The New Boardroom: Designated home space for puzzles, games and more!

Elevate your game night experience with upscale furnishings and games that are both fun and pretty.

 

A folding card table, mismatched chairs and a Monopoly board with a torn cover are no longer satisfactory for the trending game room. While a designated place in the home to congregate with friends and family over cards or Clue is nothing new, the attention to style in such space is growing in popularity with furnishings such as coffee tables with built in chess boards, thoughtfully curated games on bookshelves and puzzles that double as decorative items. 

Get ready to up the game for your game room.

This month, a New York Times article featured homeowners who are not only carving out space for fun and games, but with an emphasis on sophistication and comfort. These rooms provide a sanctuary from the fast-paced digital world.  As Roxy Owens, owner of home decor company Society Social, explains, "When things feel uncertain, there's a tendency to revisit the things that brought us happiness. For so many people, that's games."

In:  Games and books in attractive display

Out:  Torn covers and cluttered collection of board games.

Society Social recently launched a limited-edition furniture collection for the modern game room which includes gaming chairs, retro rockers and a checkmate game table. The latter is made of solid Mahogony in an updated Queen Anne style featuring cabriole legs and a removable top which reveals storage space for favorite games. At the price of $3, 695, it's already sold out. 

Vintage game space: Family room with card tables.

Mahjong, which is also on the rise, pairs perfectly with a well-appointed game room. Meghan Jett Trottier, founder of "Oh My Mahjong" which sells pretty mahjong tile collections starting at $400, worked with an interior designer on her home game space. She notes the game can be an outlet for creative visual expression, knowing women who use their collection of mahjong sets to display "tilescapes" - the mahjong version of tablescapes.

Trending: Classic games in attractive packaging.

Millennials I know well, my children and my niece, are great game enthusiasts and regularly host game nights at their respective homes. In fact, my niece registered for WS Game Company's attractive book-style collection of classic games for her upcoming wedding, including a family favorite, Risk. These look great on the bookshelf, of course, but can also add a touch of refinement to a neglected end table, curio cabinet or, for all you Risk fans, any European country you plan to overtake.

Another game night enthusiast is Meghan Markle, who hosted a Mahjong party with close friend (the "Maj Squad") on her Netflix series, "With Love Meghan". Having the show filmed in a rental house, however, makes it hard to discern if the Duchess of Sussex has her own well-appointed game room at her nearby Montecito mansion.

Gaming on a budget: Pinochle tablescape in kitchen.

I am behind this game room trend, but with a slightly more limited budget. I am in favor of a well-set pinochle table (see BTS blog from Apri, 2020: April Tablescape is in the cards) and a refresh on well-worn game boxes. 

Tea shops and world domination, keep Australia. . 

. . . but let me savor Earl Grey

And, less you think this trend has nothing to do with tea, I offer up a game in my own collection "Prosperitea". It, too, is not only a fun game to play, but adds a bit of elegance to my living room hutch. And, while the goal of the game is to be the "most prestigious tea shop", it has all the components of a Risk-infused competition (take Australia, but leave me the Earl Grey).

Wherever you gather for friends or family gaming, we know, the best addition is a fun time - that and having a successful Australia strategy with a cup of your favorite tea.

Let the games, and steeping, begin!