Creating a game room right in your own home is a great way to make the most of your space and create a fun atmosphere for making memories with family and friends. With a little forethought and planning, almost any space can become your ideal game room! Follow our tips below to get started.
Decide What Activities You’d Like to Include
This is a great brainstorming activity that everyone can participate in! Make a list of fun indoor games and activities you’d love to have in your game room. The list may need to be narrowed down, but it will be a good jumping off point for planning your space. Some popular options are:
- Arcade consoles
- Pinball Machines
- Video games
- Ping Pong table
- Air Hockey
- Foosball
- Darts
- Board games
- Poker table
- Shuffleboard
- Pool Table
- Indoor basketball set
Analyze Your Space
Now that you have a list of all the activities you might like to include in your game room, analyze the space you’re transforming to see what will fit. It’s important to take measurements, especially for larger items like a pool table or ping pong table. When measuring, be sure to include enough space to play without bumping into walls. This will help to narrow down your list and confirm which games you’ll include.
Choose Furniture to Compliment Your Setup
Your selected games can help you decide what furniture should go in your space. For example, a video game setup might call for sleek gaming chairs. Arcade consoles could be paired with stools. If you’re planning on hosting long card games or tournaments, providing a comfortable seating area for guests not currently playing (or just there to watch) is ideal. Think about who will be using the space, as well as what games you’re including. If pets or children will be joining in the fun, it’s a great idea to devote an area to their comfort as well. Taking measurements is equally important in this step, to ensure everything will fit into the space together.
Bring on the Snacks!
Refreshments are an essential part of any game night. There are plenty of ways to make drinks and snacks easily accessible while you play. Some popular items are:
- Mini fridge
- Drink cart
- Popcorn machine
- Microwave
- Snack basket or station
- Wine bar or wet bar
As in your kitchen, it’s a good idea to ensure food is sealed properly for freshness and to avoid attracting any pests to the area. A healthy mix of sweet, salty and savory snacks is sure to please any palette. Choose easy, low-mess snacks and provide a small trash receptacle nearby to help keep things tidy.
Decorate to Make it Your Own
Adding eye-catching personal touches is the final step to making a game room your own! If you have a favorite sports team or another theme in mind, a basement game room can be the perfect space to go all out. If your game room is open to or directly connects to other rooms in your home, you’ll want to maintain a cohesive look. Flooring and paint that coordinates with the rest of your home also makes it easier to change up the theme or decoration when and if you decide to. Lighting is another important decorating element that your game choices will have an impact on. For example, remote controlled LED lights are a great addition behind a wall-mounted flat screen tv or around video game consoles. An attractive hanging fixture works perfectly over a pool table, but not over a ping pong table. These finishing touches will make your personalized game room shine.
Once you’ve followed these tips and finished your space – the final step is to enjoy it! Gather with friends, family (and opponents) and get gaming!
If you’re considering moving to a home with more space for a game room, or refinancing your current home to use your equity toward designing a game room, one of our experienced Loan Officers would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the process and how to get started! Please reach out today!
