Beautiful Home Game Room Furniture Ideas for a Classic Look

When we think of game rooms we often think of a cluttered rec room filled with video game collections and cord management nightmares, but the game room has a long history in interior design. The right pieces of game room furniture can serve the modern family with an elegant vintage touch. It doesn’t have to be a place where you hide away all of your ugly consoles and piles of video games, but a place to gather and make memories with your family, surrounded by beautiful comfortable furnishings and a classic, warm atmosphere. 

The Historic Game Room 

The family game room has a much longer history than the twenty-first century man cave. The Victorian parlor was a space for families and guests to come together and pass time with cards, chess, and other games. Comfortable seating, a beautiful table and often a piano would have made these rooms just as entertaining as our dens today. The focal point may have been the glow of a fireplace or wood stove rather than a TV or gaming PC monitor, but the function and intention of the space remains the same, and we can draw inspiration from how these rooms were laid out and decorated. 

The Game Table

A solid wood game table is an essential centerpiece for your space if your family game night involves boardgames. A dining table with a leaf makes an adjustable space for more involved boardgames if your family game night includes those multi hour sessions. If card games are more your thing, a round dining table would work beautifully as a poker table. A smaller card table placed elsewhere in the room is an elegant touch. I’m currently using mine as a plant stand, but these sweet little tables can easily be stashed away in a corner and pulled out when needed. 

If you don’t have the space or budget for a pool table, try thinking a little smaller. You may not immediately think of a foosball table as an eye catching piece of classic furniture, but there are some beautiful options available online. Take a look around for shuffleboard tables and even air hockey tables with vintage design features that would suit a classic or antique styled game room. You can find genuine vintage air hockey tables on eBay, still in working condition!

Boardgame Storage

While game tables take center stage, don’t overlook the significance of storage. For board game aficionados, a dedicated storage solution is a must. I remember back in my university days, my roommates and I ended up with a sizable board game collection and a desperate need to find somewhere for them in our tiny apartment. Without a dedicated game space, we had to make do with our dining area-living room combo for all of our entertaining.

We ended up finding a beautiful wicker chest at a thrift store that just needed a little bit of cleaning and some new hinges, and it became our new “game chest”, thankfully replacing the pile of boardgame boxes on our living room floor. Though I don’t have as much time for boardgames or Dungeons and Dragons anymore, if I were to design a dream boardgame space today, I’d combine it with my book storage to create a beautiful vintage study. 

You could combine your game room and library by including both board game and video game storage on some beautiful built-in shelves or freestanding wooden bookshelf units. Curl up with a good book while your family plays table games. You can even buy gorgeous boardgame storage boxes that look like leather bound books and are labeled with some common boardgame titles.

If you have a lot of loose game pieces or a D&D dice collection, a multi-drawer apothecary chest is a unique and kind of thematic option for storage and organization. Alternatively, invest in decorative storage ottomans that double as seating, providing a space-saving way to stow away board games when not in use

Video Game Room Furniture & Console Storage

Sound system cabinets – other than serious audiophiles, most people don’t have a dedicated, full size stereo cabinet anymore. Larger, bulky sound system setups peaked in the 80’s and 90’s, leaving a lot of the furniture designed for audio equipment to end up in second hand shops or repurposed. One huge benefit of these cabinets is that they’re built specifically for cable and power cord management, making them a perfect addition to your game room as a display case or storage for multiple consoles. If the more modern style of a stereo cabinet isn’t your thing, look into vintage and antique record consoles as a beautiful and classic alternative. 

If you’re seeking an immersive vintage gaming experience, it might be worth investing in classic arcade cabinets and pinball machines. These nostalgic centerpieces add a lot of ambient light and offer hours of entertainment. Consider refurbishing vintage arcade machines or investing in replicas that capture the retro charm while incorporating modern technology. Pair them with authentic vintage signage and memorabilia to complete the retro-inspired look of your game room. 

PC Gaming Desks

If you don’t have a home office, including your PC gaming desk in your family game room or rec room is a great way to connect with family while playing solo. A large desk is great way to divide a room into sections, add some aesthetic touches like a high quality mechanical keyboard, desk plants and a bankers lamp for a very cool vintage vibe with warm light. Antique desks are perfectly functional and can add a lot of depth and warmth while balancing out more modern looking tech. If you’re really devoted to the classic look, try modding out your workstation with older materials and an antique-looking custom PC case. 

Focus on Making Memories

Above all, remember that your game room should reflect your unique style, taste and hobbies. Don’t be afraid to incorporate personal touches and meaningful memorabilia into the decor, whether it’s framed artwork from your favorite games or family heirlooms. The most important element is probably a comfy sofa, complete with plush throw blankets, inviting friends and family to relax and unwind during game nights. Game rooms don’t necessarily have to look like a frat house, or particularly juvenile and decked out with LED lighting (unless you’re into that!). You can create a thoughtfully designed and furnished space that perfectly balances nostalgia and maturity.