Fitting a Games Corner into a Kitchen-Diner Without Losing Worktop

Kitchen-diners do a lot of jobs. They cook dinner, fit in homework, and, on a wet Sunday in December, host a full evening of board games. The difficulty is that the table, the worktop and the storage all compete for the same few metres. A games corner can work well in that space, but only if it is planned around the cooking rather than squeezed in afterwards.

This guide covers the kitchen side of the plan: the table, the base units, the worktop and the sockets. If you are thinking about a separate room for a desk and consoles, a different article on this site covers that.

Start with the table you already have

Before you buy anything, measure the table and work out how much clear space it gives you. Most board games play comfortably on an area around 80 to 90 cm across, but some big-box games need more room. Check the box of the game you play most often.

Clear the middle of the table before a session. A fruit bowl, a bread board and a pile of post will all get in the way. A small lazy Susan or a fabric runner helps with card games and keeps the centre free.

If you are replacing the table, a bench on one side can give you more seating against a wall and free up floor space. A bench makes it harder to pull games out from underneath, so check that it still leaves a clear step in and out.

Give games a home in the base units

Board game boxes are awkward on open shelves. They are tall, uneven and often slide forward when a door opens. Deep drawers suit them better, because the boxes can lie flat and you can see what you have at a glance.

Cutlery trays are a useful model for everything that comes out of the box. Dice, tokens, scoring pads and card decks each get their own compartment, and the whole tray can be lifted to the table in one move. Ask the designer to plan drawer depth around your games as well as your pans, because a standard drawer is often deep enough for a row of boxes laid flat.

Keep the largest and heaviest boxes in the lowest drawers. A tall game stored upright in a wall cupboard can fall out when the door opens, and that is far more likely to cause a bruise than a broken lid. Lipped trays stop contents sliding when a drawer is opened quickly.

Keep the worktop for cooking

The worktop earns its keep, so do not let the games take it over. Decide early which section is the prep zone and which is the table zone. The prep zone should sit beside the hob and sink. Games should never sit on the run between them, because that is where hot pans and wet hands will be.

If the games corner sits at the end of a run, a tall unit or a pull-out larder can close the gap between the cabinets and the table. This stops the end of the run becoming a shelf for mess. A pull-out board or a tray that lifts out of a base unit lets you clear the game away in seconds when dinner is served.

Choose a worktop that copes with spills and paint marks. Quartz and solid surfaces are non-porous and wipe clean easily. Laminate is cheaper and perfectly good for family use, but pay attention to the edge detail, because the joint is where food and liquid can sit. Follow the maker’s care instructions, particularly on cleaning products.

Plan the sockets and the cables

Sockets are the detail most people forget. A games corner usually needs a charging point for a phone, a tablet or a speaker, and often a lamp at the table. Kitchen sockets normally sit above the worktop, so a socket at table height may need a different position or a small change to the design.

Plan the cable route before the cabinets go in. Cables run under a worktop or through the base units are far easier to tidy during the build than after it. Electrical work is covered by Part P of the Building Regulations in England, so use a registered electrician for any new socket.

Making the space work day to day

A games corner only works if it is quick to reset. A simple rule helps: the game goes back into its drawer before the table is laid for the next meal. Many households find that the routine matters more than the storage itself.

Pick finishes that hide wear. Matt fronts show fewer fingerprints than gloss, and mid-tone colours hide the small scuffs from chairs pushed against the units. Dice and tokens rattle on hard surfaces, so a felt or cork mat under the game protects the table and keeps the noise down.

Think about height too. A drawer handle within easy reach lets children get their own games out without help, and the games are used more often when they are easy to reach. Check the fitting instructions for any pull-out fitting, particularly where children are around.

Key points

• Measure the table first and keep a clear playing area in the middle.
• Use deep drawers with trays for boxes, dice, tokens and cards.
• Keep games off the prep run between the hob and sink.
• Plan sockets and cable routes before the cabinets are fitted.
• Choose a durable worktop and matt, mid-tone fronts for a busy family room.

If you are planning this as part of a new kitchen, the free planning and design visit that Homes by Design offers is a practical way to test a layout with the real room and the real table before anything is ordered.