Board Game Table Buying Guide

If you love hosting board game night, you know how important the game table can be. It can make or break the evening. And the right board game table can actually go above and beyond its intended purpose - serving as a dinner table, breakfast spot, work station, you name it.

But once you start browsing your options online, you’ll realize one of two realities: 1) there are too many options that it can be overwhelming trying to figure out which best suits you. Or 2) nothing you find meets your expectations. 

It’s no secret - getting a quality, durable, practical board game table within your budget isn’t easy. But if you’re due for an upgrade from your current game table, or you’re shopping for your first and aren’t sure where to begin, don’t worry. We’re here to help. With our ultimate board game table buying guide, we’ll explain how you can get the table of your dreams quickly and easily! By designing your own table, you get exactly what you want - no compromise. And, by the end of this article, you’ll know exactly how and where to get started building yours.

Designing Your Own Board Game Table Is Easier Than You Think!

We know what you’re thinking - design your own board game table? It’s true - these days, designing your own game table is easier than you think. In fact, this approach is superior to buying a table outright - at least, in our opinion. And once we break down the advantages of going custom vs buying outright, you’ll agree. 

 

First and foremost, you get to design your table such that it fits perfectly into whatever setting you have in mind. Say you have a mid-century modern home. Well, you can design a table that fits that specific style. Or if you want something a bit more basic and understated so that your table doesn’t steal all the spotlight in your space, you can go that route.

The point is that you can design your table to integrate into your dining room or living room space. This allows you to kill two birds with one stone - using your game table as a dining room table. Or, use it as a workspace if you work from home. The possibilities are endless - but by designing your table yourself, you get a final product that fits your home and serves as a practical piece of furniture. When you buy just any game table online, it’s unlikely this will be the outcome.

Furthermore, designing your own game table will help you take your game nights to the next level. Your spot will be the preferred choice among your gaming crew. Why? Because nobody else will have a table as incredible as yours! You can design it to fit as many people as you like, and add cool finishes depending on the specific games you play. If you play Dungeons & Dragons, you can add a Dungeon Master shelf, for example. Along with these types of features, you can add dice covers, velvet insets, and more.

Now - you may be under the impression that having a custom gaming table commissioned is going to be a time-consuming, stressful process. Fortunately, that is not the case. As you’ll soon discover, designing your own game table can take less than five minutes. We’ll guide you through the process later. First things first - we want to discuss two of the most important factors to consider before beginning the process. 

Two Important Factors To Consider Before Beginning The Process

The “perfect” gaming table isn’t one size fits all. Your ideal design may not be the same as ours. This is why you need to carefully consider what you want in a gaming table before you pull out the credit card. Fortunately, you can play around with your design and build a few different tables online to see what you like before pulling the trigger. To help you set out on the right path, here are a few things to keep in mind.

What Is Your Budget?

First and foremost, what sort of budget do you have in mind for this gaming table? When we said you don’t have to break the bank getting a quality, custom gaming table we meant it. However, we want to help you set your expectations - because this purchase won’t be cheap, either. In fact, we discourage you from shopping for cheaper tables. These will leave you underwhelmed and disappointed - not just in the appearance, but also in the function and durability. 

This is a purchase you want to get right the first time - so don’t skimp on quality. Trust us - paying more for a premium table now will pay off tenfold in how long it lasts and how much you love the table. You want something you’re proud to show off, right? With all that said, you can expect to spend as little as $3,000 for a simple yet stunning custom table, or as much as $6,000 for the best of the best - designed to your preferences. 

We know that price point may scare some readers away, but hear us out - consider that this table is going to not only serve as the source of quality time and memories with friends and family. And, this table can be used as your dining table, workspace, and more. This is going to be more than just a gaming table - keep that in mind!

What Games Do You Want To Play?

Another consideration you need to take into account before beginning to design your custom table for gaming is the specific games you want to play. What you need to start playing dungeons and dragons will differ from what you need for the best party board games. Or, perhaps you want a table that can help you host poker night with your buddies.

Whatever the case, you need to consider the games you play because this will help you determine how big of a space you need. And, it will help you determine if you need any additional features integrated into your table. Envision your ideal game night with your new table - who is over, and what are you playing? Armed with this information, you’re ready to start designing your ultimate board game table. The first step? Finding the right place to do so. And you’re in luck - we know just the spot.

