Client: “I would like to design a custom board game table. Do you think it would be possible for you to build it?”

Gaming Table Requirements

  • It must seat at least four people.
  • The gaming surface must hold a typical board game with generous space around it.
  • ​It must have a tray to hold game pieces.
  • ​It must have a perimeter wall for bouncing dice.
  • ​It must have a felt gaming surface.
  • It must include lighting.


​After some online research I recommended the following:

  • Increasing the seating to six.
  • Changing the felt surface to a cushioned gaming surface.
  • Using multi-color LED lighting.
  • ​Incorporating cup-holders into the rail design.
  • Using legs on each corner instead of a pedestal design for more stability and durability (the client has four young boys!)

Gaming Tables

custom design and build

One of my favorite aspects of designing and building custom furniture is working with clients to modify a design to capture their ideas. Changes in finish or layout can dramatically alter the 'look-and-feel' of the piece. Below are a few photos that show how this played out in recent table designs.

Gaming Table Features

A Video tour

Inspired Design

It All Began with a Simple question

The Build

Details

Clarksburg Woodworks, LLC

My original table was recently upgraded with a set of table topper panels. The three panels fit easily into place as the original table design anticipated the future addition of table toppers. Each panel is made from 3/4" cabinet-grade plywood to withstand heavy use. For this table, one side of each panel is stained and finished to match the original table, with one panel featuring a chessboard design created by different color tints in the finish. The flip side of each panel is covered with Lego-style base plates, providing more than 12 square-feet of play space when all three plate-covered toppers are in place.

Weathered Oak stain on a Red Oak base provides a great contrast to the burgundy game surface. Three table-toppers install easily to provide a flat table surface. This table also features brushed aluminum cup holders and LED lighting around the perimeter of the gaming surface.

Adding table toppers to the gaming table converts the welled playing area into a flat surface for everyday use.

Weathered Gray stain and a black gaming surface give this table a real classic feel. It was constructed with pine wood which is easy to work and takes the finish well. This table includes the six game blocks, LED lighting, and four cup holders.

Red oak gaming table with a burgundy gaming surface for six players.  Includes game blocks, cup holders, LED lighting, and a ledge for table toppers.

Espresso stain on pine gives this version a modern feel.  The gaming surface is covered with a nylon over neoprene mat (3mm).  Six four-sided game blocks and companion cup holders are mounted in the top rail.  This version also includes a removable flat-panel TV gaming surface. The TV is mounted in a custom wood frame with a clear plexiglass top surface to protect the TV screen. The wood frame containing the TV and plexiglass is removable, but can also stay in place even when the table topper panels are in place.

Rustic Vibe

Royal Court

variations

to match your game style

Table Topper Play

Master Gamer

kevin@clarksburgwoodworks.com

Clarksburg, MD, United States 20871

Design and Build

 

The design is based on solid construction materials and techniques including:

  • A 3/4" plywood base for the surface.
  • An all-wood design that uses pine instead of hardwoods to reduce cost.
  • The use of 3/4" clear pine for all structural elements, and 1/2" clear pine for secondary elements.
  • Dado and lap joinery to provide strength.
  • Four  1/2"h x 3/4"w boards form the perimeter of the table and a 1/2"w inner board provides dual supports for the table rail and stiffens the plywood base.
  • ​Lighting from a flexible LED strip is incorporated into the wall around the perimeter.


Dimensions


  • ​Overall: 43 3/4"w  x 67"l x 30"h
  • Gaming surface: 32"w x 55"l​
  • Gaming surface perimeter wall: 3 1/4"h x 3/4"w
  • Table skirt: 4 3/4"h
  • Rail: 4 3/4"w
  • Game Blocks: 3 1/4"w x 3 1/4"h x 14"l
  • Legs: 3 1/4"w x 3 1/4"l x 29 1/4"h


​Gaming Surface


The gaming surface we recommend and use is a  3mm nylon over neoprene material from FoamOrder.com. It is extremely durable and available in a wide range of  colors and designs.


Game Blocks


​A tray to hold game pieces was a requirement from my first gaming table client. However, in creating the table design, I realized that a simple tray would only work for a small selection of games, and not address the wide variety of games the table could be used for. I created a game block that would fit into the rail at each of the six player positions. Each game block has four sides, with each side used for  different game styles. One side is blank, another side has a shallow tray, a third holds rows of chips, and the fourth side is grooved to hold cards upright. A small access port in the table base under each game block makes it easy to pop the block up and rotate it to another side when you want to switch to a different game style. 

The videos to the right shows many of the features of a gaming table, including the game blocks in each of the six player positions and the optional table toppers.


Pricing


​​Gaming tables start at $1,495, with options that include:

  • Pine (standard) or upgrades to red oak, white oak, mahogany, or cherry hardwood
  • Neoprene game surface thickness and color
  • Perimeter LED lighting
  • Stain and/or Polyurethane finish
  • Game Blocks
  • Cup holders
  • Table toppers
  • Removable legs.


Shipping, delivery and design alterations are priced separately.  Six percent Maryland sales tax applies to all orders.