7 Tips for Turning Your Attic into a Playroom

Whether you’re looking to host a family game night or entertain guests with an exciting game of table tennis, the games room is a great place to relax at home. If you feel like the layout of your home doesn’t have enough room for this room, then you may have overlooked one place: the attic. Giving the top floor a makeover could be the right way to give your home the game you’ve been looking for.

Follow these pro tips to get your loft off the edge and into the playing field.

Create a focal point with a feature wall. Playrooms usually have a lot of action, so it’s best to establish a visual focal point so your eyes don’t jump around. Try to focus on the farthest end wall, as most attics are usually long and narrow. In this particular attic, the designers created a striking architectural element with a backlit video wall. Or hang a large mural or add a sofa with colored lights on each side. This also helps to draw your attention through the entire space and make it feel bigger.

Open the staircase to expand the light. Lack of enough light to play games? Consider borrowing it from downstairs. Remove the walls that normally surround the attic staircase so that the upper floors benefit from the light from the second-floor landing. This improved visual connection makes the loft space feel more welcoming and inviting.

Simplify your color scheme. Try limiting the room palette to no more than three colors for the entire space. It’s best to keep it relatively monochromatic to help feel less cluttered. The games room itself is filled with entertainment, so you want the rest of the space to feel quiet.

Mixed lighting. Natural lighting is best, but it’s not always plentiful enough to effectively illuminate a space as active as a games room. Try to have at least two or three additional light sources, traditional pot lamps, wall lamps, and table lamps work best. Make sure all tables and areas have proper overhead task lighting lighting so that everything from the King of Spades to the cue ball can be seen correctly.

Ditch hardwood floors. Carpet it all over to create an extra comfortable space. It’s great for soundproofing, warming up the space, and making it look much larger than it actually is.

Equip it with ample storage space. As much as you want to have a large number of games on hand, don’t let them pile up in a corner. Instead, add built-in items along the walls, or take advantage of awkward areas under pantries or dormer windows to place shelves. The more places you store items like board games, puzzles, arts and crafts, and more, the better the feel of the space.

Don’t feel like it needs to be fancy. A games room is usually a relaxing space for play and entertainment. As long as you think the loft is up to standard as a living quarter, you can cut down on expenses by simply arranging your favorite gaming table in it. Add some basic seats and let the game begin!