If you’re a parent or a teacher, you probably know that most game boxes don’t stand a chance against your little monsters. So what do you do when you have a perfectly good game, but the storage box is destroyed? Here is my favorite method of board game storage without a box — and you’ll get the added bonus of having it take up less space, too!
Space Saving Game Storage
The first thing you’ll need is a variety pack of vinyl, massive or pouches. These are available on Amazon and come in a variety of sizes. There are black zipper options, as well as color zipper options. Both are good options, but I find the black to be more versatile if I want to use them in other ways.
You also need some packing tape and a pair of scissors.
How to Store Games with No Box
Take your destroyed game box and empty it. Find an appropriate sized pouch for the board and the pieces. The mesh zipper pouches come as large as 17″x12″ which is nice if you’ve got a larger board games like Candyland.
If you can salvage the name of the game from the game box, carefully cut it apart using the scissors. Attach the title of the game to the vinyl pouch with the packing tape. Cover it thoroughly and press it to make sure it’s secure.
If you can’t salvage any of the board game box, grab a label maker or a piece of paper and write the name of the game on that. Tape that label to the vinyl pouch. You can also just do this if you prefer a more cohesive look, although your children may have a harder time recognizing the game, especially if they’re not yet reading.
Put all the game pieces, the board, and the directions into the labeled mesh zipper pouch and zip it up.
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Storing Bagged Games
Now that you’ve got all the games in appropriate sized pouches, you’re going to need some place to put all the pouches.
Baskets, bins, and toy boxes work wonderfully. Stand all the pouches up vertically so you can easily grab whatever you want.
If you want to go the extra mile, insert all the pouches into the basket in the same direction so that you can easily flip through and see all the game labels.
Store the basket of games on a shelf, in a cabinet, under a coffee table, or in a corner.
Games and pouches take up much less space than games in the boxes because the pouches are flexible. They’re also very sturdy, so they usually hold up well to being stepped on, sat on, and abused.
If you don’t want to invest in the pouches, gallon ziplock bags will work, but they will not hold up as well over time.
Classroom Game Storage
This strategy for game storage and organization works well in classroom settings, too! A few years ago, I helped one of my children’s teachers tackle her game shelf using zipper pouches and packing tape.
I recycled the boxes that were taped up within an inch of their lives and replaced them with labeled zipper pouches.
We used bins she already had and transformed this space. Not only do the pouches take up less space, they’re easier for children to maintain and there’s less accidental spilling of the game pieces.
Board Game Storage without a Box
Board game boxes take a lot of abuse. If yours have seen better days, consider transferring them over mesh zipper pouches. Not only do they hold up to little hands, they save a lot of space and are nicer to look at when hidden in a basket.
What do you think?
