Nickolas SargentEvery item on this page was chosen by an ELLE Decor editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.Once relegated to the basement or behind a closed door, the recreation room has emerged from the shadows, reborn not as a “rumpus room” of decades past, but as a carefully composed sanctuary of leisure. The new rec room is both playful and purposeful—spaces where sculptural game tables and bespoke seating are arranged with the same care as a formal living room. Today’s designs emphasize flow and flexibility, enhanced by thoughtful lighting, acoustics, and materials that marry durability with personal style.What distinguishes this new iteration from its retro counterpart is intention: a shift from makeshift to highly curated and luxurious. At Miami-based MONIOMI Design, co-founders Monica Santayana and Ronald Alvarez have noticed clients requesting more polished rec rooms in their projects. The note, “We’re getting requests for custom game tables that double as art pieces, hidden bars, integrated tech for music and media, and flexible seating for gatherings.” More than just spaces to unwind, these rooms are becoming expressions of a homeowner's personality—designed to host everything from actual game nights to spirited soirées with friends and family.Nickolas SargentAt the Kips Bay Decorator Show House in Palm Beach, MONIOMI Design’s Monica Santayana and Ronald Alvarez conjured a sumptuous rec room with their MADE by Moniomi collection—where a marble-and-onyx ping pong table, sculptural basketball hoop, and a debut game table turn play into polished spectacle.From sculptural game tables to playful objets and design-forward accessories, these game-themed finds bring a sense of whimsy and sophistication to any space.Assouline Backgammon Set$2,250 at AssoulineAssouline’s Backgammon Set, part of the newly launched Library Collection, marries heritage with handcrafted excellence. More than just a game, it's a masterclass in craftsmanship—a striking interpretation of a timeless classic, tailored for the modern aesthete. Encased in a beautifully grained walnut wood box, the set features an inlaid leather playing board and impeccably crafted leather pieces, each accented with warm brass detailing, it’s a true conversation starter.Elevated Customs x Sasha Bikoff Bon Bon Ping Pong Table$31,250 at elevatecustoms.comThe Bon Bon Table Tennis Table by Elevate Customs in collaboration with Sasha Bikoff is a confection of form and function. It rests on a sculptural base of pillowed, hand-carved layers—each curve flowing seamlessly into the next, evoking both whimsy and architectural intent. Finished in alternating high-gloss lacquers and topped with a competition-ready surface, it strikes a luxurious balance between playful irreverence and polished sophistication.Society Social Wicker Bowling Pin Set$575 at Society Social Add a touch of vintage charm with this handcrafted wicker bowling pin set. Expertly woven in vibrant hues and patterns, it’s a playful nod to nostalgia that brings character to any rec room or game space. Leave the collection out on display when not in use to add texture and color to your bookshelves.MADE by MONIOMI Lux Mini Hoop$2,025 at madebymoniomi.comIf your vision of a rec room includes the satisfying arc of a well-aimed shot, consider MADE by Moniomi’s basketball hoop made of polished marble, copper and cotton. It's an artful reinterpretation of sport-motif, in a sculptural silhouette. More objet than gym gear, it invites both play and admiration in equal measure.MoMA Store Technicolor Dominoes Game$30 at MOMAThis colorful Dominoes set is made from real wood and is stylish enough to leave out on your coffee table. With each purchase, manufacturer DesignWorks Ink plants a tree with the One Tree Planted Initiative, making this playful purchase better for the planet too.AERIN Shagreen Chess Side Table$3,850 at AERINEvoking the quiet elegance of Jean-Michel Frank’s Art Deco sensibility, this dual-purpose shagreen side table—trimmed in brass—has a hidden use. It conceals a recessed compartment for streamlined, gold-and-black chess pieces beneath its reversible lid. The lid itself flips from richly grained wood veneer board to tonal shagreen, transforming from decorative accent to game table.Shinola Leather Dice Cup with Dice$165 at GOOPWith pearlescent orange dice and a finely crafted leather cup, this set brings a touch of polish to even the most impromptu weeknight game. Produced by Detroit-based Shinola—renowned for its timepieces, bicycles, and American-made leather goods—it reflects a commitment to craftsmanship and domestic manufacturing with every roll.Ralph Lauren Home Sutton Poker Gift Set$1,395 at Ralph LaurenA requisite for any well-appointed rec room, this poker set—housed in an embossed walnut and leather case—holds a full complement of chips and twin decks of cards. Designed as much for display as for play, it lends a tactile richness to any shelf or table, elevating the casual game night into a ritual of quiet sophistication.RW Guild Stockholm Coupe Dining Chair$2,800 at rwguild.comWith its gently lowered backrest and quietly confident silhouette, the Stockholm Coupe dining chair strikes a relaxed tone—equally at home encircling a dining table or anchoring an evening of games. Crafted from solid wood and offered with thoughtfully tailored upholstery, it is a piece that invites lingering—over meals, conversation, or the satisfying clatter of chess pieces in play.The Met Store Lingo Portraits Playing Cards$13 at The Metropolitan Museum of ArtIn a collaboration between The Met and Lingo, this deck of playing cards transforms the timeless tradition of portraiture into a pocket-sized gallery. It features a curated array of evocative faces—from Velázquez and Van Gogh to anonymous masters of Japan and Central Africa—each card a miniature window into the art of likeness across cultures and centuries.Jonathan Adler Jacques Game Table$2,200 at Jonathan Adler$2,200 at WayfairNo rec room is truly complete without a game table, and this version—rendered in clear acrylic—offers both visual lightness and sculptural presence. Designed to disappear or dazzle as needed, it tucks elegantly into a corner or lends a sense of spaciousness to smaller settings, while brushed brass corners lend a touch of tailored glamour and just the right dose of bravado.Blackberry Farm Four in a Row$298 at blackberryfarmshop.comCrafted by a local artisan for Blackberry Farm, this collapsible wooden Connect Four game doubles as charming décor and clever storage—perfect for cozy family nights by the fire.Nina Campbell Mark Games Table$27,900 at ninacampbell.comAn exercise in quiet refinement, this versatile games table—offered in richly grained mahogany or a painted finish with gleaming brass accents—conceals its playful spirit beneath a reversible top. There are baize-lined for cards on one side, with marquetry chess and draughts inlay on the other. Lift the lid to reveal a championship backgammon board, handsomely inset in supple leather.John Derian x Artisan Puzzles Shells 1,000 Piece Puzzle$25 at John DerianJohn Derian, in collaboration with Artisan Puzzles, presents thirteen evocative jigsaw designs—from Shells to The Bower of Roses—each drawn from 19th-century prints and reimagined in 750- and 1,000-piece sets. They'll invite hours of contemplative assembly and recall a time when shells, long symbols of beauty and ephemerality, were so revered they adorned Victorian parlors.