Replace the Board Games in Your Closet with Tablet and Online Versions

We're living in the age of the small-space dwellers' dreams. Nearly every collection a person could want to hold onto — files, books, photos, music — can be whittled down to a digital version that's only as large as the device it's kept on. Here's our newest plan: replace some of our board games with tablet versions.

If you want to make a little room in your hall closet, consider replacing a few of those bulky game boxes with tablet or online versions. Most games' digital counterparts are just as easy and fun for a pair or family to play, and they take up far less space in your home.

I recently decided to take the plunge and order the $6.99 Ticket to Ride app for my iPad from the iTunes App Store. Ticket to Ride is a popular game in my house, but clearing space on the table and dragging out the game and all of its little pieces was getting annoying. Now, we just start up the app. By passing the iPad back and forth between players, we're getting nearly the same game experience, plus we were able to sell off our old game board.

Of course, not all games have app versions, and even fewer of those games are able to translate well to tablet or online play (for instance, we still like to keep party games like Apples to Apples in "hard copy"). It worked for us and our favorite Sunday-night game, but you should check out your own game closet to see if you can save space by going digital.

MORE GAMES FROM APARTMENT THERAPY:
• Our Current Favorite Social "Board" Games
• After Dinner: Best Party Games
• After Dinner Fun: Board Games for the Holidays
• 10 Always-Entertaining Party Games
• Electronic Updated Board Gmes: Awesome or Awful?

(Images: Flickr user Patrick Q, Ticket to Ride for iPad)

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When Did You Last Replace Your Pillows & Mattress? Reader Survey

There's no definitive answer on how often you should replace pillows and mattresses — for many, it comes down to preference, need, and situation. If you're an allergy sufferer, you may be buying pillows more often than the guy who swears by his childhood favorite. But we want to know: when did you last replace these bedroom staples?

I must say, I find shopping for pillows intimidating (so many options!), so I try to do it only when they become discolored or completely misshapen. I've yet to shop for my own mattress, but given my indecision when it comes to pillows, I'll probably keep my current one as long as I can.

So tell us, when's the last time you replaced your mattress or pillows?

MORE PILLOWS & MATTRESSES ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• A Year in Bed: A Modest Proposal
• How To Wash a Pillow
• How Often Should You Replace Bedroom Pillows?

(Image: Janel Laban)

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