games.
Sometimes moisture can’t easily be avoided if you live in a climate with a lot of humidity. This can be really tough to resolve. Some options to consider include:
- Dehumidifiers – these are probably the most effective option but running them may be quite costly
- Moisture absorbing containers – most supermarkets will have moisture absorbing products like Damp Rid that will soak up excess humidity and store it in a container, but they need to be replaced regularly
- Desiccant sachets – these can be used in board game boxes to prevent moisture. Make sure to check your games if they haven’t been played in a while to see if you need to change the sachets.
Sleeve cards to keep them in good shape
We love deck building games! So, we have thousands of cards for games in our house. Many of these games are a little expensive so the last thing we want is a card to get damaged that we can’t easily replace.
For games that are a little on the expensive side and have a lot of cards, we prefer to sleeve the cards. What is a sleeve you might ask? A card sleeve is a clear pocket you can insert cards in to protect them from dirty fingers that might damage your card.
There are many brands out there that can range in price quite a bit. We tend to go for the cheaper ones, and they have been great for us. We like Mayday as they are generally reasonably priced and don’t seem to stick as much which is great for shuffling.
One thing to be aware of and this is very important, is that cards in games come in many different sizes. Before you buy sleeves make sure you check the size that you need. There is a fantastic resource on Board Game Geek which will tell you the size and card count for just about any game in this link.
Organise fiddly pieces in plastic boxes that have dividers to make set up a breeze and keep those pieces safe
If you have any games that come with a heap of plastic pieces, small cardboard parts, or counters you will want to make sure you have a good storage solution. Unfortunately, even expensive games can fail to provide you with a functional insert that keeps everything neatly organised and safe.
The good news is that there is a way to solve this issue. Years ago, I discovered plastic sewing containers with movable compartments are perfect for storing those fiddly board game pieces. Fishing tackle containers with movable compartments are also great! I have found Plano containers to work well.
I love playing Eclipse: New Dawn for the Galaxy, it’s one of my favourite games. There are so many pieces to set up though that it is a real chore to get on the table. Once I organised everything into the right sized plastic containers, I can be set up and playing in no time. I have added a photo so you can see what I mean.
If you want to get your game organised, here’s what to do:
- Measure the inside of the box so that you know how much room you have for your container. Ideally you still want everything to fit in the box, so measure height, width, and length
- Count the number of different pieces you want to keep separate. You want a container with enough compartments that you can cater for everything you need in one container
- Make sure you consider any boards, rule books etc you will still need space for that will remain loose in the box
- Find a container that closely matches your measurements and number of compartments required. As I mentioned I have used both sewing containers and fishing tackle containers with compartments. Both work great as long as they are the right fit for the box and have the right number of compartments.
Buy a custom insert
Many games have custom inserts available for purchase separately that are designed to perfectly store all the game parts and make set up a breeze. I personally don’t invest in these as I have found buying containers with moveable compartments has worked well for me so far. However, it’s worth noting that these are available if you would rather have a hassle-free solution.
If your feeling crafty, try your hand at making a custom insert
For those of you out there who are keen on crafts you can make the perfect insert to meet your needs. I won’t go through this in detail as there are lots of instructions online but at a high level, you will need:
- Foam board
- Box cutter (foam board dulls blades very quickly and I have found a box cutter works best as you can just snap off the blade and replace easily)
- A suitable cutting surface. You can buy cutting mats that will do the job nicely
- Suitable glue for foam board. I use Elmer’s clear glue and that has worked great
- Metal ruler
Making your own insert will involve a lot of measuring, a good plan and making sure your cutting nice, straight lines.
About the Authors
We are parents who love board gaming. We have three children and have been enjoying board games as a family ever since we had our first child. We share our real unbiased experiences and opinions on board games so you can decide if they are right for your family. We also write guides and articles to help you get the most out of your family game time. If you enjoy our content and want to support us you can do that through our Ko-fi page by clicking on the button below.
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