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How to make your own vertical chess board

07 Mar 2025

Take a fresh approach to chess by flipping it into vertical mode. This elegant wooden box frame stained in Resene Colorwood elevates the classic strategy game to an interactive work of art. For a quintessential black and white checkerboard look paint your vertical board in Resene Nero and Resene Alabaster.

 

You will need:

·       4x untreated pine board, 90mm wide x 10mm thick x 900mm long for the back board

·       4x untreated pine board, 40mm wide x 10mm thick x 900mm long for the shelves

·       3 x untreated pine board, 60mm wide x 10mm thick x 900mm long for the frame

·       Saw

·       Sandpaper

·       Stain

·       Painter’s tape

·       Paintbrush

·       Wood glue

·       Table saw

Step 1: Start by cutting the four 90mm wide boards into two 44cm lengths so that you have eight boards in total. Sand any rough edges smooth and then stain these boards with two coats of Resene Colorwood wood stain in your choice of colour – we used Resene Natural.

Step 2: Use painters tape to tape off alternate stripes that are each 5.5cm wide, which will give you eight stripes.  Remember to rub the tape down firmly.  Stain the alternate stripes with one coat of Resene Colorwood wood stain in your second stain colour.  We used Resene Teak. 

Step 3: Remove the tape the flip every second board over so that it makes a checkerboard pattern.

Step 4: Make seven shelves by cutting the 40mm wide boards to length (44cm long).  We made our shelves a little thinner using a table saw so that they are 5-6mm thick.  Stain these with Resene Colorwood wood stain in your lighter colour.  We used Resene Natural.

Step 5: Use wood glue to glue the shelves between each of the chessboard boards. 

Cut the 60mm wide boards to make a frame.  Stain these with more Resene Colorwood stain and once dry, attach these with wood glue and screws to the chessboard. 

Screw two picture hanging D-Rings to the back of the chessboard and use two screws screwed into the wall to hang the chess board. This will stop it from swivelling when touched. 


Chess board stained in Resene Colorwood wood stain in Resene Natural and Resene Teak. Wall painted in Resene Sea Fog, tabletop in Resene Colorwood Whitewash and vase in Resene Half Joss.

Top tips:

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  • You can paint your chess board to suit your room if you prefer a painted look.  Just pick two contrasting colours and follow the same steps as above.  

  • If your chess board pieces need refreshing, you can apply Resene Aquaclear with Resene Colour Enhance mixed in to enhance the timber colour or paint over them in your chosen Resene colour. 

  • If your family prefers checkers to chess, you can use the same steps and adjust your board size to suit.  For the checkers you can use any object of your choice – small stained or painted cubes of timber work well. 

  • Make sure you install your chess board so the top and bottom shelf can be easily reached by those playing with the board. 

  • If you prefer a more slim line look, paint your chess board set with Resene FX Magnetic Paint, then finish in your chosen paint finish.  Cut the back half off each chess piece and add a heavy duty magnet to it.  You can then use the chess pieces with magnets to play vertical chess on your magnetic board, no shelves needed.  Make sure you test your magnetic finish is holding the chess pieces well before topcoating. 

project Fleur Thorpe

stylist Megan Harrison-Turner

images Bryce Carleton

 

Published: 07 Mar 2025