Scrabble is a great way to spend time bonding with your friends and loved ones. Nothing feels better than spending an hour or two with great company while playing one of the world’s best games. Sometimes, though, you aren’t really satisfied with your Scrabble board. You want more. You want something customized to your taste. Well, time to grab your thinking caps as we learn how to make your own Scrabble board game.

What Is Scrabble?

Scrabble is one of the world’s most popular and enduring games. First released in 1938, Scrabble still sees play in several countries and in many languages. Clubs are formed around the game, both in and out of schools. Competitive Scrabble play still draws the best players from across the globe. Each player is ready to pit their skill, strategy, and vocabulary against each other in the hunt for glory in the greatest game of the world.

Building Your Own Scrabble Board

Here’s what you need before we build this board:

• A large, flat sheet of cardboard or wood

• A ruler for drawing a grid

• Permanent markers or paint

• Scrabble board diagram

Now let’s build your board.

1. Let’s start by drawing a grid that has 15 rows and 15 columns on your piece of wood or cardboard. Ensure that each square is the same size as your Scrabble tiles, or slightly larger.

2. Next, count 8 squares over and 8 squares down to find the center box. Draw a large star in the middle of the center box. This is your starting square. The first player starts the game by placing a letter on this box.

Triple word score spots

1. Now, we need to put in the triple word score spots. Color the top left square in red. Repeat the same action for the middle space in the top row and the top right corner. Repeat these actions for the bottom row.

Double word score boxes

1. Next, we go back to the top left corner. Move down one square and to the right by one square. Fill in this square in pink.
2. From there, let’s move down one square and to the right one square and color the square pink.
3. Starting from the last pink square, repeat this 2 more times. You should end up with a diagonal of pink squares directed toward the center star.
4. Move to the top right corner. Go down one square and to the left one square. Fill in this square with pink. Repeat this on the board three times. Use this pattern to create pink diagonal lines radiating from the bottom left and bottom right corners of your game board.

Note: The Scrabble board is symmetrical in design, so take advantage of this fact in laying out the rest of the bonus squares. When you take any action on the left side of the board, make sure you mirror it on the right side of the board.

Double letter score boxes

1. Add the double letter score boxes by counting in four places in the top row and coloring in this box light blue.
2. Move down two rows and count in seven spots from the edge of the board. Color this box light blue as well.
3. Go down another row and color the first spot on this row.
4. Count in eight spots from the edge of the board and color it in.
5. Go down three rows, then color in boxes three and seven.
6. In the next row down, color the fourth box and in another row down, color in the third and seventh boxes.
7. Move down three rows and color in boxes one and eight.
8. Go down one row and color the seventh spot.
9. Move down two rows and color in the fourth box. Repeat the same actions for the right side.

Triple letter score boxes

1. Now let’s start on the triple letter score boxes. Color the triple letter score spots dark blue. On row two, color in the sixth spot.
2. In row six, color in the second and sixth box.
3. Next up, on row 10, color in the second and sixth box.
4. Moving to row 14, color in the sixth spot. Repeat the same actions for the right side of the board.

Regular spots

1. Leave the leftover boxes blank or color them any other color, if you wish. These are the “regular” spots. On these boxes, letters are worth their face value, barring any word score bonuses that you get.

Start giving it your personal touch

1. Add your personal flourishes and little changes to your design. You can add decorative illustrations, or paint the outer edges of the board a contrasting color. Do whatever you want to personalize the board.

Disclaimers and Takeaway

Hasbro owns the intellectual property rights to Scrabble in the US and Canada. Mattel owns the intellectual property rights to Scrabble outside of the US and Canada. Do not sell any DIY boards bearing the Scrabble name or you will be liable under copyright laws.

Scrabble is a game that combines skill, strategy and a boundless vocabulary if you want to win. You will need constant practice and deep memory to totally dominate games. This is why we recommend that you do activities in work and play with a Pomodoro timer. By doing so, you are allowing your mind to help you improve productivity as you do tasks and take breaks in a timely manner. Inspire yourself to improve your Scrabble game with this DIY Scrabble game board. Happy playing!

Tereso sobo