29 Game Room Ideas for the Ultimate Entertainment Space

Create a fun space to relax with family with these game room ideas.

The ultimate game room needs games, of course, but that's not the only thing the space should have. It's a place where fun happens (unless family game nights are cut throat in your house), so the room should reflect the feel-good, carefree nature of the activities that happen there. Once you've refreshed your board game collection, it's time to focus on the actual space. We're sharing our best game room ideas to help you create your dream entertainment space.

If you don't have a dedicated space for family game nights, a family room or den can easily become a game room with a few simple tweaks. We'll show you how to convert an unused space into an entertainment room. We're also sharing our best storage ideas to keep the space from becoming cluttered in between game nights.

Our game room ideas work in both small and large spaces, or even a garage or a small corner of a living room.With plenty of storage for board games and cards, a bright color scheme, and comfy seating, these game room ideas will make the most of your space.

Related: 22 Fun Board Games to Play With Friends

Game Room with a Bar

Be the host with the most by setting up a game room with a built-in bar area. This wet bar makes it easy to serve drinks (and clean up at the end of the night) without interrupting the conversation or missing your turn.

Related: 35 Home Bar Ideas Perfect for Entertaining

Chalkboard Wall Decor

Make it easy to keep score during game night by hanging a small chalkboard right next to the table–which you could DIY with chalkboard paint and wood frame. And elevate game nights even more with a glossy table that includes a chess board (which can also be used for a rousing game of checkers).

Related: 17 Easy Ideas for Chalkboard Paint Projects in the Home

Basement Game Room

Let your competitive spirit out by including a ping pong table in the game room that can be converted into a pool table. This room also includes a small bar area, complete with a mini fridge for keeping canned sodas and drinks cold (not to mention storage for wine bottles for the adults).

Large Game Room

Every classic basement game room includes a pool table as the centerpiece of the room. This space goes a few steps further by including a dart board and flat screen TV for watching sports or movies; decorating with white paint and a faux white brick wall also helps this basement room feel brighter.

Related: 25 Accent Wall Ideas for Every Space in Your Home

Game Room Storage Ideas

If your family likes to play video games together, be sure to include a TV and console in your game room. This TV stand includes shelves for storing classic board games, plus a cabinet that helps hide wires and controllers for video games from sight when not in use.

Related: 32 Basement Storage Ideas for a Tidy Bonus Space

Small Game Room Ideas

If you don’t have the space for a dedicated game room, use a small section of your living room or garage as storage for a game like badminton and to keep a spare folding table for board game nights. You could also use the hanging rackets as decor inspiration for your game room, if you want the space to have a sporty, competitive feel.

Related: 19 Creative Storage Ideas to Solve Your Small-Space Problems

Upscale Game Room

Evoke the feel of an old school, vintage game room with a large pool table and antique-style wood cabinets for storage. This game room also blends in some modern elements, such as a bar with blue frame details and red barstools.

Related: How to Find the Best Vintage Home Decor, According to a Pro

Game Room with Storage

Include built-in cabinets in your game room for plenty of storage for board games and toys. This room also includes lots of fun elements, like a chalkboard on the inside of a cabinet door for keeping score, and square poufs decorated to look like dice.

Colorful Game Room

A game room is a great place to make bold design choices, because it’s all about fun and not taking things too seriously. This room exudes fun thanks to the gray and white striped walls, bright red surfboard, and large couch for relaxing; include a TV for movie nights and a small coffee table for setting up board games.

Related: How to Create a Striped-Wall Paint Design that Looks Classic and Crisp

Game Room Storage deas

If you want to add a game corner to your living room, consider dedicating a place to store board games like this cabinet-style box. It can be moved out of the way when needed, and includes separate compartments for games, electronics, and craft supplies.

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Game Room Storage Baskets

Keep games organized and mostly out of sight when not in use by storing them in baskets on a bookshelf. This storage solution can easily fit into a living room or a dedicated game room.

Related: 5 Easy Ways to Organize Board Games

Game Room Accent Wall

Have fun with your game room decor by adding bold elements like ombre stairs, a striped area rug, and bright blue couch. Covering most of one wall in chalkboard paint adds an easy place to keep score, and for little ones to unleash their creativity.

Kids' Game Room Decor

Combine a game room and playroom for kids into one with bold decor like a wallpaper accent wall. Fun bean bag chairs make a cozy place to relax, while built-in shelves have plenty of storage for games and toys.

Outdoor Game Room Ideas

Turn a patio or deck seating area into an instant game room with an outdoor bar and space to grill. The checkerboard in this space has small shells and starfish as pieces to match the outdoor theme, and you could place an outdoor coffee table with shelves or cabinets to store games when not in use (and keep them away from any weather).

