Rec rooms, short for recreation rooms, were mainstays in homes before the advent of fully-dedicated home theatres. Also called game rooms, these in-home fun centers can often be found in many basements or any part of the house away from the core living areas like living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms. They can also be used in different ways from entertainment rooms complete with home theatre and sound systems to a traditional game room design with billiard table, table tennis, and the odd arcade game to a home bar.

The main role of a rec room is for entertaining friends and providing a relaxing way for family to bond after a long, stressful day or week through the various activities available. Therefore, when you begin to think about how to design your own rec room, think first about how to merge your own stylistic sensibilities with exciting ways for your family and friends to get together.

The basic components of a rec room are:

Design Game Room: Seating

Important to creating a comfortable environment for your family and friends to get together is cozy seating. Of course there are many choices for seating, including bar stools, couches, club chairs, game chairs, and more.

You cannot just pick one. In fact, you will most likely mix and match different seating based on the activities you and guests will engage in.

Moreover, the definition of “fun” will vary with each member of your household. As a result, what activities everyone wants to include in your home rec room will differ. While space will limit your list, make an effort to accommodate everyone OR look at seating that will be multi-functional.

For example, bean bags are often viewed as just for kids.

However, ample-sized bean bags like the Jaxx Lounger 7.5’ Large Bean Bag Chair in Cinnabar Micro-Suede make great seating whether you want to lounge alone, cuddle with a special someone, or even take a well-deserved nap in the middle of the day. With a choice of colors from cinnamon to apple, you can also add a fun splash of color to an otherwise drab game room.

For relaxing, reclining chairs are also ideal options to look into for your rec room whether you plan to watch a game on TV or read a book. What’s more, recliners come in sizes that can accommodate family and guests. Take for example the Catnapper Cuddler Dual Reclining Sofa which can seat three with snug pillow-style armrests and backrests.

You can even add a clever seating accessory like the Coaster Furniture Promenade Theater Black Storage Ottoman. In addition to serving as a convenient “coffee table” where you can place trays of drinks and food, this unit also provides sufficient storage for your remote controls, board games, and more.

Of course, if video games are an essential part of your rec room, appropriate seating may also be required. While bean bags will work, game-specific chairs like the Corbeau LG1 Black and Grey Cloth Game Chair and

the wireless X Rocker Wireless Game Chair with Swivel Base will be a welcome choice for game aficionados.

Finally, if you also have an area set aside for a home bar, you need to provide matching bar seating like bar stools. The very metropolitan and modern Hillsdale Hudson 25.75 Inch Swivel Counter Stool or

the more traditional Regal Belford 30” High Round Backless Swivel Bar Stool are great choices that can be easily expanded.

Design Game Room – Food & Beverages (or Home Bar)

Your family and guests will appreciate the refreshment a home bar in your rec room can provide. In fact, it need not be all alcoholic beverages. Soda fountains, a classic sofa cooler, and a smaller sized refrigerator stocked with cool drinks are also welcome additions. However, the foundation of a good home bar is a bar.

If you are lacking for space, a folding home bar like the Home Styles Furniture Steamer Black Home Bar can be easily pushed aside and stored when not needed yet expand into a full-fledged bar to store your bottles, glasses, and more when entertaining.

If a bar is just for the occasional parties, you can also opt for a mini bar like the Howard Miller Contemporary Wine Bar that doesn’t take up too much space yet keeps your beverages organized and accessible.

Design Game Roon – Entertainment & Games

Finally, your rec room will need fun activities that can include board games, video games, and more traditional pastimes like table tennis, pool, and foosball that the whole family can enjoy. These activities are also a great way to bond.

A model like the Tornado Tournament 2000 Foosball Table will fit into any traditionally designed rec room while

the Garlando G-1000 Foosball Table looks like a contemporary piece of art in itself.

On the other hand, billiards is another popular rec room activity.

The 3 in 1 Game Table in Antique Walnut can be used as a Foosball, Billiard/Pool table, and Rod Hockey Table. This is certainly the perfect choice especially if you are lacking for space. Multi-functional furniture is certainly the smart way to go!

Last but certainly not least, Table Tennis is another sport that the whole family can bond over especially when you play in teams.

Do not worry about the space since most models like the Stiga Spyder Ping Pong Table store easily.

Of course, you can go multi-functional again (in this case, table tennis and billiards/pool) with the Stiga  Duo Conversion Top Table Tennis Table

With the amazing choices for seating, entertainment, and food/beverage, putting the “recreation” in rec room is easy to do. While home theatres are what is currently in, an old-fashioned rec room or game room with modern sensibilities accommodating video games and multi-functional furniture makes for another exciting option.

In fact, with a little careful planning, a home theatre can also be a part of your rec room. What’s more, with multi-functional furnishings as covered above, even spaces you might think too small can work. Now you are all set to design your game room!

Nicolette Interior Design Diva