In 2022, People Are Ditching the Home Office in Favor of This Room

Here’s how to make it multifunctional.
game room with lab dog

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The past two years were flooded with people looking for a nonoffensive wall for their Zoom calls. Guest rooms and dining areas quickly started pulling double duty as offices when the world shifted to long-term WFH. Now Chairish, the online vintage furniture marketplace, thinks that they’ll soon become something totally different: game rooms. 

The company’s 2022 trend report predicts that homeowners will ditch their desks and double monitors in favor of a ping-pong table—or movie projector or giant Jenga set. The trend isn’t limited to pool cues and decks of cards, though. The site notes that hobbies of all kinds will be getting their own dedicated spaces, from sewing studios to woodworking shops. 

Not everyone has a separate spot to transform into a rec room, so finding a balance between fun and functionality can be tricky. We’ve highlighted some of our favorite multitasking spaces to help you get the best of both worlds.

Keep It Flexible

In a movie room, it’s tempting to go with reclining chairs and slouchy sofas, but for the design duo behind Chroma SF, structured seating is actually best. Because the separate armchairs are easily moved around, this space works for both rounds of Go Fish and your latest And Just Like That… watch party. 

Make It Multiuse  

In this family’s indoor-outdoor space for their teenagers in Atlanta, the ping-pong table quickly becomes the dining table by removing the center net.  

Opt for Easy Storage

By opting for a pull-down projector rather than a traditional TV, this A-frame movie loft in Pennsylvania’s Poconos can transition back into a bedroom with just the pull of a string.

Kate McGregor

Writer/Editor

Kate McGregor covers everything related to the home, from design inspiration to IKEA hacks. She has been the market assistant at ELLE Decor where she focused on curating product for the print magazine’s market pages.