What if you walked into a room that felt like hitting the pause button on real life? Warm lighting, the click of a pool break, the glow of a vintage pinball machine; your own little escape without ever leaving home.
But turning that dream into a reality takes more than just filling a space with games. Incorrect spacing can lead to cramped play and damaged walls, poor lighting can cause frustrating glare, and the wrong flooring can turn a fun night into a noisy ordeal.
This guide is your blueprint for designing a functional and stylish games room right here in Calgary. We’ll walk you through the essentials for every type of game, so your space becomes certified hit for years to come. Whether you’re starting with a single gaming table or going all out with every type of arcade machine, we’ve got you covered.
Table of Contents | Designing a Calgary Games Room: Lighting Height, Flooring, and Furniture Spacing Around Your Table
- Key Takeaways
- Benefits of a Game Room and Arcade Games
- The Best Lighting Height, Flooring, and Furniture Spacing Around Each Game Type
- Building an Arcade in Calgary with SML Entertainment
- FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Key Takeaways
- Space is Everything: Always measure for clearance around each game to ensure comfortable, unrestricted movement.
- Layer Your Lighting: A great games room uses a mix of lighting. Start with general ambient light, then add task-specific fixtures (like a billiard light over a pool table or a spotlight on a dartboard) to minimize shadows and glare.
- Flooring Matters: Flooring affects noise, comfort, and stability. Low-pile carpet helps dampen sound and protect dropped items. Hard-surface flooring like vinyl or laminate is durable and easy to clean for many fast-paced games.
- Game-Specific Needs: Every game has unique spatial and lighting considerations. A pool table requires precise clearance, a dartboard has regulation measurements, and larger setups like golf simulators need more ceiling height.
- Plan for Fun: A games room is an investment in your lifestyle. It’s a space for connection, recreation, and entertainment for all ages when properly set up.
Benefits of a Game Room and Arcade Games
A games room is more than just a place to play. It’s a space where the good memories pile up, your skills level up, and whatever stressed you out that day finally melts away.
There’s no doubt that a great games room becomes the heart of your home’s social life. Think of it as a hub for connection, a place to bring family and friends together. Imagine challenging your kids to a game of foosball or hosting a pool tournament among your neighbours; these are the moments that you’ll love to look back on.
Here are a few benefits a games room can offer:
- Stress Relief and a Mental Break: The focused fun of a classic arcade or table game is a great way to unwind.
- Skill Development: Games like pool, foosball, and pinball help improve coordination, focus, and strategic thinking.
- Appeal for Homebuyers: A well-designed games room can make your home more attractive to buyers who value entertainment spaces.
- Entertainment for All Ages: With thoughtful setup and supervision where necessary, it creates an engaging environment for kids, teenagers, and adults alike.
The Best Lighting Height, Flooring, and Furniture Spacing Around Each Game Type
Each game has its own quirks. Here’s how to set them up so everything feels just right.
1. Pinball Machine
- Spacing: Provide enough standing room in front of the pinball machine for comfortable play and leave space behind or to the side for maintenance access. If placing multiple machines in a row, ensure players have room to stand without crowding. Looking for the perfect addition to your space? Check out this Black Knight Sword of Rage pinball machine at SML Entertainment.
- Lighting: Use ambient, indirect lighting to reduce glare on the playfield glass. Avoid bright spotlights directly overhead.
- Flooring: Low-pile carpet or a stable hard surface both work well, depending on sound and traction preferences.
2. Foosball Table
- Spacing: Allow enough room on the long sides for players to move comfortably and extend the rods fully without hitting walls or furniture.
- Lighting: Standard overhead lighting is typically sufficient as long as the playing surface is evenly lit.
- Flooring: Hard surfaces like laminate, vinyl, or hardwood provide stable footing during quick play.
3. Ping Pong Table
- Spacing: Aim for enough room to actually move around the ping pong table, not just stand at it. A common guideline is about 5 feet behind each end and 3 feet on each side for comfortable play at home. Competitive setups need significantly more room, but for casual use, sticking close to these numbers usually feels right. And make sure you’ve got a spot to store your ping pong paddles and ping pong racket so they’re always within reach.
- Lighting: Bright, even, non-glare overhead lighting is recommended to track the fast-moving ball.
- Flooring: A stable, non-slip surface such as wood, sport flooring, or rubberized mats works well.
