A game room or entertainment space is one of the few rooms in the house where the furniture has to do heavy functional work rather than just look good. Game tables take abuse. Bar stools get pushed back and knocked sideways. Seating gets used for long stretches. The decisions you make about furniture for this space determine whether the room actually gets used or quietly becomes a storage area.
Game Tables: Choosing the Right Type
The most important decision is what kind of game table you actually need, because they are purpose-built and not interchangeable:
- Billiard / pool table: requires a dedicated room with at least 5 feet of cue clearance on all sides of the playing surface; a standard 8-foot table needs a room at least 14 x 18 feet; check your ceiling height too -- low ceilings interfere with bridge shots
- Foosball table: smaller footprint than a pool table; roughly 5 x 3 feet for the table itself with 3 feet of standing room on each end
- Air hockey table: similar footprint to foosball; the compressor motor generates noise -- plan for that if the room is adjacent to bedrooms
- Poker / card table: the most space-flexible option; a round 48-inch poker table seats 6 to 8 and needs about 5 feet of chair-pull clearance all around
- Multi-game tables: combination tables that convert between 2 to 10 games; a reasonable compromise if the room is small and you want variety without dedicating floor space to a single purpose
Game Room Seating
Seating in a game room serves a different function than seating in a living room. People move more, lean differently, and sometimes stay for hours. A few considerations:
Bar stools and counter stools are the standard for game tables because they put you at the right height for standing-height tables and bar-height seating. Look for stools with footrests -- long sessions without a footrest are uncomfortable. Swivel stools make it easier to turn and talk without repositioning the whole stool.
Sectionals and sofas for spectators work well in larger game rooms where people want to watch as well as play. A U-shaped or L-shaped sectional facing the action is more comfortable for a group than chairs arranged in a line.
Durability matters more here than in other rooms. Game room furniture sees more physical stress than living room furniture. Performance fabrics, powder-coated metal frames, and solid wood construction hold up better under the level of use a game room generates.
Bar Areas and Bar Furniture
A wet or dry bar is a natural complement to a game room. If you are building a bar area:
- Bar height is 40 to 42 inches; counter height is 34 to 36 inches -- specify which before buying bar stools
- Allow 24 to 26 inches of bar stool width per person so people are not elbowing each other
- Wine racks, bar carts, and bar cabinets can add storage without requiring built-in construction
Flooring Considerations for Furniture Selection
Game room furniture sits on whatever flooring is in the space, and that affects what you buy. On hard floors, felt pads on all furniture legs prevent scratching. On carpet, furniture with legs sinks in slightly -- heavier pieces like billiard tables may need levelers. If you are putting a bar cart in the space, make sure the wheels are rated for your floor type (hard floor wheels on carpet roll poorly; carpet wheels on hard floors scratch).
Lighting and Layout
Pool tables require overhead lighting positioned directly above the table -- a hanging billiard light at 32 to 36 inches above the playing surface is the standard. For card and game tables, general overhead lighting is usually sufficient but a dimmer lets you adjust for atmosphere.
Leave yourself more clearance than you think you need. A game room that feels spacious when empty can feel crowded quickly once a table, seating, and a bar area are all in it. Sketch the layout before you buy.
We carry game room furniture at our Mesquite showroom at 227 US HWY 80 E -- bar stools, game tables, and entertainment seating. If you are planning a game room and want to see bar stool heights side by side or talk through layout options for your space, come by. It is easier to plan in the showroom than to figure it out after delivery.
Quality Home Furniture has served the Dallas-Fort Worth area from our Mesquite showroom since 1975. We're a family-owned business at 227 US HWY 80 E, Mesquite TX -- open Monday through Saturday 10am to 7pm and Sunday 1pm to 6pm. Call (972) 288-9322.
If your entertainment space includes a media wall rather than just a game table, read our guide to media consoles for sizing, storage, and how to make the piece work in a larger entertainment room layout.