7 Free DIY Chess Board Plans In Different Styles
If you love chess and enjoy crafting, creating your DIY chess board is a fantastic project. It’s a chance to design something that perfectly matches your style. Whether you prefer working with wood for a classic look or painting cardboard for something more temporary and lightweight, there’s a DIY option out there for you. You can even explore alternative colors and patterns for the squares, making your chess board unique. Not only does this project let you flex your creative skills, but it also gives you a unique chess board for game nights.
Customizable DIY Chess Board Plans
You can start making your chess board with just a few materials and creativity. For instance, consider using simple stickers or masking tape on a smooth surface to lay out your board. Or, why not recycle an old piece of wood, drawing or painting the squares to bring an eco-friendly touch to your game? You can also glue fabric squares onto a cardboard base for a foldable, travel-friendly chess board. These simple ideas don’t require expensive tools or materials, making the process accessible to everyone. So, gather some inspiration, pick your favorite materials, and craft a chess board that reflects your personality and skills.
Outdoor Chess Board
Uses: Creating a DIY Outdoor Chess/Checkers Board is a fantastic way to enjoy classic games in the fresh air, making sunny days even more enjoyable. This game board not only adds fun to any gathering, letting guests play while hanging out on the balcony, but it also becomes a unique decor piece for your outdoor space.
Materials:
Concrete Paver Block
Outdoor Paint (black or white)
Black and White Pebbles
Protective Acrylic Spray
Sharpie
White Paint Pen (for detailing)
Ruler
Small paint brush
Making:
The process of making this DIY Outdoor Chess/Checkers Board is straightforward and rewarding. You start with a concrete paver block, painting alternate squares to set up the board. Decorating pebbles to use as game pieces adds a creative touch, combining fun with outdoor durability. This board stands firm against weather changes, promising long-lasting entertainment outdoors.
DIY Chess Board for Kids
Uses: A DIY Chess Board for Kids brings the ancient game of strategy to your young ones in a fun, tactile way. Kids can enjoy playing in the car, on vacation, or while visiting friends, and the sturdy, travel-friendly design means the fun doesn’t have to stop, no matter where they are.
Materials:
Wood Board
Paint (two colors)
Pencil
Ruler
Cardboard from egg cartons
For Travel Chess Board:
2 large squares of felt (different colors)
Additional felt sheets (for the game pieces)
No-Sew Iron-on Adhesive
Making:
For a permanent board, squares are drawn on a wooden board, creating the checker pattern, and then painted with two different colors. If it’s a travel board you’re after, squares are cut from felt and attached in a checker arrangement on a larger felt piece with no-sew adhesive. Kids can help with both types of boards and maybe even lend a hand in personalizing their chess pieces.
Wood Carvers DIY Chess Board
Uses: The Wood Carvers DIY Chess Board is a beautiful project that brings the classic game of chess to life in a new and personal way. This board is not just for playing; it’s a piece of art that adds warmth and charm to any room. Perfect for the family to gather around for a game night, it also becomes a topic of admiration and conversation among friends who appreciate the effort and talent that goes into making it.
Materials:
Two types of wood
Wood glue
Sandpaper
Protective wood
Making:
The process involves carefully choosing pieces of wood, ensuring they fit together well to form the chessboard pattern. Each square is meticulously cut and assembled, paying close attention to the grain and color of the wood to enhance the board’s visual appeal. The board is then sanded to a smooth finish, and a protective coat is applied to preserve its beauty and durability for years to come.
Elegant but Simple DIY Chess Board
Uses: An Elegant but Simple DIY Chess Board makes a statement in any room. It’s an invitation to engage in a round of intelligent, strategic play with friends or family while its beauty enhances the decor. It’s perfect for those relaxed afternoons, weekend gatherings, or quiet nights!
Materials:
2’ x 2’ of 1/2” Plywood
8’ 1×4 Board of Dark Wood (for example, Mahogany)
8’ 1×4 Board of Light Wood (for instance, Aspen)
1-in. 18-gauge brad nails
Wood glue
Making:
The initial step is to choose two types of wood to create the contrasting squares of the chessboard. The appropriate boards are then sliced into strips and arranged in an alternating pattern to make a vibrant chessboard pattern. The formation is then glued together and secured with brad nails. After it’s all set, the board is given a nice finish with thorough sanding for smooth gameplay.
Easy DIY Chess Board
Uses: Perfect for teaching kids the game, starting tournaments at home, or just as a reason to spend quality time with loved ones, this chess board serves as both a game and a token of heartfelt labor.
Materials:
Ash and Cherry wood strips
Red Cedar wood for the trim
Plywood for the base
Wood glue and wood filler
Sandpaper for smoothing surfaces
Wood Stain to enhance beauty
Protective polyurethane or acrylic coating
Making:
The Ash and Cherry wood strips are glued together, checked for perfect angles, and then clamped to set. Once dried, the strips are skillfully cut and sanded down, ensuring each chess square is flawless. The board is meticulously assembled and attached to a sturdy plywood base, then framed with Red Cedar for a snug, attractive finish. Final sanding touches and a protective sealant bring out the board’s true elegance.
Classic Chess Board Plans
Uses: Flip open the board’s lids and inside, there is a neat spot to keep all the game pieces safe and sound. Plus, the lids snap shut with magnets, which makes it super easy to pack up and take along anywhere, ready to set up a game on the go. A Classic Chess Board offers a world of fun and brain-enhancing play, perfect for anyone who enjoys a good game of chess or checkers.
Materials:
Wood for the chessboard surface
Magnets for lid closure
Veneer for a nice board pattern
Box joint-making materials for the corners
Making:
It has two parts that work as the playing surface and they open up to show a place to store your chess pieces. Special attention goes into the pretty patterns on the board and making the corners fit together in a nice way. It’s a game board that’s also exciting to put together.
Vertical Wall-Mounted Chess Board
Uses: Hanging on the wall lets chess lovers continue their match at any time, allowing one to pause the game without taking up table space. It’s a stylish piece that adds a unique touch to a room’s decor, prompting conversation while offering an ever-ready chess game.
Materials:
Thin wood pieces
Crown molding and square dowels
Wood stain
Polyurethane
Black paint
Painter’s tape
Wood glue
Small cylindrical dowels
Rubber bands
Making:
First, wood pieces prepared and laid out in a pattern, portraying the chess board. They are given several coats of stain to ensure the wood grains are filled before being sealed with polyurethane. Painting the board requires attention and precision, with painter’s tape forming columns and black paint filling the gaps for the board’s squares. The familiar chessboard pattern emerges by flipping every other row and sticking them with wood glue. Then comes creating the frame using crown molding, fastened with dowels and glue, with supportive square dowels installed to hold the board securely. Finally, the chessboard fitted into the frame, completing a radiant, vertical wall-mounted chessboard.
