Your living room is the centre of any social gathering, from casual catch ups, to family movie nights, parties and more. It’s the perfect place to make your guests feel comfortable, relaxed and welcome. If you’re hosting family and friends and looking for a new idea to keep everybody entertained for the night, why not try a games night? Board games are back in fashion and are becoming more popular than ever, and they can make for a great evening of fun.
Whether it’s a night playing Monopoly with the family or immersing yourself in the fantastical world of Dungeons and Dragons with mates, a games night is the perfect way to spend quality time together.
There’s a game out there for everyone and they can all be played from the comfort of your own home. We’ve put together some tips for you to make your own games night one to remember.
Set the atmosphere
If you’re playing an immersive game like Dungeons & Dragons or Risk, it can really help to build the atmosphere and help everyone feel like they’re part of the adventure. To create the right ambience, string up some fairy lights and position lamps all around to give the room a mystical glow with your games night at the heart of it all.
Background noise is great to fill those tense silences as the dice are rolled too. Choose something with a chilled-out vibe to prevent losing your focus and stay in the gaming zone. Either create your own playlist of your favourite tunes or choose one from Spotify. Whatever your tastes, music is a sure way to set the tone and ensure the atmosphere is perfect for your games night.
Set the space
Whether you’re spreading out a deck of cards or putting your drink down, a big enough table is a must for hosting a gaming night. Use a folding table big enough for everyone to gather around – at the end of the night, you can easily fold it back down to neatly store away. If you already have a perfectly good coffee table, simply put down some coasters and bring the chairs forward so everyone can reach their gaming pieces.
Whether on the sofa or the floor, your guests will need a few plush cushions to feel at home. Smaller and squishier ones are great to tuck into the corner of the sofa, adding that extra bit of comfort so people can feel more relaxed. The Bartelli is a super cosy sofa that comes with scatter cushions included, and its available in a range of sofa sizes and corner configurations, offering plenty of space for your guests to relax.
If anyone opts to sit on the floor, go for a Moroccan feel by throwing down firmer cushions, so that everyone can sit comfortably at every angle.
Snacks and drinks
Crisps and dips are always a solid choice when hosting guests, and they’re perfectly easy for everyone to snack on when concentrating on the game. Get a variety of flavours in so you can satisfy everyone’s tastes.
If you’re feeling a bit fancier, go for a classic cheese board with anything from your standard cheddar to the more interesting stilton’s and baked camemberts. Cheese and bread are great for nibbling on, and adding some sweet tasting spreads, crunchy veggies and cured meats will make it that extra bit special.
Make sure you also have refreshing beverages on hand to complement your snack selection. A couple of bottles of wine can be a great addition to a games evening for adult guests, or you might want to try your hand at making your own mocktails, experimenting with sweet, juicy flavours that everyone can try.
The perfect sofa
Whatever game you’re hosting, your sofa will be the centrepiece of the night. At Sofology, we understand what makes the perfect sofa for guests, so we have plenty of choices to suit your home. A great option to fit everyone in is the plush corner sofa from our Maya range. Choosing a corner sofa means it will easily wrap around the edges of your games table, and the luxurious velvet fabric will satisfy everyone’s comfort needs.
A games night at home can be a fun and relaxing way to spend time with friends and family and getting it just right will make it a night to remember. Whatever sofa fits your gaming needs, you’ll find it here at Sofology.
