48 Best Game Room Ideas for Home Entertainment in Style (2024)

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Sarah Lyon

Sarah Lyon is a freelance writer and home decor enthusiast, who enjoys sharing good finds on home items. Since 2018, she has contributed to a variety of lifestyle publications, including Apartment Therapy and Architectural Digest.

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Updated on 11/28/23

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48 Best Game Room Ideas for Home Entertainment in Style (2)

Looking for game room ideas to create a cozy and inviting space for friends to come over and enjoy all that your at-home game space has to offer? You can create a game room out of a dedicated extra room or carve it out of an unused nook. No matter how small or large, there's an element of fun and whimsy when you designate a specific space for sitting down with friends and family to play a game. All of a sudden that game of Scrabble is no longer something you pull out on a rainy day—instead, it's an event with a room designed just for unleashing your competitive side.

Plus, having a specific game room makes it easy to entertain or provides a space where kids can entertain, removed from the grown-ups. You can host game nights, parties, and play dates over a pool table, arcade games, board games, and even video games. These spaces can even provide a spot to hide gaming consoles and equipment that isn't your main living room.

You can take your rec room to the next level or create a cozy, dedicated spot to play family board games with inspiration from these 48 stylish and sophisticated game room ideas.

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Occupy the Attic

Raleigh-based designer Liz Goldberg of CAROLYNLEONA was tasked with transforming an attic into a special retreat. One component of the finished space is a stunning game room and theater—complete with a classic popcorn machine—which makes spending time at home feel a little more luxe.
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Multiply Your Options

Blogger Zoe Hunt had always wanted a home with a game room and made over her space to feature everything from a pool table to a dart board, board game station, and even a home bar. With so many entertainment possibilities right at their fingertips, there's no need for Hunt and her husband to leave the house for a night of fun.
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Make It Modern

In this game room by Liz Caan & Co., a ping-pong table is the star of the show and a decor piece all on its own. A nearby tulip table perfectly complements the space's existing white, modern vibes, while colorful upholstered chairs and a brightly painted ceiling add a major element of surprise.
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Make It Open Plan

This spacious and bright game room from Kendall Wilkinson Design is anchored by a pool table with a large overhanging pendant light and window seating, flanked by living and dining spaces on either side.
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Pair Blue and Green

In this game room from Amy Sklar Design, bold colors make a major statement and add a playful, welcoming touch to this hangout space. Plenty of seating options means that the whole crew can easily gather for game night in.
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Go Moody

Deep blues add sophistication to a young couple's game and media room from Christina Kim Interior Design. The basem*nt is home to six televisions and features a video game station, bar, and play space for little ones.
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Make It Indoor-Outdoor

Because this game room is an indoor-outdoor space, Kendall Wilkinson Design opted to forgo rugs in lieu of stone floors. A large round table serves as both a space to enjoy meals and play board games, while the expansive sofa is fit for a party—it can seat 12 to 15 people.
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Camouflage the Flat Screen

While many modern game rooms include flat screen TVs for watching movies or playing video games, you may want to avoid making the TV a focal point when not in use. Sara Hillery Interior Design camouflaged a client's TV with decorative floral accordion doors that open and close easily, providing a perfect custom screen cover that also looks beautiful on its own. Form plus function plus style equals the best of both worlds.
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Choose a Round Table

A round table allows all players to see one another clearly and increases the flow of an open-plan or smaller space. In this mutifunctional renovated basem*nt from Louis Duncan-He Designs, a round table and chairs set up next to the bar is an ideal place to settle in for a game of poker or Monopoly.
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Game Your Decor

Game rooms are all about having fun, and an oversized tic-tac-toe board adds a dose of playfulness to an empty wall in this space from Living with Lolo. Games that can double as clever wall decor are always a smart solution if your rec space needs a little extra oomph.
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Add Farmhouse Vibes

Ottomans add extra seating that creates a cozy, casual feel to any space. This warm room from Liz Caan & Co. blends farmhouse and traditional elements to create a comfortable spot for the entire family to gather 'round the game table and play together.
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Add Statement Lighting

