4 Elements To Building An Elegant, Functional Game Room

Improving our homes is always fun. Making actual expansions is a significant challenge, albeit an extremely rewarding one; you get more space, and you can increase the value of your home, if that’s the goal. Sometimes, however, building upwards and outwards just isn’t possible. Beyond structural additions, another way to improve the home is by turning unused or bonus rooms (or even basements or garages!) into themed or functional spaces –– like a game room.

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind when designing a game room with an element of style.

The Right Table

The central focal point of your game room will probably be a gaming table, whether for poker or pool. This means that you should pay special attention to the type of table you get, and the tone it sets regarding the general quality of the room. In many cases, investing in the right poker table in particular makes a huge difference in whether a game room looks classy and stylish, or haphazard and thrown together. This is simply because more low-end poker tables tend to look quite shabby, and less than permanent. Generally, you’ll want to consider shape and size, build quality, and appearance (most nice tables are felt-topped, but designs can still vary greatly). There are similar considerations for pool tables, meanwhile, though the average option in this category tends to be fairly sturdy and attractive to begin with. And of course, whichever type of centerpiece table you opt for, you’ll need to find a way to maximize quality within your budget.

Game & Accessory Storage

Game rooms are ultimately only as good as their contents –– but you won’t want those contents simply lying around. If you’re looking to create a poker room, you might well end up buying a whole, large set including cards and plenty of chips to support a big game. These sets are often found in metal cases, although you can also find some high-end wooden ones –– both being perfectly fine to display openly. If your room revolves around pool, meanwhile, you’ll likely want to attach a rack firmly to a wall, so that cues, set-up mechanisms, chalk, etc. can all be stored in an orderly fashion.

If the game room is multipurpose –– as most great game rooms are –– you’ll also likely want to invest in some storage shelves and drawers you can stock with entertainment. A full set of popular board games a collection of D&D books with character sheets, and maybe even a few gaming consoles can all be stored with ease such that the room is equipped for all kinds of action.

Comfort

Game sessions can go on for hours, especially when everyone’s having fun. What’s not fun, however, is the stiffness you may get from sitting down for too long in an uncomfortable chair. Make sure then that you invest in ergonomic chairs and seating areas that will be ready to support you and your guests for even the longest playing sessions. You want to be well equipped for a game night that moves from the poker or pool table, to a board game session, and perhaps ends up with everyone watching TV or a movie together –– all without stiff necks and sore backs.

Lighting

Lighting is an important part of any room, and naturally there are countless setup options to consider. We recommend a classy, low-hanging light with a dimmer switch for the center of the room, and other lights –– possibly recessed –– around the rest of the room for when you need a bit more light. If you’re really going for that classy poker feel, choose a green-glass hanging light for the center. You might also consider populating the room with smart LED bulbs that respond to your phone remotely (and maybe even change colors). Ultimately, your lighting decision is all about ambiance. Decide on the kind of game room you want to set up, and act accordingly.

Your game room can be whatever you’d like it to be. From design to wall color, and all of the decorations and furniture you want, it should be a unique space for you and your home. Take the above tips into account to set up the core elements of the room, and then turn it into the perfect space you can see in your head.