Make a Game Room for Your Family on a Dime
By Kathy Wilson
More and more families are rediscovering game time. It's a great
way to spend quality time together, and it's a lot of fun! Here
are some great ways to set up a game room in your own home,
without having to take out a home loan!
Find a space in your home where you can have games easily
available and even leave some set up permanently. This can be
anything from a guest room, to a garage space, to an attic, or
even a corner of your family room. Look in little nooks like
under the stairs, or against an empty wall.
A pool table is wonderful fun for both kids and adults alike, but
can be very expensive. The discount stores now carry some less
expensive styles, and you can often find used ones in the
classifieds. Smaller versions are also available if room is a
priority. If you can't afford a pool table or a pinball machine,
or don't have that kind of room, consider setting up a game
table. You can either put up a cheap card table and cover it with
inexpensive tablecloths or sheets, or can bring out an unused
dining table and remove some of the leaves. A large basket in the
center of the table can hold simple and inexpensive games such as
cards, puzzles, Jenga, or Monopoly. Keeping the games easily
accessible encourages family and friends to use them, rather than
automatically turn on the tv!
If your game room is more a game "corner" simply dress the game
table in fabric to coordinate with the rest of the room. Perhaps
a whimsical sign above the table to declare your game area would
be appropriate for the room.
If your do have a spare room to create a separate "Game Room",
how lucky are you! Try choosing a rustic theme for your room,
such as Irish Pub, or Mountain Lodge. Use rich colors on the
walls. Add a small table to set snacks and drinks. Make sure you
have several seats in the room to allow weary game players to
rest. Check out garage sales for mismatched chairs you can pick
up for just dollars. Paint rustic signs for charm, or hang old
sports equipment on the walls. (You know you were just dying to
throw out those old cleats!) Pick up cheap games for the little
ones from the dollar shop to keep them busy while the older ones
are involved in their pursuits, so everyone can be together. Hang
an inexpensive basketball hoop with a sponge ball on the back of
the door; you can pick these up at a dollar shop or discount
store.
A game room does not have to cast a fortune, and can help mold
memories and relationships within your family that will last a
lifetime! So pull out the Life, set out the Go Fish cards, and
pour everyone a tall lemonade. It's game night!
Kathy Wilson is an author, columnist, and editor of
The Budget Decorator. For hundreds of free budget decorating ideas, and to sign
up for her free newsletter and ebooks, visit her at
http://www.TheBudgetDecorator.com