Hanging a stylish chandelier above a ping-pong table is an excellent way to elevate a rec space in no time. This pool house rec room from Maestri Studio also stands out with the addition of eye-catching blue-and-white wallpaper boasting a contemporary pattern.
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Keep It Classic

A framed school sweatshirt and cozy plaid throws add a nostalgic, collegiate feel to this game space from M Lavender Interiors. The traditional decor takes us back to simpler times and creates a cozy, lived-in feel.
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Go Rustic

Paying homage to its Lake Tahoe location, this game room from Jeff Andrews Design embraces all things outdoorsy. The room has large windows with a view of the surrounding landscape, while decorative brass antlers hung on wood paneled walls create a sophisticated rustic feel.
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Add Neon Accents

This white-walled kids play space from Liz Caan & Co. is accented with neon hues, while acrylic hanging bubble chairs add a retro futuristic touch.
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Go Big

Oversized dice, a witty sign, and numbered storage bins add an arcade-like feel to this at-home game space from @visionswithvic. Displaying game accessories in clear canisters serves the dual purpose of keeping pieces organized and adding more game room decor to the space.
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Add an Oversized Ottoman

An oversized ottoman-style coffee table is the perfect laid back furniture piece to incorporate into a game room. This game room from Gemma Parker Design demonstrates that such spaces can look sophisticated without looking too fussy; comfy furniture is the way to go.
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Incorporate Barn Doors

Sliding barn doors are a creative way to hide a large flatscreen TV. As a bonus, they add plenty of visual interest to a space and are a great way to fake original architectural charm. In this industrial chic space from Sara Hillery Interior Design, barn doors camouflage a TV mounted on a brick wall.
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Add Some Wow Factor

Just because a space is designed for adults doesn't mean you can't pop a playful phrase on the wall. Jeff Andrews Design did just that, using brass letters that stand out in this moss green rec space.
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Stay Neutral

This family game room from @visionswithvic has a neutral palette with graphic black-and-white touches, like framed blueprints of a ping-pong and air hockey table on the wall, and hanging black wire baskets to hold paddles and keep other game time essentials easily accessible.
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Create Lodge Vibes

This adult-friendly, neutral-toned game room from Liz Caan & Co. is reminiscent of a luxe lodge, with architectural details including stone, beams, and a wood paneled ceiling.
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Add a Putting Green

Who says apartment living rooms can’t be full of fun? This Manhattan living room from Adnan Anwar Design was customized for blogger Amy Littleson and her boyfriend with a putting mat that celebrates the couple’s love of golf and incorporates a playful touch into the otherwise functional space.
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Add Cottage Style

This custom cottage game room from Kate Marker Interiors was designed to encourage in-person play in lieu of endless screen time, outfitted with fun patterns and textures to create feel-good vibes in a room with wrap-around windows and a view to the outdoors.
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Go Underground

This New Jersey basem*nt rec room from Gray Space Interiors has coffered ceilings with built-in lighting to make the underground space feel bright, wood flooring, and multiple zones that include a pool table area, lounge and media seating area, and at-home bar.
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Build a Game Table

Blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona transformed her family room into a game room by building a custom game table that keeps puzzle pieces and other accessories at the ready and can be hidden away when play time is over. The adjacent built-ins have room for storing board games.
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Keep It Light

This open and airy Florida rec room from interior designer Maite Granda has tons of natural light from the sliding glass doors, a large wet bar, and a pool table that adds a focal point and a pop of bright blue to the pale, neutral tone finishes of the room.
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Tone It Down

Emily Henderson Design chose a dark brown wood stain for the ping-pong table in this polished rec room that fits in with the rest of the home's style, with dark wood flooring, navy blue walls, framed prints on the walls, and white trim throughout.
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Make It Split Level

The ground floor of this split-level game room from Charbonneau Interiors features a pool table and a video game console corner complete with large, wall-mounted screens.
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Customize It

Britt Design Studio created a custom home game room nicknamed the “Aspen Room” that was designed to give the clients the feeling that they had just walked off the slopes for an après-ski game night.
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Look Up

