If you have a flex room in your new home and a growing family, you can brighten up and maximize the potential of that space by making it a game room. The next question is, where to begin? Don’t worry – If you want to transform your flex space into an awesome game room, we have a few design tips that will make you wonder why you didn’t think of having one set up sooner.
Tip #1: Recreate a Retro Arcade
If your love of video games came about not through digital home consoles but after spending hours at the local arcade dropping quarters in your favorite machines you can replicate that nostalgic feeling in your game room. Bring the retro vibes into your flex space with decorative wall art inspired by some of your favorite games. Depending on your budget, you can snag a customized arcade cabinet with your favorite games from a company like Rec Room Masters or an old-school pinball machine to really bring out the flashback vibes.
One underrated thing you can add to this ultimate, retro game room: Multi-game tables. Some come with a combination of a pool table with a table tennis top, or even like this air hockey table that has its own benches. These big table games can be wonderful centerpieces.
Tip #2: Let There Be More Light
One thing that will brighten up your game room is how you utilize the light within it. Good lighting in your game room will help lessen screen-induced eyestrain of younger children and teens who might spend a bit of time in there. If your game room has a couple of windows, place your gaming equipment and TV screens where the light won’t bounce off the screen and create glare.
Great lighting also helps heighten the feeling of fun in a game room. Amazon and other online merchants have a bevy of cool neon lighting you can use to add some more character to the space. Even if you don’t have a pool table, pool table lighting gives you a chance to bring in unique lighting options, but make sure that your ceiling is sturdy enough to handle the weight of the lights. There’s a handy guide on how to install your own here.
Tip #3: Celebrate Your Favorite Sports Team
Your game room can also be a way you and your family can rally behind your favorite team. Sports-themed game rooms offer a lot of decorating fun. Start by simply hanging up jerseys, hats, and other merchandise around the room. If you have younger children, it might be a good idea to not use glass cases to display any of those items until they’re older. You can also make one wall of posters of your favorite athletes and other things that your kids love about the team in addition to themed signs and wastebaskets for more decoration. Use the team colors strategically and subtly in the overall theme of your game room.
Tip #4: Organize and Optimize
Like any other room in your home, your game room needs to have distinct organization to keep it fun and functional. Shelving helps organize everything in the room from controllers to board games and DVDs. Make one area of the room a dedicated space for storage with built-in wall units. You can also use entertainment center shelving if you happen to have a gaming setup with multiple consoles and electronic equipment. Stores like IKEA have some nice options in that regard, including this TV unit that works well with any interior design scheme. If there’s a closet, set up some attractive built-in shelves to keep everything there for ready use and easy cleanup.
Christopher Smith is a freelance writer when he’s not sampling the best cuisine in his hometown of New York City. Prior to that, he worked in film and television post-production, and counts the honor of working with Eartha Kitt among his milestones.
6 Easy Steps of Pool Maintenance