• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Start Here
  • Shop Favorites
  • About
    • Welcome To My Repurposed Life Home of Repurposed Furniture
    • More About Gail
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Information
  • Gallery
    • Repurposed Furniture
  • Repurposed Items
    • Building Supplies
    • Miscellaneous Household Items
    • Picture Frame/Chalk Board
  • DIY
    • Home Reno
    • outdoor living
    • Painting
    • Shop Talk
    • Tips for Around the House
    • Build It
      • Furniture
      • Home Decor
      • Storage
    • Crafts
      • Dollar Store
      • Easy
      • Holidays Seasonal
  • Furniture
    • Chair
    • Desk
    • Dresser/Chest
    • Headboard | Bed Parts | Cribs
    • Kids Furniture
    • Table
    • Kids Furniture
My Repurposed Life® Rescue Re-imagine Repeat
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Start Here
  • Project Index
  • Furniture
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Repurposed Furniture » Table Top into Game Box

    Table Top into Game Box

    Published by Gail | Published April 11, 2014 | Updated May 16, 2021
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet

    Hi My Repurposed Life readers! Obviously you love repurposed projects, and so I have a fun one today...

    Repurposed table top into game box

    Repurposed table top into game box


    A repurposed table top into a game box! What is a game box you ask?
    For me, it is called solving a problem. You see, around my house we have lots of games and a closet that holds them, but it is overflowing. And most of my kids can't reach so when they try to pull one out, all the rest fall to the floor...sound familiar?
    Repurposing an old table top

    MyLove2Create, old table top

    Enter this little beauty...or not so beauty...anyway, this was, I assume, a table top at one time. It was totally worth a save from someones trash pile in my opinion. Ever since the table top was rescued it has been hanging out in my shed... for about a year.
    build box and add bottom

    Build box and add bottom

    In order to help solve my game problem I decided to give this old table top new life and purpose. First I cut some free scrap 2x4's (maybe from an old fence) and built a box to the same size of the table top. Then I screwed on a piece of scrap plywood for the bottom.
    Filling holes with spackle

    Filling holes with spackle

    To make it look more finished I added bondo to all the cracks, which is a type of spackle. Once it dried I sanded it smooth, and primed the box.

     

    Making a chess board

    Measuring Chess Board

    Now to old table top. I first sanded off the old stain, then set to work making a chess/checkers board on the top. My boys like chess, and I have learned it but don't play much. Which is why I had to look up how many squares are on a chess board, there are 64. I made mine into 2 inch squares, and there are 8 squares on each side. First I measured with a pencil and then went over it with a sharpie marker. (oops, the one above is a Bic marker, it had a fine tip, better for the lines)

     

    M sharpie marker to make a chess board

    Using a sharpie marker to make a chess board

    To make sure I didn't mess up when I colored in the squares I x'd out the ones that would be black. Then I made the box outline's wider and went to town scribbling in the rest! It was like grade school all over again! And look there is the Sharpie!

     

    Staining board

    Staining board

    Now to make it pretty! This Rustoleum summer oak did a great job, don't you think? I bought this stain to use on one of my favorite projects from last year when I turned an end table into a desk. You can see my primed box in the back.
    paint box black

    paint box black

    After I primed the box I painted it grey, but wasn't liking it. So I taped off the inside (I wasn't painting the inside again) and did the outside with a black that I had. Can you believe this was an oops paint? I will always snag black or white oops paints, it is so worth it because they are hardly ever in oops! This is the first and only black I have seen in oops, and the only white I have seen I bought as well and used it in my Master Closet Makeover.

     

    add hinges to table top and box

    Repurposed table top into game box

    Once I placed on a couple of hinges...

     

    Add handle and hook and eye

    Add handle and hook and eye

    ... and added a handle, and a hook and eye latch thingy, (I have no idea what that is really called 🙂  I bought this one in a set of two and used the other one on my Pull Down Art Desk I built for my son.)

     

    Repurposed table top into game box

    Repurposed table top into game box

    I was in business!