On the mezzanine level, Charbonneau Interiors added additional zones that provide fun for the whole family, and allow groups of friends to pare off and choose their favorite activity.
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Add Coastal Farmhouse Style

White Sands created a downstairs game room with comfy seating, plenty of game options, and a neutral meets coastal palette that fits in seamlessly with the home's coastal farmhouse style.
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Play with Pattern

This Texas lodge game room from Erin Williamson Design is set up for cozy evenings of playing board or card games by the fire, with a round table, comfortably upholstered chairs, and patterned wallpaper and a vintage rug that adds visual interest and color.
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Convert the Garage

A budget-friendly way to create a game room that allows kids to blow off steam is to convert all or part of your garage into a play space. This garage from My 100 Year Old Home includes a ping pong table and a dart board with a DIY wine cork surround that is simple and affordable.
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Paint the Ceiling Black

Michelle Berwick Design painted the ceiling black to add contrast with white walls and give this family game room a modern look. An indoor basketball hoop, pinball and ping pong tables offer round-the-clock entertainment for kids and adults.
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Keep It Chic

This chic and sophisticated downstairs game room from Erin Williamson Design has textural wood finishes, neutral tones, a wet bar, and an eye-catching LED pendant light hanging over the game table set up for a chess match.
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Hang a Neon Sign

A game console anchored with a lavender neon sign turns this basem*nt bar and lounge space from Envi Interior Design into a game room that's fun for the whole family.
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Carve Out a Corner

In a smaller space, don't be afraid to carve out a corner of the living room to devote to a pool table or game table, like this hybrid living room and game room from Gray Space Interiors. Just be mindful to keep the design cohesive so that it looks intentional rather than like an afterthought.
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Hang Colorful Art

This airy lower level open plan game room from Kendall Wilkinson Design includes a pool table and a home bar that makes it perfect for entertaining. Colorful art on the walls makes the space feel integrated with the adjacent living area.
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Set Up a Chess Station

If you don't have space for a dedicated game room, turn a corner of your living room into a station for playing chess like this space from Erin Williamson Design. Choose a statement set that doubles as decor when not in use.
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Scale to Fit

For those who gravitate toward after-dinner board games and co*cktails, adding a table and chairs to your home bar can turn it into a place to unwind or host friends. This modern space from Charbonneau Interiors has a round table anchored by a striking chandelier that could serve as a base for home wine tastings or card games that stretch into the night.
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Skip the Doors

This family room and lounge space in a Minnesota lake house from Design by Martha O’Hara Interiors includes a seating area anchored by a stone fireplace and a rustic pool table on the other side of the wall visible through a cased opening to make it feel integrated into the space.
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Embrace a Theme

The basem*nt of this Beaver Creek, CO, home was transformed into a Western-style après-ski bar and game room by Courtney St. John Studio, with a contemporary shuffleboard table that runs along a stacked stone wall and an antique billiards table from Jackson Hole, WY, that takes center stage.
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Repurpose the Attic

This renovated attic space from My 100 Year Old Home is a multipurpose guest suite that includes a game room with a vintage pool table and a large table for playing board games.
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Add Wall Graphics

This Canadian mountain home game room from Louis Duncan-He Designs has a pool table and foosball table and colorful seating and wall graphics to enliven the decor.
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Put On Your Poker Face

Jessica Nelson Design decorated this game room for serious poker nights with dark, moody finishes, a round table with comfortable ceilings, and an adjacent home bar stocked for liquid courage.
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Set Up a Pool Lounge

Interior designer Maite Granda set up a light and bright pool lounge in this Florida home that is decorated in coastal shades of blue and white and accented with real and photographic images of plants to create a breezy space for family time or entertaining.
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Follow Your Passions

If you or someone in your family is an avid golfer, celebrate that passion by turning a small family room into a place to practice, like this sunken golf putting green in a home from Kate Marker Interiors.
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Convert an Unused Room

An unused dining room or a front sitting room in an older home that doesn't get much use can be turned into a game room with the addition of a ping pong table like this bright space that is decorated with vintage seating, colorful wallpaper, and a pair of trophy heads.

