Unique Play Spaces That Redefine Wellness Design

Unique Play Spaces That Redefine Wellness Design

A stylish residential recreation room color-drenched in Pewter Green by Sherwin-Williams, featuring a sofa, billiard table, and antique brass decorative elements.
A stylish residential recreation room color-drenched in Pewter Green by Sherwin-Williams, featuring a sofa, billiard table, and antique brass decorative elements.

Unique Play Spaces That Redefine Wellness Design

In today’s homes, spaces for leisure are no longer just afterthoughts—they are integral parts of a holistic living experience and essential to homeowner well-being. Environments that support fun, relaxation, and wellness have evolved, offering designers endless opportunities to play within the principles of design and find new avenues for clients to seek relaxation, foster connections, and find flexibility within the walls of the home. 

From reimagined game rooms to holistic wellness retreats, join us as we explore the projects that are finding new room for play—and balance intentionality and style—in the modern residential design landscape.

All Fun and Games: Vibrant Color in a Stylish Rec Room

Traditionally designed for family fun, game rooms are now being transformed into sophisticated spaces that merge high style with a sense of surprising sensationalism. Take this example from Juanita Sierra of Blu Ink Interiors, where a reimagined rec room reflects an aesthetic that is timeless, bold, and interactive all at once.

The space was originally covered in floor-to-ceiling millwork that, though once beautiful, brought a heaviness and outdated aura that begged for a new life. Because the clients’ kids constantly gravitated toward the space, the idea for a game room materialized. “We cleared out the old furniture to create an open space, ready to showcase the new foosball table and indoor basketball hoop. By preserving the millwork and giving it a bold, eye-catching color, Lucky Green SW 6926 (146-C6) in a gloss sheen, we turned it into a ‘wow’ moment—the ultimate surprise when guests first walk through the double doors.”

The client wanted a room that felt bold and exciting but was still clean and timeless, and that’s exactly what Sierra took pains to accomplish. “We updated the floors and added a neutral pendant and rug to balance the vibrant green millwork. This way, the room has an energetic personality without feeling overwhelming, creating a perfect blend of playfulness and elegance that everyone can enjoy.”

In designer Jessica Maros’s interpretation, the game room becomes not just a play area, but a multidimensional experience designed with the goal of liberating us from our day to day. Whether it’s a color that evokes that feeling, or the itinerary for their ideal day off unfolding in that space, she aims to design with intention around that sense of unfettered relaxation and joy.

“I always start by asking clients where they feel free,” says Jessica Maros of Maros Designs. “The more they can articulate their playful side, the better I can craft a color palette and atmosphere that embodies it. It’s all about bringing their sense of joy to life!”

For this project, the client’s recipe for relaxation called for a spot where she and her husband could enjoy bourbon, watch football, and play pool. Each of these activities find their place, with intimate areas designated for each purpose, including a mini bar, a private sauna, and a hotel-like lounge for cozy date nights in.

Graphic featuring the quote “To me, playfulness is a feeling of freedom—being able to express yourself without limitations. That kind of openness is fundamental to well-being. My design process centers around making room for this freedom, creating spaces in our homes and communities that ignite the childlike spirit within” by Jessica Maros of Maros Designs.
Graphic featuring the quote “To me, playfulness is a feeling of freedom—being able to express yourself without limitations. That kind of openness is fundamental to well-being. My design process centers around making room for this freedom, creating spaces in our homes and communities that ignite the childlike spirit within” by Jessica Maros of Maros Designs.

Lounging in Luxury

When designing for the Spring 2024 Southeastern Designer Showhouse, Cheryl Luckett of Dwell by Cheryl tapped into her own imagination to design a space she could picture her own siblings visiting and adoring. Situated between two guest suites, the lounge was intended to be a communal area for visitors to have to themselves during a stay. The star of the show are the sumptuous textiles Luckett selected from her own collection, and for her, the textiles are often the touchstone for an entire room.

Cheryl Luckett stands smiling surrounded by colorful fabric swatches and rolls with various patterns.
Cheryl Luckett stands smiling surrounded by colorful fabric swatches and rolls with various patterns.

Photo by Monique Floyd Photography.