     

    putting games in a box

    Game box full of games

    I threw in a bunch of kid games, ones my kids play the most,

     

    Easy under the bed storage

    Easy under the bed storage

    And tucked it neatly under the bed! It makes easy no "mess access" for the kids, and one of my favorite features...

     

    MyLove2Create, using the Game Box

    Playing a game on the Game Box

    A perfect game surface for any game! And of course checkers and chess too!

     

    Easy to carry, and store game box

    Easy to carry, and store

    It is easy to carry with the handle, just in case you need games on the go!

    Please note: I haven't attached a thing to hold the lid from falling back too far, you know the kind that helps the lid stay in place when you open it? I plan on doing that for safety, just haven't had a chance to get one yet, but I will.

     

    Repurposed table top into game box

    MyLove2Create, top view Game Box

    If I had room in my home I would have made legs for this and used it as an actual table for game playing and game storage. It would be simple to do, but for my family it works best under a bed. I even considered putting wheels on it, and then I could see it used as scooter or skate board...yeah, you get it!

     

    Repurposed table top into game box

    Repurposed table top into game box

     

    My kids are super excited about it, and so am I!
    If you had a box like this would you use it for games or something else?
    Hugs,
    Mindi
    see more of Mindi's posts on MRL below:
    [categorythumbnaillist 274]
    Print Friendly, PDF & Email
    Pin
    Share
    Tweet

    Related Content:

    • Kids Art Desk Repurposed Armoire
      Kids Art Desk Repurposed Armoire
    • DIY Kids Furniture Projects
      DIY Kids Furniture Projects
    • Kids Organization Ideas using Repurposed Furniture
      Kids Organization Ideas using Repurposed Furniture
    • Storage Bench Made From A Dresser
      Storage Bench Made From A Dresser
    • Kids Dress Up Armoire
      Kids Dress Up Armoire
    • DIY Molkky Game for Camping
      DIY Molkky Game for Camping

    About Mindi

    Mindi is a wife, mother, runner, dancer, and a lover of all things fun and DIY.

    A few years ago she discovered blogs and fell in love with the idea that she could do things she had always dreamed of doing. Like build furniture from pallets, and make cool projects for her home.... Mindi was inspired by other bloggers that empowered her to create.

    Mindi decided to give back and possibly reach someone out there that has a desire to create like herself. She believes we all have that desire in some form or another, and we all DO create in our own way, every day. Whether it be crafty or not, even creating happiness in others is a gift that many share.

    Mindi loves to learn and use that knowledge to make beautiful and useful things for her home.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      See comments Cancel reply

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

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Pam

      April 14, 2014 at 3:37 pm

      Wow...what a really cool idea. I have just about gotten rid of all my games except for Checks, Caleb (grandson) loves beating his nana at that game. Great job.

      Reply
    2. La Verne @ hopeandsalvage.com

      April 12, 2014 at 10:06 am

      Gorgeous Mindi! You have inspired me. I started a checkerboard table for my daughter 2 YEARS AGO that I cannot seem to finish. It's on my list for this week. You are such an inspiration.

      La Verne@hopeandsalvage.com

      Reply
    3. Katie

      April 11, 2014 at 10:17 am

      This is awesome and would make for a great gift!!

      Reply
    4. Julie @ follow your heart woodworking

      April 11, 2014 at 10:00 am

      Great idea Mindy. So practical and well made.

      Reply
    5. Paige @ Little Nostalgia

      April 11, 2014 at 9:45 am

      That's fantastic! I love smart storage. Our games are in the built-ins in the basement, but I'd like to put them somewhere else.

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

    More about me →

    Join Our Mailing List

    ​

      Click the topics you're interested in below:

      Subscribing above means you agree to our Privacy Policy​

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      SEEN ON

      Might I Suggest

      • Start Here
      • Furniture Makeovers

      Newsletter

      • Sign Up! for emails and updates

      About

      • Gail's Favorites on Amazon
      • About

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Copyright © 2023 My Repurposed Life · Privacy Policy · Disclosure