The Game Room
(aka Music Room)
Now comes the loud, proud successor to the great room and family room:
The game room as a gathering place.
You don't have to build a new house to have a game room
The game room is emerging as the leading space concept of the 21st century, according to the Institute of Architects. It is the new hot home space, hotter than the home theater and the exercise room. The game room can be located on the main floor for everyone's convenience or in the basement where space is normally large enough to accommodate a stage and plenty of seating for theater buffs or bands for the musicians in the family. It is a place to go for your kind of entertainment (maybe just listening to music with your earphones).
If that's too much noise, too close for comfort, how about putting the game room above the garage? It can be richly appointed or a place for the used plush furniture that can be refreshed inexpensively with slipcovers. Add posters to help create atmosphere. But it stands to reason that a game room has to have games, which means anything from pinball machines and air-hockey to video games and karaoke, plus a big television and music. Depending on the size of the room, it could also include a soda fountain, card table and chairs for the time-tested board games, and a TV dance pad for the new videos that are popular for doing fun exercise with friends or family members - all providing more bonding opportunities.
Game rooms have broad appeal
Game makers used to sell mainly to bars. Now they sell more to individuals. They say parents want a place (and a very cool space) for kids to gather and interact with their friends in a safe environment whether playing games or playing music.
It's not just kids who love the game room. Sports enthusiasts can skip the bar scene and come to their own ESPN zone, which may be equipped with pool table and a sports bar of their own. The game room is great for watching games, entertaining, and promoting quality family bonding time in a buzzing kids world.
