Some people have homes where there simply aren’t enough rooms for everyone in the household to even have their own bedroom.  Other people, however, are lucky enough to not only have enough bedroom space for everyone in the household, but also have an additional room or two that don’t serve any purpose currently.  If you fall into the latter category and have a spare room in your home, and don’t desire to convert it into a study or guest room, you can always transform it into something fun, exciting, and engaging.  And what else covers all of that better than a sports & gaming room in your own home?

Think of this newly designed room as a rec room on steroids.  That is, this recreation room will be over-the-top and yet highly specific in its purpose:  to enjoy sports and games both actively and passively.

Start by considering what you’ll need to make the room whole.  In order to watch major sports games, world poker championships, and other similar televised fare, you’ll need a TV.  This one should be monstrous, in high definition, and be paired with an all-inclusive sound system.  That way, whether you’re watching the local college basketball game or the battle for the Stanley Cup, you’ll feel like you’re right next to the action instead of miles away from it.  Obviously, cable or satellite service is essential, though you may also want to hook up a video game system for those times no games are on.  That way, you can still enjoy hockey, football, and even poker by playing against both local and online competitors.

Also be sure to include some physical gaming component that doesn’t require a television screen, in order to vary things up in the room.  If you’re a big NHL fan, consider putting in a massive air hockey table.  The game is among the easiest of all table sporting games to pick up, so if you’re not as swift with your hand-eye coordination, or plan on having kids in the room often, certainly go with an air hockey table.  Foosball, pool, and many other options are also perfectly fit depending on your taste.

When it comes to decorating and furnishing the room, keep things simple.  Pick a theme and carry it throughout the room.  For Rangers fans, that could mean signed hockey sticks and a red, white, and blue color scheme.  For Lakers fans, purple and gold designs would probably work best.  And make sure every chair and couch in that room is as comfortable as possible, so when you end up spending your every free hour in this room, you’ll never feel compelled to leave.

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