Supplies:
Sewing machine cabinet
Screwdriver (maybe)
Cardboard box
My brothers, sisters, and I used to play a lot of board games but what I really hated about it was being in the middle of a game and it was suddenly time to clear the table and set it for dinner. We had to either put the game away – with no known winner/loser, or try to balance the board and it’s pieces, precariously, and take it all to another room. Then we had to go back for the other pieces, money, or parts. It was such a hassle. That’s why I want to tell you about a quick game table that you can make. It’s just so perfect; I wish we had thought about it way back then. Anyway, if you happen to have an old sewing machine cabinet it can be turned into a suitable game table in minutes.
The sewing machine cabinet that I recommend is the old kind that looks like a square table with four legs. The top lifts up and over to one side; that gave the seamstress a place to lay cloth and such. With the top out of the way, you could reach down and lift the sewing machine up to use it. That type of cabinet makes an ideal game table and it transforms in little time.
After lifting the top off of the cabinet, lift the machine up, and then lay it all the way back. Look underneath the machine and, depending on the brand, find two screws to loosen, or two hinges to move. The removal of the machine is then very easy; just pull it out. You’ll be left with a large opening where the machine used to be and that area is perfect for storing all of your game stuff.
Although regular game boards won’t fit inside the opening of the sewing machine cabinet you can still store many things there. Lower a cardboard box into the opening and it can hold dice, cards, play money, spinners, game pieces, scoring tablets, pencils, and so much more. It’s easy to screw a small bracket to the inside of each leg, cut a board, and rest it on the brackets. The shelf can hold game boards and boxes.
When you play board games on the cabinet-turned-game table you have two choices. You can open the top, and play on it, leaving the box storage area exposed. Or, you can get out the items that you need, close the lid, and play on the surface of the table.
Many game tables look like, well, game tables. But when you transform a sewing machine cabinet, it looks like a cute and decorative table. Paint it for a child’s room or leave it as it is for a rustic look. Now, who’s up for a game of Monopoly?