A family playroom is also commonly referred to as a game room or recreation room. No matter which name is given, it is a room in which family members play. It can be a place where hobbies are pursued, games are played or music is danced to. For a large family, it may be difficult to design a playroom that can be enjoyed by family members of different ages, but with some forethought, the playroom can be a place that is enjoyed by everyone.
Games
Ideas for equipping a family playroom include a pool table, Ping Pong table and a an air hockey game table. The room can also have a table and chairs for board game play. Shelves are a good way for storing the board games in a neat fashion. If the playroom is equipped with a television, electronic games can be played. Comfortable seating, such as a well-padded couch, can make the area in front of the television inviting.
Theme
A family playroom can be designed with a theme in mind. For example, a tropical theme could help with the selection of wall hangings and furniture. A bar with bar stools could be decorated with coasters imprinted with palm trees, for example. A small refrigerator behind the bar can help game players to get cool refreshments during playtime without the need to go to other areas of the house. Area sports teams could provide additional sources of themes.
Floor Space
An area of the floor, with or without carpeting, can be set aside for smaller children to play with toys. Patterns of foot traffic should be taken into consideration when choosing the floor space so that smaller children aren't subjected to older children interrupting them during playtime. This area could also be near storage shelves or bins that having coloring books and crayons or markers. A toy box can be used to keep the area neat.
Other Ideas
Family playrooms should have adequate lighting for the planned activities. A music section of the room can be planned and have stereo equipment and a karaoke machine. A wall can be used for a dartboard, although caution should be used if there are younger children that will have access to the playroom. Also, plywood can be used as backing to the dartboard so that errant shots will not put holes in the wall.
