Our Gaming Room Makeover - Cool Paint Colour Ideas
The first phase of our basement conversion eight years ago saw the creation of a new playroom for our three boys who were then aged 8, 5 and 3. We had painted the walls and woodwork in neutral tones with off white walls which were a bit boring and very unpractical.
Before
Fast forward to this year and it was looking very tired - not the kind of space teens wanted to escape to. When I talked to the boys about their colour preferences for the room refresh, a black colour scheme came up a lot. As an interior designer, I'm a big believer that colour choices have a considerable impact on mood and while I wasn't adverse to using dark colours, I didn't think it was a good idea to send teenage boys to a black underground space (otherwise known as a cave) for hours on end. Instead, I set about finding the perfect colour palette for a cool and uplifting room to hopefully banish the teenage blues. Today, I'm showing you the end results with practical ideas on how to create a warm, feel-good game room for teens. I'll also be sharing details of the specific colours we used.
The colour scheme needed to complement the blue pool table and I began with the ceiling colour as a starting point. I was keen to use a vibrant colour for an energetic feel and after trying a few samples, I decided on Little Greene’s Tuscan Red to create a warm, lively atmosphere. Because the ceiling isn’t massively high, I dropped the rich terracotta colour down over the walls by about 15cm to blur the line between walls and ceiling.
Although it has two windows, this north facing basement room doesn't get much natural light. While I wanted to stay away from neutral tones, I was keen to use a light colour on the walls so I experimented with different shades of light green. North facing rooms are the trickiest to choose colours for - I wanted a warm shade to counteract the cool light but a lot of the samples felt too minty. I eventually decided on Little Greene's Pea Green - a soft green with a warm feel. It’s just the right paint colour for this space. The window frame is painted in Pleat, a coordinating dark green which adds depth to the scheme.
We needed a window treatment for privacy but with the gaming desks in front of it, the window is really hard to reach so I chose an electric roller blind from Blinds2Go that blends in with the colour of the window - it can be controlled with the smart phone app or the remote control. The blue LED lights which we added to the desks tie in with the colour of the pool table and they can be set to different colours depending on the mood you want to create.
As well as two PC gaming stations for the older boys, the gaming setup also includes a TV for the youngest boy's XBOX, with a sofa opposite.
Rather than painting the entire room in the same colour, I zoned the sofa area by wrapping Hicks Blue around the walls and woodwork. The colour combination of light green and dark blue works brilliantly (for a step-by-step guide on how to colour block, take a look at my blog post here).
The deep blue walls are a great color for the sofa area and make it feel really cosy.
Darker colours are great for creating a cocooning space - perfect for cosy film nights. We kept the downlights for overhead lighting and I added a floor lamp in the sofa area for a softer light into the evenings. I also incorporated bright colours in the soft furnishings and gallery wall to bring the space to life and add a fun feel.
The wall planter is from La Redoute
Vintage pieces add lots of character which is especially important in rooms that lack period features. It took me ages to find the perfect mid-century coffee table - it was £30 on eBay! It’s just the right size for this space - far enough from the pool table so as not to be in the way, with a handy storage shelf for books.
To bring everything together, I asked my mum to paint a colourful artwork for the chimney breast, incorporating the wall and ceiling colours for a cohesive look. She used graphic shapes for a modern look and the bright bold hues make it a focal point. It really gives the whole scheme a lift.
Because our youngest boy loves crafting, we incorporated a Lillasen IKEA desk in the right alcove (it’s definitely not always this tidy!). For task lighting, I found a little rechargeable wall light which we positioned above the desk.
The mid-century chair was another eBay buy from a few years ago and it ties in with the terracotta ceiling perfectly!
I absolutely love the new look of this gaming space! The different colours have added so much personality - it’s really warm and inviting with a cool, contemporary feel. Let me know what you think in the comments!