4. Pool Tables
- Spacing: Clearance around the table should accommodate cue strokes. A common guideline is approximately 5 feet around the table, based on standard 57–58 inch cues.
- Lighting: Use a dedicated billiard light fixture. It should hang so the bottom is roughly 32–36 inches above the table surface, providing even lighting.
- Flooring: A level, stable floor is essential. Low-pile carpet is often preferred for sound dampening and protection.
5. Snooker Table
- Spacing: Snooker tables are larger than pool tables (typically 10 ft or the full-size 12 ft version) so they need more room. A common guideline is to have about 6 feet of clearance on all sides to make space for the longer cues (often 57–60 inches, with some players using even longer extensions).
- Lighting: This requires a specialized, multi-shade light fixture that spans the table’s length, hung at the same 32-36 inch height as a pool table light.
- Flooring: Low-pile carpet offers stability and sound absorption.
6. Air Hockey Table
- Spacing: Air hockey gets fast, so you’ll want room to move. A common recommendation is about 3-4 feet of clearance on the long sides where players stand, and at least 2 feet at each end so you can retrieve pucks and move around without feeling boxed in.
- Lighting: General room lighting works well; avoid low-hanging fixtures near play areas.
- Flooring: Durable, stable surfaces like laminate or vinyl are suitable your air hockey table in Canada.
7. Bubble Hockey
- Spacing: Leave space on the long sides where players stand. Minimal clearance is needed at the ends.
- Lighting: Standard room lighting is adequate; diffused lighting reduces glare on the dome.
- Flooring: Any stable flooring works; carpet can reduce game noise.
8. Basketball Arcade Game
- Spacing: The key is ceiling height. Most machines require at least 8-9 feet. Allow for 2-3 feet of standing room in front for players.
- Lighting: General overhead lighting is fine as long as it does not create glare on the backboard.
- Flooring: Durable surfaces like rubber or vinyl can help handle frequent foot movement.
9. Full Swing Golf Simulator
- Spacing: A minimum ceiling height of 9-10 feet is essential to swing a driver safely. Exact requirements depend on the model you choose. Haven’t found the right simulator yet? Check out The Golden Tee PGA Tour Edition at SML Entertainment.
- Lighting: Dimmable or controlled lighting helps maintain screen visibility. Lights placed behind the player can illuminate the hitting area without affecting the projection.
- Flooring: Use appropriate hitting mats or artificial turf designed for golf simulator use.
10. Dart Board
- Spacing: The regulation throwing line is 7 feet, 9.25 inches from the face of the board. You need a clear path at least 3 feet wide, with 2 feet of clear space on either side of the Dartboard to protect your walls.
- Lighting: A shadow-free light focused on the dartboard ensures visibility.
- Flooring: Rubber or cork mats are recommended to protect floors and soften the impact of dropped darts.
11. Jukebox
- Spacing: Think of your juke box as a piece of furniture that brings music and a cool retro vibe to your games room. Place it against a wall where it’s easily accessible but won’t obstruct pathways.
- Lighting: It’s a light source in itself! Use it to create a cool, ambient glow in a corner of the room.
- Flooring: Any level surface will do. Consider placing it on a small rug to enhance its presence.
Building an Arcade in Calgary with SML Entertainment
Planning is everything when it comes to creating a games room that’s both functional and fun. From spacing and lighting to flooring, every detail plays a role in creating the ideal experience.
Whether you’re starting with a single gaming table or building a full-blown home arcade, SML Entertainment has the expertise and the selection to help you design your dream space. We’ve been helping clients bring all the fun home since 1956.
Swing by one of our locations in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, or Red Deer, or check out our product lineup on our website. Let’s build the games room you’ve been dreaming about.
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is the most important factor to consider when planning a game room layout?
Player space. Always prioritize allowing enough clearance around each game for comfortable, unrestricted movement.
What is the best all-purpose flooring for a multi-game room?
Low-pile carpet and hard-surface flooring like vinyl or laminate are both good options, depending on your priorities. Carpet is quieter and protective, while hard surfaces are durable and easy to clean.
How do I light a game room with multiple game types?
Use a layered approach: start with ambient lighting, then add task-specific lighting such as a billiard light over a pool table or a spotlight for a dartboard to ensure proper visibility.
