Game Table DIY

Hello all! I’ve been posting a bit about our kitchen lately that, after 6 years, is finally done! This little corner was the last little bit to finish up and we love it! I had the idea of putting in a little chess and board game table, breakfast nook here with our built in bench. So far we love it, and here are all the details to build one yourself. As well as the setbacks that I encountered that hopefully you can avoid.

We are loving the final little piece of our major kitchen remodel - this diy chess and board game table! Uncookiecutter.com

Where it started…

I had originally wanted to build an epoxy table with a chess board in the middle. A clear, glass-like epoxy table. I have worked with epoxy a little in the past, but whoa! This started out awesome but ended up a disaster!

I first made the chess board part and it turned out great, see how pretty?? However, when I tried to add the rest of the glass, clear epoxy around it, I really screwed it up. First off, I didn’t seal my form properly and it leaked everywhere! Disaster! Next, I made this all way to thick! I should’ve done like a 1/4″ thick or less. This was way to much money to spend on epoxy.

Once I finally had it around and dry, I was going to try and use the router to get the top layer off and completely screwed that up and messed up the whole thing. I think I cried. This was a long, tedious process. I hardly ever “hang up the towel”, once I have spent this much time and energy on a project I usually try my best to make it work. But this project was such a nightmare and had already cost so much, that I decided to scratch it and start over.

Where it went…

As it turns out, I think I like the new game table better.

For inspiration, I just walked around Lowes. I finally fell in love with those big pieces of tile and decided I wanted to try to incorporate them in. I also knew I wanted a chess board still in the middle. So, I sat on the floor at Lowes and found the little gray and white tiles and along with the big tiles, I found a pattern I liked.

For the base, I used these plans by Shanty 2 Chic, however I converted them to more of a rectangular shape by using some simple algebra. Just like I tell my kids, I use it everyday! I also picked out my own trim pieces to use along the edges. And I added an extra 2×4 under each level to add a little support to the middle.

I also added flat pieces to make the top of each layer a little more uniform.

Then I just caulked and painted the base the same color as the bench and my cabinets.

Next I started on the top of the game table. I first built a frame the size I wanted, then I just used a piece of plywood with 3/4″ trim around it. I connected the trim to the plywood with pocket holes. Sorry I don’t have a better pic! I did paint the trim the same color as the base before I started on the tile.

After the frame was built and attached I started working on the tile work. I basically just did it like wall or floor tile – mortar, tile, spacers and then grout.

A couple of notes, things I would’ve done differently. I should have built the top on a flat surface first and then attached it to the base after the mortar dried. The corners sagged a bit from the weight while it was still wet. I had to jack up the corners with pieces of scrap wood.

Where it ended up…

After the disaster that was the epoxy, this turned out to be a somewhat simple little board game table. We’ve loved having a little extra space to sit and I wasn’t sure how much chess would be played here, but the kids are actually using it!