CREATING THE PERFECT GAME ROOM
What makes a great game room?
If you are fortunate enough to have space in your home for a dedicated game room, congratulations! Although there is nothing wrong with playing games in the dining room, it is a good feeling to have your own, dedicated gaming space that you can really customize and create a environment all your own.
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All this excitement comes with a lot of decisions though. Consider your budget carefully and plan out the look of your game room completely before you commit to a large purchase. Oh, and measure your space well. Nothing is ever as large as you think it is!
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Below we briefly touch on some of the most important considerations for game rooms. In the coming months, we will explore this topic even more, so check back often for updated content and all the latest game room trends.
TOP CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOUR GAME ROOM
LIGHTING
Lighting should be one of the first things you consider when building out your game room. After all, it is difficult to play a game when you can't see it!
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Recessed can lights overhead are a good start, but you will want to consider how much glare direct lights will cause. It is a good idea to have a mix of overhead, floor, and table-top lighting available to account for various times of day, season of the year, and the type/size of games you are playing.
COMFORTABLE SEATING
Nothing will send your guests packing quicker than uncomfortable folding chairs. While we appreciate that nice chairs can be expensive, we recommend shopping around the internet to find some affordable yet supportive chairs. Usually searching for dining chairs is a good option, as plenty of affordable options exist. You could also use smaller accent chairs and/or office desk chairs to provide extra comfort.
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Whatever your budget, we are sure you will be able to find the right chairs to fit your game room.
TABLE DESIGN
Your game table is likely to be the most expensive purchase for your room. So you should spend an appropriate amount of time exploring your options. Whether you decide to go for a brand new, board game-specific table on Kickstarter, a more simple folding poker table, or you buy a homemade gaming table from Facebook Marketplace (I did and I love it), your table is critical to get right.
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Besides your budget, you should also consider how many people will typically attend your game nights. If you rarely have more than 3-4 people, consider a smaller circular or square table. If however, your groups routinely reach 10 or more, you might want to consider a modular table with leaves that can be attached to extend the table when needed.
GAME DISPLAY
Of course the main reason people come to your game nights is to see your smiling face. But a close second is your game collection. So display it with pride! Whether you choose Kallax-style shelves or Besta shelves, you'll need to consider how much flexibility you need in your game storage and the amount and sizes of games you need to store. It is always better to have more storage space than you need because it will allow you to create several "display" shelves which instead of jam-packing, you can do creative displays of your favorite games to create a more homey vibe.
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At any rate, a trip to IKEA is never a bad starting point when considering display and storage of your games.
DÉCOR
Much like board games themselves, the theme of your game room shouldn't be overlooked. Are you going for a parlor feel, a speakeasy, or maybe hip café vibe? The sky is the limit, and the right décor will go a long way to helping shape this theme and immersing your guests in the environment. This is the most fun aspect of game room design if you ask us!!
