How you arrange your pedals in order between guitar and amplifier often dictates how well each works. While there are always exceptions, a rule-of-thumb recommends effects placed in this manner: Plug your guitar into filter effects (wah and phaser) first, followed by compressors, overdrives and distortions, modulation (flanger and chorus) and time-based effects like reverb and delay, then into your amplifier. Most pedal arrangements are in series, that is, one pedal connected to the next; however, parallel connections can allow for interesting combinations of effects and supplying two amps or, if you prefer, an amp and a PA system.
Vintage effects are often designed in such a way that the guitar signal is never removed from the electronics, regardless of whether the effect is on or off. This affects the guitar sound when the effect is off and is sometimes not desirable. Some commercial pedal boards allow you to connect effects to a true bypass switching circuit, removing the effect completely from the signal path.
The simplest pedal boards are just that, pieces of board, cut to size with perhaps a handle cut out for easy transport. Effects pedals are connected with hook-and-loop fasteners and can be wired together so that only guitar and amp need connecting to play. A power bar or universal power supply can be added to provide current if you are not powering your effects with batteries. More elaborate pedal boards can be made from briefcases or zippered satchels.
Companies like Boss, Pedaltrain and Gator make a variety of pedal board configurations. Some include power supplies and bypass switches, while others are simply organizers for your equipment, and these may require power supplies, bypass switches or other enhancements to make them function. Pedal board projects can be as simple or complex as you want.