As a child, while building with Legos or playing in the sandbox, we all dreamed about our favorite room. It was only a dream at the time, but now with the amazing Computer-Aided Design (CAD) tools we have today, we can create a life-like image of our ideal room. Creative ideas can be expressed in a CAD format to easily share architectural and design concepts with the world. Key elements in The Quintessential Game Room include a clean architecturally appealing design, a properly scaled draft, the artistic use of color schemes and textiles, and a diverse experiential recreational theme with universal appeal.

Step 1: Architecture

Architecture is one of the most important elements for any room. The position of the walls and stairs are all essential for this game room. First, I wanted a balcony instead of an enclosed second level to allow a physical connection between people on the two floors. With this in mind, I selected a slanted ceiling to create a more cozy cabin-like atmosphere for the fireplace and TV seating area. Next, I designed a curved wall around the hot tub to compliment the circular shape of the tub. During the design process, I expanded the room dimensions to allow proper placement of all game room features. Finally, I created a spiral staircase for aesthetics and for space economy.

Step 2: Colors and Materials

Colors set the tone of the room. I wanted a warm, cozy cabin feel. The floor tile is a dark emerald green which compliments the other colors in the room. On a more practical note, the tile is easily cleanable for spills. The walls are a cream tan color giving the room a warm look. The hot tub, seating booth, bar, shuffleboard, and card table all have a wood tone, a classic material for cabins. The sofa has an inviting modern appeal. Furthermore, the fire-engine red booth brings a dash of flare. Finally, the windows have a perfect view of the majestic Rocky Mountains. This brings an inspiring connection to the nature beyond the walls.

Step 3: Entertainment Center

The central focus of The Quintessential Game Room is the TV. The large screen is awesome for the viewers to sit back, relax and watch the big game, or just play video games among friends. Ideal for my dream room is the generous 60" TV, a contemporary black, silver, and white couch, and a stone fireplace. The fireplace is centrally located to allow even heating of the room. The couch perfectly positioned to view the TV, fireplace, and mountains. The surrounding fish aquarium melds peaceful aquatic nature with other game room features. The speakers are built into the TV stand to maximize space. The TV is accurately positioned to be just a head turn away from all areas of the room including the balcony and hot tub.

Step 4: Hot Tub

The hot tub is a perfect addition to a splendid winter game room. The tub is built into the ground for easier access. It is great to de-stress in the warm water.

Step 5: Bar

The bar area is fantastic to catch up with friends over a soda. The counter top is made of high quality granite so hot items do not damage the surface. The chairs swivel for fun and easy turning. The shelves are stocked with the best sodas. There is a sink to rinse out glasses, and the lighted under-counter refrigerator keeps glasses and drinks cold.

Step 6: Shuffleboard and Darts

With the idea in mind of accommodating large groups of people, shuffleboard is a perfect addition to any game room. You can quickly rotate a person in or out of play and the rounds go by fast. On the other hand, I wanted to provide a longer game experience as well. Darts is the perfect game that doesn't take up much space and is very fun to play.

Step 7: Balcony

On the balcony, I positioned more spacious games. First, the card table is perfect for one quick hand of cards, or a full poker game. The pool table is convenient to have on the balcony because the ledge allows the player to have more stick room and be less confined by the walls. Finally, I needed an arcade game! Basketball was the perfect fit. It is great to just shoot hoops and hang out with friends.

Step 8: Final Thoughts

This architecturally sound, perfectly drawn to scale, well designed Computer-Aided Drawing is the first and most important step that would allow The Quintessential Game Room to come to fruition!

Most importantly, I wish to thank the sponsors of the Design Your Room Contest. Without the contest incentives, I would not have tackled learning CAD software at this point in my education. It has been an inspiring, creative outlet to produce my ideas in this easily viewed format.