How to Organize Board Games: Simple Ways to Declutter and Create Family Fun Space

As winter approaches and family game nights move indoors, now is the perfect time to tackle that overflowing stack of board games! Learning how to organize board games can make a huge difference in keeping your living space tidy and ready for fun. In this post, we’ll share how to purge board games you no longer play, creative ways to store and organize both board and card games, and our favorite products to make your game collection neat and accessible all season long.

{Disclosure: Links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.}

Purge Before You Play

Before you organize, it’s time to do a quick inventory. Go through your entire collection and decide what’s worth keeping.

Ask yourself:

• Is this game complete and in good condition?

• Do we actually play it?

• Do we have duplicates or similar games that serve the same purpose?
  

Games that are broken, missing key pieces, or that your family hasn’t played in years can be donated, gifted, or recycled. Many local libraries, community centers, or thrift shops happily accept gently used games.

The goal is to keep only what you love and actually play. This step makes the rest of the organizing process faster and easier—and ensures your collection fits your family’s lifestyle.

How to Organize Board Games by Category Once you’ve pared down your collection, it’s time to sort and store. A good system for how to organize board games often starts with grouping them by category.

Try organizing by:

• Type of game: strategy, party, trivia, or kids’ games.

• Frequency of play: keep your family favorites front and center.

• Size or shape of box: stacking similar-sized boxes saves space and prevents toppling towers.
  

If your board games are stored in a closet, consider vertical storage using magazine holders or bins to stand boxes upright—like books on a shelf. For smaller collections, a cube organizer or rolling cart can keep everything within reach while looking tidy.

How to Organize Card Games and Dice

Board games often get all the attention, but card games, dice, and small game pieces need organization too!

Here are a few of our favorite strategies:

• Photo storage cases are perfect for holding card decks, small games, or expansion packs.

• Tackle boxes or craft organizers work great for dice, tokens, and mini figures.

• Zipper pouches or clear bins keep all the tiny pieces contained and easy to find.

• Glass jars can hold dice or colorful game pieces while doubling as décor on open shelves.
  

You can even create a dedicated “Game Night Kit” that holds cards, dice, a score pad, and pencils—everything you need for spontaneous fun without searching.

Products We Love for Organizing Board Games

If you’re ready to level up your organizing system, here are some tried-and-true products we love for keeping board games neat and easy to access:

• Book shelves or Cube Organizers – Customize your storage for big and small boxes.

• Clear plastic bins – Perfect for stacking and seeing what’s inside.

• Zipper pouches – Great for card games, small puzzles, or travel sets.

• Fabric Cube Bins – Store boxless games without the eyesore (looking at you BopIt!).

• Bin Labels or Label Machine - ensure everyone can maintain your newfound organization.
  

These tools help you make the most of your space and keep your collection looking polished.

Maintenance Made Easy

Like any organizing system, your board game storage will only stay neat if it’s easy to maintain.

A few quick habits make all the difference:

• Label shelves, bins, and pouches clearly so everyone knows where things go.

• Return games to their spot right after playing—no “I’ll do it later” piles.

• Revisit your collection every few months to see if anything can be donated or needs replacing.

Once you learn how to organize board games, it becomes simple to keep them that way. You’ll spend less time searching and more time playing!

Conclusion

An organized board game collection means less chaos and more connection. By purging what you don’t use, sorting by category, finding smart storage for small pieces, and maintaining your system, you’ll create a space that invites family fun all season long.

So grab your favorite game, pour some hot cocoa, and enjoy a stress-free night of laughter and competition—because your games are finally organized and ready to play!