Ramping up a recreation room is a fun way to jump shot into March Madness! Not to mention, baseball season will soon follow and if you have fans in your home who constantly pine to play Minecraft and Fortnite, then building a game room can also serve as a fun way to bring the family away from the flatscreen for a few hours. Engage in some retro activities like a classic board game of Monopoly, a round of pool or ping pong, or even just a simple game of Texas hold ‘em.

Here are a few tips for designing a game room that could win you some major extra points at home:

“Team Theme” for the Win!

Everything is easier with a theme. A dinner party, a birthday gathering, a movie night and yes, even a game room.

Picking a theme for your game room will help shorten the time you spend making decisions on decor, furniture, and can also add a fun energy to the planning process!

Perhaps your game room will feature your favorite home team jerseys framed and hung on the walls, or the throw pillows and rugs are in your team colors. Maybe you idolize one MVP and there is an homage wall to him or her in your game room. A vintage 70’s game room might be decked out in tie dye with a shaggy rug, a disco ball light fixture and Twister mats on the floor.

Whatever way you decide to design a game room, make sure to allocate the appropriate sized space and take all preparation precautions. For example, a basement may need a new carpet or some electric heaters installed for comfort. A bonus room may be located close to a child’s bedroom and require some sound proofing before you turn up the volume during that finals match. Measure the space and double check any new furniture or game tables will fit and allow room for others in the room to play. Then, go full court press on your theme!

Theater Style

Watching our favorite sporting events from home definitely has its perks. First, we are not squinting to see from the bleacher seats! And, we can eat and drink freely without fighting crowds, long lines and missing a minute of the game.

A well-thought-out seating arrangement should be part of every game room playbook. We love these stadium style seats that are upholstered in black leather, and designed for premium comfort and style with a sleek track arm and metal chrome cup holders.

Depending on the size of your home, a game room may double as a theater room too. In order to keep all play spaces free and clear, you will want to have a good storage solution for loose remotes, consoles, game boxes and instruction manuals. How great is this large TV stand with sliding barn doors that can hide paraphernalia you don’t want to see! The distressed whitewashed finish is sophisticated yet approachable and can match many room styles.

Lay-Up to the Bar

Setting up a bar and snack area in your game room can really take it next level. Keep provisions chilled in a mini fridge and invest in a small tabletop ice maker. This shelf bar unit is portable and folds easily for moving around. But, we love that it has a footrest for comfort, which means you can lean in to sip and nibble and not miss a dribble.

Players Privacy Screen

If you are trying to maximize space, you may want to create ‘sections’ in your game room. For example, a pool table should have about 3 - 4 feet around each side to allow for comfortable movement during a game. A video game area around a flatscreen can be designed in a tighter configuration of a half moon circle.

If you would like an area for card games or even just a more private place to sit and listen to an audible book, invest in a folding panel screen. This creates a new dimension and space within your larger game room.

We love this 4-panel screen designed in a refined antique nutmeg and black finish.

We hope your home team wins, and that your favorite sports carry on this season! If you need any help setting up a game room, please visit us at our store or DM us on Instagram @jaxcofurniture.

We would love to help you slam dunk that design!