with posters, pictures and ornaments. For
instance, Long Island–based interior designer
Marlaina Teich used team posters and signed
memorabilia such as jerseys and basketballs
to decorate a game room for a client with
sports-mad kids. “Often the theme picks
itself, based on the kinds of games people play
most,” she says. “And then you’d be surprised
how many things they already have around
the house that are perfect for that.”
Sometimes the games themselves can be
the decorations. Try using museum putty to
hang game boards on the wall, with a planter
box below them on the wall to hold the
game pieces.
Where to sit
Furniture not only serves to hold games
and gamers, but also delineates the game
room’s various spaces. Costco member Joe
Schmieder, creator/owner of Game-Room-
Decorating-Ideas.com, suggests that a corner
of the room have some kind of bar or counter
with swiveling stools. Whether it’s kids with
soda or parents sipping a beer, it suggests that
the room is open to the whole family and
their friends. “Portable fold-up bars are great
for this, and they also give you some storage
space behind the bar, too,” he says.
When it comes to seating, Schmieder
says, the central piece of furniture should be a
sofa or sectional. “A couch gives people a
chance to sit next to each other and get to
know one another, especially when you have
a wide range of visitors who have never met
before,” he explains. With a video game screen
and console set up opposite the couch and
spectators at the bar overlooking the action
from behind or to the side of the couch, this
tiered-type seating lets more people in on the
action in a smaller space.
Consoles and armoires can accommodate
video display systems as well as plenty of
game cartridges and DVDs. One way to maximize floor space is to mount video displays
on articulating wall brackets, available from
companies such as Chief and Omni. These
not only free up floor space but also allow the
screens to be tilted, to adjust for seating type,
and panned left and right, adding flexibility to
the room’s layout. Cables on the wall from the
console to the LCD screen can be covered
with plastic wire molding, which can be
painted to match the décor.
Power to the people
Managing the technology of the game
room is important. The power supply for
many game devices is often a cumbersome
“wall wart,” an oversize electrical plug, and
game rooms can accumulate lots of them.
David Jasak, owner of audio-video systems
installation company AV Design Associates
in Austin, Texas, suggests using home-theater-type power strips, which have widely
spaced outlets to accommodate wall warts
TO ADD TO THE game experience,
consider video-game chairs, which
are becoming as sophisticated as
the games themselves. For example,
the X-Rocker offers built-in
surround sound, wireless connection to the game console and other
features, for around $100.
Most video-game chairs on the
market are compatible with the
major game formats: Xbox,
PlayStation and Wii. Chair sizes
vary, and most offer a maximum-weight rating, so you can find a
good fit for everyone. Look for head-
phone jacks so late-night
gamers don’t wake
up the whole
house during
Halo 3.—DD c
gamers don’t wake
Game room furniture
can really rock
Gaming fun for the
whole family!
Also on
Nintendo DS
Also on Wii
Also on Sony PS3 and
Xbox 360
Also on Sony PS3 and Xbox 360
Also on Sony PS3 and Xbox 360
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
WAREHOUSE/ COSTCO.COM Selection may vary by location.
