Games rooms are commonly in basements, making them unavoidably dark and, let's face it, pretty unappealing. But Jennifer Aniston's warm and light-filled space in her LA home has convinced us to give the games room a glow up. With beautiful lighting, natural wood and stylish pieces it feels like a chic, design-forward space, as opposed to a gloomy boxroom.
Games room ideas may or may not involve screens, but we love that Jennifer Aniston's space appears to be a tech-free zone, where she can spend time with loved ones, playing lo-fi games over a drink from her chic bar area.
From stylish wooden table games (like Crate & Barrel's mixed wood tumble tower) – which will bring a games-night feel to your living room, if you don't have a dedicated space like Jennifer Aniston – to decor inspired by the actor's inviting scheme, you can shop the look below, whilst the experts weigh in on how to emulate her style.
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A games room wouldn't be complete without some games, and why not make them stylish? This elegant wooden playing card holder will look as good on display as it will be a pleasure to use.
This tumble tower is as decorative and sculptural as it is fun to play around the table. The mixed wood blocks give it a design edge and lean into the warm tones of Jennifer Aniston's games room.
A games room wouldn't be complete without a classic backgammon set, and this one in sustainable warm mango wood is sure to become a future family heirloom. Bring on the competition.
Place a number of these lights along the length of a bar for a similar look to Jennifer Aniston's or create a cluster in different tonal shades. The amber hammered glass will create a dappled, warm glow.
The beautiful circular shape of this tray helps to combat any sharp lines, bringing softness to a games room scheme, and the subtly matte poplar wood finish is smooth and tactile for a natural appeal.
The ridged pattern on the doors of this cabinet echo that of Jennifer Aniston's bar. If you don't have space or budget for something built-in, a cabinet like this makes the perfect mini home bar.
According to Rebecca Formichella, Founder & Principal Designer at NYC-based Studio Formichella, the decor of a games room shouldn't be thought of any differently to that of the rest of your home: 'A games room should feel like a continuation of the home – layered, intentional, and emotionally warm.'
Rebecca suggests achieving that ambience through decorating with nature-inspired hues and materials. 'We love using warm, earthy tones – clay, tobacco, olive, layered with natural materials like wood, stone, and woven textures to give it depth and softness. It should feel like a beautiful lounge that just happens to have a pool table in it. Warm and refined, designed for connection.'
Jennifer Aniston's games room benefits from plenty of natural light with large windows looking over trees and greenery, creating a wonderful indoor/outdoor feel. She's further enhanced that by bringing in a large planter (Pottery Barn's urn-style planter is similar). Add to that the naturally warm-toned woods and beautifully crafted elements, such as the hammered-glass pendant lights (Amazon's are a close match), with their amber glass shades, and the result is an almost glowing and enveloping space.
After all, surely that is the point of a games room – to be a space where people can gather and feel welcomed, comfortable and in the mood to socialise. Meg Geraci, New Orleans-based Interior Designer, agrees: 'Game rooms can be a central hub in anyone's home, bringing family and friends together to share quality time without screens.'
She advises: 'To create a beautiful, functional game room where people want to gather, consider seating and lighting. Ensure you have comfortable seating with upholstered cushions and that the overhead light is on a dimmer to set the mood.'
And when in comes to games room stereotypes, they often center on dark, leather seating. Lenny Kharitonov, CEO of Furniture Emma Mason warns against that. 'The biggest improvement often comes from avoiding one-note 'all-dark, all-leather' schemes and instead building a layered, comfortable mix that still feels grown-up.'
Lenny suggests mixing one or two leather pieces with boucles, velvets and wools, whilst keeping tables and cabinets in mid-toned woods or stone instead of harsh metals. 'Finishes should be warm and tactile, so swapping chrome for brushed brass or bronze, balancing leather with boucle or velvet, and using mid-tone woods makes the space feel designed rather than themed,' he adds.
Jennifer Aniston's games room feels rich and warm without feeling dark, thanks to plenty of mid-toned wood and natural materials. If you like this look, you may want to consider wood-drenching for a games room, as a way to create a cozy and cocooning space.
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