How To Find The Right Place To Design Your Board Game Table

When it comes to getting a board game table you have a few different options. But if this is something you’re taking seriously and don’t want to settle for less than the best, stick with Bandpass Design. Our custom gaming table - The Dresden - offers unparalleled customization and practicality. Not only is this the best gaming table available, but it’s also right up there in contention for the best dining table! 

There is a reason we’ve come to be the preferred choice when it comes to gaming tables. Our unparalleled craftsmanship, durable materials, and intuitive customization process simply cannot be beaten. You’ll have to see it to believe it - so head over to the link above and take a peek. Then, come back here and keep reading to gain a better understanding of how you can bring your very own Dresden to life. 

Board Game Table Buying Guide: How To Design The Ultimate Setup

Ready to start designing the ultimate board game table? When we told you earlier that it is easier than you could ever imagine, we meant it. It’s as simple as five steps. Here is what you need to know: 

Start By Sizing Your Board Game Table

As we mentioned in the previous section, the number of players you want to comfortably sit at your table is an important primary consideration. This factor will also play a large role in helping you determine your budget. You can design a table to accommodate as few as 6 people or as many as 8 people. As you can imagine, the larger the table, the more expensive it will be. 

Our advice? Size up and get a larger table than you anticipate needing. If you know for a fact you’ll never have more than 6 people at your table, stick with that. But trust us - there will come a time where you’ll wish you could accommodate an extra couple of people. You’ll regret not sizing - and it’ll be too late. There are three size options available at Bandpass Design:

• Standard size (6 people) - 78” x 52”
• XL size (8 people) - 90” x 52”
• The Battleground (8-10 people) - 96” x 64”

Inset vs No Inset (& Choosing Your Fabric Color)

When you design your table through the right company - as we’ll discuss in-depth later on - you can typically choose to add an inset to your table. This is the fabric that goes inside your gaming table. This cushioning protects the wood of your table while offering a better gaming experience. Better yet, our inset is double-sided with a stunning stretch velveteen on one side and casino-grade speed cloth on the other. This adds to the versatility of your gaming table.

And, if you really want to create the table of your dreams, you’ll be delighted to learn you can choose from a wide range of velveteen and speed cloth colors. Choose from bold colors like Coral, Merlot, Royal Blue, Dove, Forest Green, and more. Or, keep things subtle with basic colors like Beige, Grey, Black, Red, and more.

Consider The Style & Type Of Wood Used

When it comes time to actually design your table, the specific style you choose will depend on a few factors. If you’ve already got an interior design style thriving in your home, this will be easy - just design a table that you can integrate seamlessly! Most of the styles we offer can be considered modern and bold - but as you’ll soon discover, we have all sorts of variety to ponder. Mid-century modern, danish modern, basic, and much, much more - you’ll have to start customizing the Dresden table yourself to truly get an understanding of what is possible.

And along with the actual style of your table, you can also choose a specific wood. Again - this will depend on your personal preference and existing design elements in your home. Here are the choices:

• Walnut
• Cherry
• Maple
• White Oak

Design The Table To Be Practical For Other Uses Around The House

Throughout this board game table buying guide, we’ve discussed creating a table that goes above and beyond gaming. This is the best way to justify this purchase. Think about it like this - you may use your gaming table a few times a week. But, you’ll eat breakfast and dinner every day. And, you may need a spot for the kids to do homework or for you to get work done. That’s why you need to design your table to be practical for other uses around the house.

Fortunately, we make this easy by allowing you to add the dining tabletop to your table. When guests come by, they will see a masterfully crafted dining table. When you take the top off, they’ll be shocked to discover the most incredible gaming table they’ve ever seen. And the best part? Converting between the dining table and the gaming table is simple and intuitive.

Other Design Elements To Consider

Along with the above, consider other design elements you want to incorporate into your design. You can add functional components to your table like a leaf keep. This dining tabletop storage solution helps you keep the leaves safe while you aren’t using them. You can also add a DM shelf if you plan on hosting D&D campaigns. Or, add dice bin covers to take your role-playing games to the next level - or use these as space for snacks and other accessories.

Wrapping Up Our Board Game Table Buying Guide

That brings our board game table buying guide to a close. As you can see, customizing your dream table is incredibly simple. With just a few clicks, you can bring your vision to life at Bandpass Design. So, what are you waiting for? Head over to the site and learn more about the Dresden to discover if this is the right choice for you. If you have an eye for rich style and an appreciation for practical function, you won’t regret trusting us!

Also - make sure to check out Tangible Day's recent article on elevating your tabletop gaming experience for additional insight on buying and using a board game dining room table.