A recreation room (also known as a play room rec room, rumpus room, play room, playroom, games room, or ruckus room) is a room used for a variety of purposes, such as parties, games and other everyday or casual activities. The term recreation room is common in the United States, like the often disappearing room in the Simpsons. The term rumpus room is often common in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. In the United Kingdom, the most common term is games room, or sometimes den. Although, as houses tend to be smaller in the UK, most houses don't have one. Some, however, will have a room specific to one particular game or entertainment unit often found in a recreation room, or some have a snug, which is a smaller cosy room for watching films and playing video games. Often children and teenagers entertain their friends in their home's rec room, which is often located in the basement, away from the main living areas of the house.^[1][2] Usually it is a larger space than a living room, enabling the area to serve multiple purposes and entertain moderately large groups.^[3]

Contents

Recreation rooms can have many themes and contents, depending on their intended use.^[4]

Entertainment

Recreation rooms are normally centered on some form of entertainment, typically an audio/video setup. This can consist of something as elaborate as a projection screen with surround sound or something as simple as a base model television.^[5][6]

Seating

Couches, pub tables/chairs, bar stools, and recliners may all be used in recreation rooms.^[7]

Games

Tabletop games are frequent in recreation rooms. In addition to games played on a normal table, recreation rooms sometimes include custom game tables for table tennis (ping pong), table football (foosball), table shuffleboard, air hockey, or billiards (pool). Custom tables for casino games such as poker, blackjack, and craps are also common. Other games include dart boards and arcade games such as pinball and video games. More substantial game rooms may have mini bowling lanes, indoor golf simulators, and other specialty amenities.^[8][3]

Food and drink

Refrigerators, microwave ovens, wet bars,^[9] popcorn makers, ice cream makers, soda fountains, and televisions^[9] can sometimes be found in recreation rooms.