Most new homes on the market in Dallas-Fort Worth have four bedrooms, which leaves homeowners with a dilemma: What do you do with the extra space? One of the biggest trends is to transform the bonus room into a game room the whole family can enjoy

What’s Your Game?

The key to creating a game room is to determine what kind of recreation your family enjoys. If watching the Dallas Cowboys or Texas Rangers brings you together, then a huge flatscreen and comfy furniture is a priority. If you have younger children or teens, you might opt for a foosball table. Play bunko or Texas hold ’em with your friends? Add a great table and chairs for games.

Think Fun Furniture

You could just put your old sofa in your new game room — but even on a small budget, you can add some new pieces that will make it look fresh and fun. Scatter beanbag chairs or giant floor pillows across the room instead. If you’re planning to have a game table, you can get crafty and create a colorful mosaic table. Redo some mid-century chairs that you find at garage sales. They don’t even have to match — in fact, different chair styles will add to the fun vibe.

Go Big

For gaming or watching sports, get a flatscreen as big as you can afford. Adding a smart TV and a killer home stereo system will even draw teens out of their bedrooms for family time. Even 70-inch televisions have dropped in price over the last several years to be relatively affordable. If the room is small, make sure to go with a flatscreen size that won’t overwhelm the space.

Add some storage for gaming equipment. One of the most interesting trends is floating media storage. These wall-mounted furniture pieces increase your floor space and have drawers and cubbies for organizing your DVDs, gaming systems, remotes, and other accoutrements.

Don’t Forget About Food

Most people enjoy a beverage or some snacks while hanging out in their game room. Consider adding a small sideboard to give you space for popcorn and other munchies. A small refrigerator is great to have on hand for beer, sodas, and water.

Spills happen in game rooms, so make sure your flooring is protected. You can add an inexpensive rug to protect the carpet. If you have hardwood, tile, or stained concrete, cleaning up messes will be a snap.

Fun with Paint

The game room is the place to use that paint color you’ve always wanted to experiment with but were afraid it would be too over the top. Create an accent wall in TCU purple, UT orange, or SMU red and blue. Be sure to use semi-gloss paint: It’s easier to keep clean than flat varieties. which will repel scuffs or spills.

A game room is the perfect idea for families who enjoy playing together. Even on a small budget, you can transform your spare room into a space where you make fun memories.

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