Related: 5 Outdoor Entertaining Trends Defining How We’ll Gather Outside in 2023

Simple Game Room

If you have a family favorite game, like pool, dedicate your game room to something everyone will enjoy. The pool table dominates this smaller game room, but it also includes a few bar stools for everyone to sit while waiting for their turn.

Game Room in Living Room

Combine your living room and game room into one by arranging a large sectional around a TV with built-in cabinets and shelves for game storage. The large coffee table in the center of this room has plenty of space for games, and includes drawers for storing game pieces or a pencil and paper to keep score.

Related: 15 Genius Ways to Organize Electronics, Games, and Media Items

Sophisticated Game Room

Create a game room that could be straight out of the early 20th century with a design featuring wood panels and an elegant wood frame pool table. Large hanging pendant lights emphasize the feel of an old-school pool hall.

Playful Game Room Ideas

Your game room is a great place to add fun pastel colors and cute decor elements, both of which will help put family and friends in a playful mood. This room includes a pink couch and pastel animal figurines on the wall, both of which match the colorful block game ready to go on the table.

Shed-Turned-Game Room

Move over, she-sheds–this outdoor space is for the whole family. Separated from the house, this shed-turned-game room includes a bar space and tables and chairs for gathering, great for rousing games of cards or board games.

Related: 6 Ways to Deck Out Your She Shed for a Pretty Backyard Retreat

Basement Game Room Storage

Tons of built-in cabinets make this unique basement a great space for a game room. A large coffee table with baskets underneath provides one area for gaming, while a dining table just behind the couch allows multiple games to start at once.

Related: The 13 Best Storage Containers

Furniture with Storage

An entertainment room should facilitate fun activities and spark creativity, so don't be afraid to incorporate color. Choose sturdy functional furniture pieces, such as a table with storage for board games, then layer in colorful elements. Opt for brightly colored prints, a rainbow of fabric storage bins, or a map that makes for educational art.

Related: 16 Clever Ways to Use Furniture for Living Room Storage

Game Room Storage Cabinets

Whether you have an entire game room or you're repurposing part of another room, proper game and toy storage is key to keeping your space clutter-free. Install a bookshelf, cabinets, or empty out a closet. On the lowest shelves, keep anything you want your little ones being able to access without your help: This is a great spot for puzzles and books, while paint and glitter should be stored on higher shelves. If you're installing shelving in your game room, consider gliding drawers which can be pulled out of a storage cabinet, making it easier to grab things in the back.

Related: The 13 Best Storage Containers

Game-Inspired Decor

Turn your games into part of the decor. Game pieces are often fun and colorful, so consider using them as art when designing your space. Here, acrylic vases turn baseballs, cue balls and croquet balls into a clever focal point. And, the balls can still be accessed whenever you need them.

Decorative Game Storage

A sturdy chest or trunk is a great piece of functional furniture to have in a game room. It serves as a sturdy coffee table when the lid is closed, but doubles as a place to tuck away games, blankets, and anything else you want out of sight. Having all the games in one place makes clean up a breeze too.

Floating Shelf Decor

The only downside of having a ping pong table is that it can be a scramble to find those tiny balls when it's time to play. A set of floating shelves will take care of that problem with designated slots to hold game paddles, containers of ping pong balls, and of course a built-in bottle opener, so no one has to take a break to grab a beverage.

Related: 15 Stylish Floating Shelf Ideas for Displaying Art and Accessories

Small Game Room Cart

You can pack a lot into a smaller game room with some strategic thinking. Here, a narrow folding table functions as both a storage area for games and a makeshift bar cart. The tables, which have a small lip to keep pieces from rolling away, are a far cry for your average TV dinner table. The bamboo-inspired legs and brass hardware elevate the look so they fit right in in a moody parlor.

Related: The 12 Best Bar Carts of 2023 for Every Style

Kids' Playroom

Skip the coffee table in the kids' playroom or family room and opt for a train or game table instead. There's still plenty of room to set down the remote or a cup of coffee, and the table will be functional instead of just accumulating clutter. Finish the kids' game room by choosing a neutral wallpaper or paint, then add framed artwork for a personal touch.

Related: 18 Cute Playroom Ideas to Create a Tidy Space for Having Fun

Garage Game Room

If you have unused garage space, make a small game room area to use when the weather is nice. An indoor-outdoor rug and a few durable furniture pieces will warm up the space. Here, a pegboard painted a bold blue hue to match the walls offers garage storage so the drawers and cabinets can hold games instead of tools.

Entertaining-Ready Furniture

Whether the "big game" means football or bingo in your household, you won't want to miss a minute of game night by having to get up to go to the fridge. Place a large tub filled with icy drinks on your game table for a festive (and functional) look. Just remember to lay a towel or trivet down to avoid water stains.

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