A Playful Alternative To The Coffee Table Is Going Viral In Living Room Design

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The coffee table has dominated the central position in living room furniture for many years. It's a practical place for empty cups while chatting, displaying pretty flowers, or for stacking your TBR pile of books. However, a new viral trend is emerging in living room design that could push it out of the limelight. Move over, coffee table, make way for the ultimate gaming accessory — the gaming table! Gaming tables are fast becoming a sought after alternative that allows you to gather your friends around for some deeply serious, or thigh-slappingly funny, gaming action.

While online gaming remains popular, board games like Catan have shown a new generation the delights of getting together in the same room to play. As the interest in adult board games has grown, so has the industry that provides the best board game experiences. While many modern gaming tables are big enough to replace the dining table, such as the Haa Peel Hadreei Solid Wood Board Game Table for 6, some coffee table sized versions are just as popular. 

Gone are the days of a fold-out plastic tray table for a round of rummy. The tables emerging today are sleek, well crafted, and designed to be as beautiful as they are functional. For those willing to foot the bill, the customization options are endless, giving you the freedom to not only pick out the wood but also the colors and surface options of the lining. Pick from monochromes, blues, natural hues, or even pale pink, burgundy, or violet. 

This upmarket furniture trend often features a removable top so you get the use of a regular table in between game nights. Many of these tops are built to be spill-resistant, preventing accidental spills from seeping through the top and damaging the game in progress below, and putting strain on family relationships! This space-sharing design makes a gaming table accessible for smaller apartments, while the exquisite craftsmanship means they're right at home in a luxury space, too. Combine this multipurpose furniture with the smart book box storage hack to organize board games and you'll be ready for game night the moment the whim hits. You'll find your home becoming the gaming venue of choice among your friends.

When considering design ideas for your home game room, keep in mind which games are most likely to be played and set up the room accordingly. For tabletop RPG games, the Enhance Portable Dice Roller is designed for up to 14 dice at a time, it's shaped like a castle, and prevents dice rolls from sending mini figures flying. Other gaming accessories are versatile enough to be useful for many games. 

Think about equipping your table with snack holders, card or game piece organizers, and mug holders. Some gaming tables have a built-in magnetic rail that allows you to attach the magnetic accessories anywhere along the inside or outside edge of the table. This level of thoughtful user-friendliness makes gaming nights stress-free and extra special. 

Gaming tables are highly versatile beyond using them for playing board games. Those with jigsaw puzzle-lovers in the family will know the challenge of always having the coffee table buried under pieces. While many of the game tables would be suitable for building puzzles, you can also buy a dedicated one such as the Hallybee Wooden Puzzle Board with foldable legs, four piece drawers, and a cover. Many of these types of tables are designed to look good and come in different colors to suit the living room décor. Effortlessly incorporate them into your room design as a focal point.

There are many clever multi-purpose furniture pieces for tiny homes, but a gaming table can be a game-changer on many levels. Do you love scrapbooking, but don't have a craft room? A gaming table might be the perfect solution to store all your in-progress pages, without disrupting coffee time in the living room. Sometimes the thought of constantly having to pack up unfinished work makes it too much of a schlep to even start. A gaming table can change that.

The same goes for whatever craft currently has your attention. Knitting a scarf for winter? Keep it close by so you can add a couple of rows when you have a moment. Building a model airplane? Using a craft table allows you to set out all the pieces in order and keep them there until you've finished the project.