Best decorative chess sets for your home

If you’ve been hooked on The Queen’s Gambit, you might have come away with the urge to brush up your chess game – or maybe you just fell in love with the show’s aesthetic, including its super-stylish chess sets.

According to the New York Times, sales of chess sets have skyrocketed since the series debuted on Netflix this autumn. And luckily, there’s no shortage of gorgeous options on the market, from designer brands to boutique artisans.

From elegant glass chess sets to striking marble or rustic wood, here’s our round-up of the most beautiful chess sets, guaranteed to bring joy to your home, even if you never lift a piece! 

Akiko Marble Chess Set, Made.com, £69

We first spotted this stunning marble chess set from Made.com during our hunt for Black Friday bargains, and we’re still in love! The rounded lines and brushed texture of the marble figures make this a real work of art.

Wooden chess table, Wayfair, £256.99

One for the serious grandmaster wannabe! Make a real statement with this chess stand, carved in mango wood and topped with a painted chess board. Comes with a set of wooden pieces, so it’s ready to play or simply to admire.

Skyline Chess Set, John Lewis, £110

Take on the ultimate trans-Atlantic battle with this set from John Lewis, which pits London against New York with pieces representing the iconic skylines of the two cities.

Umbra Walnut Wobble Chess Set, Amazon.co.uk, £200.70

How’s this for a truly unique design? The undulating curves of this walnut and maple board give it the appearance of ocean waves – and the round-ended pieces are designed to quiver in place during play, adding an extra element of excitement and tension to your game.

Circular three-player chess set, Menkind, £49

Prepare your mind to be blown – this is a chess board that lets three players compete at the same time. Black, grey, and white pieces clash on a circular board, with trajectory lines to help you keep track of your moves.

It might take a few goes to get the hang of three-way chess, but from an aesthetic point of view we’re in love already – the design of the circular board is a work of art.

African soapstone chess set, Etsy, £22.95

A chess set doesn’t have to be monochrome! This African-themed set, hand-made in Kisii, Kenya from local soapstone, comes in stylish natural pink and grey hues. Not only is it a cute twist on a traditional set, you’ll have the satisfaction of supporting a Fairtrade organisation which ensures artisans are compensated fairly.

Resource chess set by Jonathan Adler, Amara, £595

If you’re serious about style, you can’t go better than Jonathan Adler. The American interior decorator’s Chelsea boutique is a mecca for design-lovers.

His Resource chess set features clean lines and chunky shapes inspired by the minimalist 1970s styles of fashion designer Halston, and is crafted in a striking pattern of clear and smoky acrylic.

Olive wood chess set, Etsy, £139.64

Crafted in Tunisia using olive wood, this rustic-look chess board would look stunning in a Nordic-style decor scheme. We love the little slide-out drawers stowed underneath to store the accompanying set of hand-carved wooden chess pieces.

Leatherette chess set, Selfridges, £200

Designed by Greek boutique Manopoulos for The Conran Store, this modern-style chess set features a soft leatherette board with wooden drawers to store the 32 hand-carved oak figures.

It’s also available in classic black and white, but we’re partial to this turquoise version, which makes the set stand out from the crowd.

Matryoshka dolls chess set, Amazon.co.uk, £48.99

The Soviet Union was famous for producing generations of grandmasters, so why not consider a chess set with a distinctly Russian twist? This colourful, rustic set features hand-painted wooden figures based on traditional matryoshka nesting dolls.

The board comes in your choice of blue or red variations, both of them marked with letters and numbers to help you brush up on your game strategy.

For more decor inspired by our favourite TV shows, check out our guide to getting the Friends look in your home.