“Call it a comeback: while almost all aspects of our lives rely on technology, the board game is experiencing a renaissance,’’ according to researcher Zachary Hortan at the University of Pittsburgh. This was evident even before the pandemic when board game playing coffee shops started to sprout out throughout cities in North America.
“The interest in board games is a retaliation against the ubiquity of digital media. People are looking for more engaged and social activities as they become more isolated by technology,” said Horton in a university publication more than a year ago. “People crave that social connection—which makes this genre completely different than video games.”
That was before the home-boundness caused by Covid.
If your family or friends are playing more board games or doing more puzzles maybe you are thinking of transforming a space or your basement into a game room, here are a few tips.
Energize or Set the Mood with Colour: Think outside the traditional basement game room by transforming the space with a vibrant colour. Bright colours can make a room seem sunny when there are few windows. But on the other hand, if you want to create a dramatic or cozy space, think about taking a risk and painting the room dark. By taking this approach you will end up with a feeling of transcending space and entering a real theatre or a speakeasy pub without actually leaving your home. If you decide to take this route, ensure you allow for ample task and ambient lighting for when you want to switch gears and play a board or card game.
Think multiple functions. Sports are often a family affair watching the great variety of televised or streamed games. If it is a large room, think about creating zones. For instance you could have a table tennis or foosball area, a board-game area, a bar area and then of course the main living area. Since beverages and snacks are usually a feature of such gatherings, remember to use performance fabrics to deal with those spills.
In this spacious basement pictured above we did just that with a foosball playing area tucked into a large nook in behind the sofa and a large TV-viewing area complete with an extra large coffee table for perfect for board games and pizza night. Performance fabrics on all furniture were a must for stress free living. Any large empty walls called for oversized artwork in related themes. A fully set up bar in the other end of the room created the perfect space for the adults to share a drink.
A theater option: For some, a segregated home theater is the preferred gathering place for watching feature films. These rooms can be a blank canvas for your imagination to run wild. Think about adding vintage movie artwork or portraits of actors in gilt gold frames and free standing vintage popcorn stands as in the images below. Keeping the room dark with sound absorbing velvety fabrics sets the tone and comfort level while elevating sound performance.
Please contact us at NUVO DESIGN STUDIO for your interior design needs. You can either call us at 416-512-1482 today or feel free to book yourself a complimentary introductory phone call.
