Whether you’re having five guests over to watch a sporting event or fifty to celebrate a milestone event, the perfect entertainment room helps you unwind with a small crowd or impress a large one. This room should focus on the things that you like to do for fun, as well as the ways that you entertain at home. An entertainment room deserves more than a sofa and huge TV. Done right, this area allows you to hold court in your home and comfortably seat a crowd.
Before you head to stores to shop for your entertainment area, spend time thinking about what you like to do. Do you want a large game table and liquor cabinet for weekly bridge or poker tournaments? How about a plasma TV and next-generation gaming system? Or oversized sofas that will seat everyone at your book club and allow the family to watch a movie? Make up your wish list for the room, based on these characteristics. Elements to consider include:
- Billiards, darts or foosball table – Perfect for adults and kids to play with friends
- Game chest with family-friendly games, card games – Interactive card games, board games, video games, and more allow the whole gang to have fun, plus they store easily
- Projector that allows you to display movies on the wall – For that home theater touch
- Sound system for entertaining at parties or creating theater-style movie nights
- Home gym equipment that stores neatly in a closet when company comes over – Watch the game while you get a workout
- Wet bar area with bar stool seating – Cocktail hour in the game room is a must
Once you know what you like, spend time thinking about your entertainment room budget. It’s easy to go overboard here and end up spending more on the project than you can really afford. Your budget allows you to purchase the essentials, whatever that means to you. You can always upgrade elements over time, or add items from the wish list, but committing to a budget now means you can get started with your dream home lounge or theater instead of waiting until you have enough saved.
Head to furniture stores to pick up the basics: sectionals, sofas, coffee tables, chairs, media storage and entertainment centers. Let your vision dictate the type of furniture you choose. If you’ve got little ones, something easy to clean trumps everything else. If you’re making a man cave, leather sofas and old wood furniture set the tone. If you’re looking to create a home theater, vintage-style movie seats are a must.
After furniture, spend the remainder of your budget on entertainment items and decor. A big screen TV is a must, as is a sound system of some kind. You may also want soundproofing, so the rest of the house can escape from the party. Make sure you have plenty of storage, such as foot lockers, bookcases, media cabinets and more. A game room cluttered with games looks like a giant mess, and it is no fun to clean up before a party. Save some money for decor; no entertainment room would be complete without wall art that matches the mood of the room. Think oversized black and white movie posters, pictures of your favorite sports team or framed concert posters.
Creating the perfect entertainment room from scratch may seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t need to be that way! This space is all about relaxing and connecting to friends and family in a plush, personalized environment that meets all of your entertainment needs.
About The Author
Holly is an Indianapolis native who loves writing and social media. In her spare time, she enjoys blogging on behalf of Sears and other brands she loves.