“It’s a fresh take on classical design styles and motifs with a bit of a Parisian flair,” the designer says of the resulting guest lounge design. “My aim was to create a warm and moody space with rich hues where adult guests of the homeowners could lounge, listen to nostalgic music, enjoy an evening cocktail, and gossip the night away.”

Elegant living room with olive-green walls painted in Rosemary by Sherwin-Williams, abstract art, decorative vases, patterned furniture, and natural light from windows framed by floor-to-ceiling patterned curtains.
Elegant living room with olive-green walls painted in Rosemary by Sherwin-Williams, abstract art, decorative vases, patterned furniture, and natural light from windows framed by floor-to-ceiling patterned curtains.

Photos by Rustic White Photography.

Moody green was a must, she tells us, and her color swatch book provided the input needed to refine her choice and land on the right pairing for her textile selections: Rosemary SW 6187 (215-C6) in a decadent satin finish. “In my design process, I make space for play by encouraging experimentation with colors, textures, and layouts that might feel unexpected or bold,” says Luckett. “This openness to exploration allows ideas to evolve naturally, and it often leads to unique design elements that wouldn't have emerged otherwise. Playfulness isn’t just an aesthetic choice—it’s a mindset that promotes wellness by making the design journey enjoyable and fulfilling.”

Letting Loose in a Lowcountry Surfer Sanctuary

Social zones allow us the opportunity to create flexible, approachable spaces where homeowners feel inclined to gather, celebrate, and connect. Lauren Riddei of LouLou Interiors says that playfulness is an essential part of her design philosophy—and her life philosophy as well. “To be wild, creative and free, our spirit craves playfulness. Play is a necessity, a basic biological need. I plan on growing old, but I never plan on growing up.”

As a surfer herself, when her client sought a space for relaxation and fun on the sunny South Carolina coast, she dived right in with a custom neon LED sign and surfboards as a creative decorative ceiling element that suits the space’s minimal, Carolina-casual vibes and stands out against a fresh, clean backdrop of Pure White SW 7005 (255-C1).

The designer says that, while the color choice may not have been an easy one, with thousands of beautiful colors to sift through, her final selection was obvious. “After bringing in various samples, Pure White was the clear winner,” the designer tells us. “I feel as though Pure White is a trusted friend, a loyal confidant, and the most mature ‘white’ I know! When I specify this dynamic color as a background in a project, the colorful decorations, interesting furniture, and layered art will leap onto center stage. Only the best, most confident paint colors are secure enough to understand their roles.”

From Riddei’s perspective, the more experience you gain in playing by the “rules” of design, the more you can pull and stretch those rules. “The first half of my design career was spent studying classical proportion, scale, and color theory. Once I embodied those ‘rules’ and they simply started flowing through me, I was able to put them aside and allow unexpected decor and design choices to surface.”

A Play Space for All Ages

More traditional fitness-focused spaces, like a meditation room or a home gym, present designers with opportunities to play with aesthetics, get inventive with the use of the space—and maybe even factor in an especially boisterous young visitor or two.

Michelle Lee Parenteau's clients wanted a place where they could practice yoga and exercise, but they also had another purpose in mind for the space: a safe indoor playroom for their grandchildren when they visited. Dimension and noise-reduction was achieved by installing wood veneer acoustic panels that flank each end of the room, and speckled rubber floor tiles create a soft sand-like texture for the kids to safely run around and play on. Black and brushed-brass ‘fandeliers’ were added to help cool off and elevate the space, and a serene combination of Anchors Aweigh SW 9179 (253-C7) and Antler Velvet SW 9111 (205-C3), both in satin finish, completes the look.

Graphic featuring the quote “Creating spaces that remove you from the world outside is what I like to do for my clients. Life can be so serious, but there is always room for play. Wellness is so important in our everyday lives.” by Michelle Lee.
Graphic featuring the quote “Creating spaces that remove you from the world outside is what I like to do for my clients. Life can be so serious, but there is always room for play. Wellness is so important in our everyday lives.” by Michelle Lee.

Ready to play with color for your future projects? Order designer-exclusive large-sized color samples, complimentary with your PRO+ account.

Top image: Design by Jessica Maros of Maros Designs. Photo by Justin March.

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