What goes in a game room?

A game room can include anything from a pool, ping pong, pinball, or foosball table to a video gaming console or a poker table and chairs set up for playing card and board games. Game rooms may include storage for board games and gear, and include flat screens for gaming or so that the room can double as a place to watch movies.

What are some budget-friendly ways to make a game room?

You can create a simple game room that encourages play by turning a corner of your living room, family room, or finished basem*nt into a dedicated space for playing party games or board games with a round table and comfortable chairs. Sourcing furniture, gaming equipment such as pool tables, and decor like playful wall art secondhand is a budget-friendly strategy for setting up an affordable game room without losing your shirt (save that for your weekly poker night).

The 14 Best Board Games for Adults of 2024

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

As a home decor enthusiast with a passion for game room design, I have spent years researching and exploring different concepts to create the perfect gaming space. Through my extensive experience, I have gained first-hand expertise and a depth of knowledge in this field. From contributing to lifestyle publications like Apartment Therapy and Architectural Digest since 2018, to keeping up with the latest trends in room design, I have proven my ability to provide valuable insights and advice.

When it comes to game room design, there are several key concepts to consider. First, it's important to understand that a game room can be created in a dedicated extra room or even in an unused nook. The size of the space doesn't matter; what matters is the element of fun and whimsy that comes with having a specific area designated for gaming.

A game room offers a cozy and inviting space for friends and family to come together and enjoy various activities. It can be a place to play board games, video games, pool, or even host game nights and parties. The possibilities are endless. Furthermore, a game room provides a separate space for kids to entertain themselves, allowing them to have their own fun while being removed from the grown-ups.

In terms of design ideas, there are numerous options to choose from. From transforming an attic into a special retreat with a game room and theater, complete with a classic popcorn machine, to creating a multi-functional space with a pool table, dart board, board game station, and home bar, the options are vast.

Other design concepts include incorporating modern elements such as ping-pong tables, colorful upholstered chairs, and brightly painted ceilings for a vibrant and surprising touch. Open plan game rooms that seamlessly blend with living and dining spaces are also popular choices. Additionally, you can opt for different themes like farmhouse vibes, rustic aesthetics, coastal farmhouse style, or even Western-style après-ski bars.

When it comes to budget-friendly game room ideas, you can make use of existing spaces in your home, such as a corner of your living room or finished basem*nt. By adding a round table and comfortable chairs, you can create a dedicated space for playing party games or board games. Sourcing furniture and gaming equipment secondhand is a great way to save money without compromising on style.

In conclusion, creating a game room is an exciting endeavor that allows you to showcase your passion for gaming and entertain guests. By considering the available space, your personal style, and budget, you can design a game room that is not only functional but also reflects your unique taste and personality.

48 Best Game Room Ideas for Home Entertainment in Style (2024)

Occupy the Attic

Multiply Your Options

Make It Modern

Make It Open Plan

Pair Blue and Green

Go Moody

Make It Indoor-Outdoor

Camouflage the Flat Screen

Choose a Round Table

Game Your Decor

Add Farmhouse Vibes

Add Statement Lighting

Keep It Classic

Go Rustic

Add Neon Accents

Go Big

Add an Oversized Ottoman

Incorporate Barn Doors

Add Some Wow Factor

Stay Neutral

Create Lodge Vibes

Add a Putting Green

Add Cottage Style

Go Underground

Build a Game Table

Keep It Light

Tone It Down

Make It Split Level

Customize It

Look Up

Add Coastal Farmhouse Style

Play with Pattern

Convert the Garage

Paint the Ceiling Black

Keep It Chic

Hang a Neon Sign

Carve Out a Corner

Hang Colorful Art

Set Up a Chess Station

Scale to Fit

Skip the Doors

Embrace a Theme

Repurpose the Attic

Add Wall Graphics

Put On Your Poker Face

Set Up a Pool Lounge

Follow Your Passions

Convert an Unused Room

What goes in a game room?

What are some budget-friendly ways to make a game room?

Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts