Stephanie If you’re anything like me, you probably have a stack of board games somewhere in your house that isn’t exactly… aesthetic.
Ours were piled everywhere – in a cabinet, stacked in a closet, on a bookshelf and occasionally living on the coffee table. Not exactly the look I was going for.
Then I discovered board game book boxes — and I knew I wanted to try making them myself since I wasn’t a fan of the price tag.
These decorative book-style storage boxes look like beautiful coffee table books but secretly store your favorite games inside. They’re perfect for shelves, consoles, or coffee tables when you want something that feels a little more elevated than a stack of cardboard game boxes.
I recently gave it a try and love how they turned out.
The Inspiration
I originally found these board game book boxes on IG and Tik Tok. I tried checking for affordable options at my local TJMaxx, HomeGoods and Marshall’s with no luck. Then I stumbled on a DIY idea through a tutorial from Ashley at At Home With Ashley. Her project was the perfect starting point, and I used her tutorial as a guide while adjusting things to fit the specific games I wanted to store. Check out her full tutorial – How to turn board games into display books
Since some of my games were different, I customized the labels and images slightly — but the overall process was incredibly easy based off of her tutorial.
If you already own a Cricut, this is actually an affordable DIY.
The Boxes I Used
To start you’ll need a linen book box. I didn’t try to attempt to make my own. These decorative linen covered books already have a book-style design with a magnetic closure, which makes them perfect for storing board games.
Why I love them for this project:
- Neutral linen texture
- Book-style spine
- Magnetic closure
- Perfect size for many classic games
👉 Shop the boxes here: [Linen Book Boxes]
Vinyl for the Titles
To create the board game titles on the cover and the spines, I cut iron on vinyl with my Cricut.
The color I chose was camel. This looks really nice against the linen boxes and is a great neutral that gives the boxes a designer look.
Here are two options:
HGTV Camel Iron-On Vinyl is the brand I used.
👉 Shop here: [HGTV Iron on Vinyl]
Cricut Camel Vinyl Option
Cricut vinyl is always reliable and easy to cut if you already use their machines.
👉 Shop here: [Cricut Iron on Vinyl]
How Easy Is This DIY?
Honestly… easier than I expected.
The steps are simple:
- Choose your linen book boxes – 👉 Shop the boxes here: [Linen Book Boxes]
- Measure the cover and the spine area (if different than the ones I used) then reduce by 0.5″ for the edge otherwise your label measurements should be:
- Large -8″ x 11″ for the cover and 2″ x 11″ for the spine
- Medium – 6″ x 8.5″ for the cover and 1.5″ x 8.5″ for the spine
- Small 4″ x 6″ for the cover and 1″ x 6″ for the spine
- Design the board game title in Cricut Design Space or canva then import into Cricut
- 👉 Download the Canva FREE PRINTABLES below
- Monopoly Junior Truck Edition: [Monopoly Junior Truck Edition]
- Risk Junior: [Risk Junior]
- Deer in the Headlights: [Deer in the Headlights]
- Exploding Kittens: [Exploding Kittens]
- Playing Cards: [Playing Cards]
- Jenga: [Jenga Book Box Cover]
- 👉 Download the Cricut FREE PRINTABLES below
- Monopoly Junior Truck Edition: [Monopoly Junior Truck Edition]
- Risk Junior: [Risk Junior]
- Deer in the Headlights: [Deer in the Headlights]
- Exploding Kittens: [Exploding Kittens]
- Playing Cards: [Playing Cards]
- Jenga: [Jenga Book Box Cover]
- Don’t forget to erase the background and any spaces within the letters so they are transparent and your vinyl is cut properly. See At Home with Ashley’s full tutorial for step by step guide – How to turn board games into display boxes
- Cut the vinyl (don’t forget to mirror for iron on vinyl)
- Weed out the extra iron vinyl
- Apply the lettering to the cover and the spine
- Iron on ensuring that your vinyl adheres and you let it cool completely before removing the film
- Store the game pieces inside
- Display on shelves, coffee tables, cabinets or consoles.
That’s it.
This is a relatively quick project. I made these during nap time and finished 3 boxes each time, and the end result looks like something you’d buy from a high-end home store.
If DIY Isn’t Your Thing…
No shame — sometimes it’s easier to just buy the finished version. There are some gorgeous ready-made board game book sets available. Plus some of these board games don’t fit into the linen book boxes so it’s easier to buy rather than cut down your board.
Luxury Book-Style Games
WS Game Company Vintage Bookshelf Board Games
These are beautifully designed versions of classic games that look like vintage books.
👉 Shop on Amazon: [Board Game Boxes]
Decorative Game Sets
Anthropologie Decorative Board Game Collection
Anthropologie often carries really pretty versions of classic games designed for display.
👉 Browse here: [Anthropology Decorative Board Game Collection]
Classic Game Library Sets
Pottery Barn Vintage Board Game Library
Pottery Barn also has beautiful bookshelf-style board games that double as decor.
👉 Shop here: [Pottery Barn Vintage Board Game Library]
Why I Love This Project
What I love most about this DIY is that it combines organization and decor. Instead of hiding games in a closet, they become something you actually want to display.
They look amazing on:
- coffee tables
- open shelving
- console tables
- built-in bookcases
And when it’s game night, you just pull one down and open it like a book. Honestly, it’s one of those DIY projects you didn’t know you needed until you see it.
✨ Affiliate Disclaimer Example
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them at no additional cost to you. I only share products I truly love and use.
