Guides

Measure twice. Play for years.

Practical UK guides for planning, setting up and looking after a home games room. New here? Start here.

Plan the room

Games room ideas by room size: what fits where

What games fit in a box room, bedroom, garage or garden room? A room-by-room chart for pool, darts, table football, air hockey and table tennis.

Pool table sizes: 6ft, 7ft, 8ft and 9ft compared

UK pool table sizes explained: 6ft, 7ft, 8ft and 9ft dimensions, playing areas, ball sizes, heights and the room each one needs, with a chart.

Pool table room size: how much space do you need?

Measure for the table and the cue, with UK pool-table dimensions, a room-size chart and practical clearance advice.

Snooker table sizes for the home

Compare 6ft to full-size snooker tables, see the room each size needs and understand the trade-offs of a smaller table.

Table tennis tables: indoor vs outdoor and room size

Plan the playing space for a full-size table tennis table, compare indoor and outdoor tables, and check storage and floor needs.

Air hockey tables: sizes and what to look for

Compare home air hockey table sizes, the room space players need, blowers, scoring, power and noise, so you choose a table that suits your room.

Table football tables: sizes, rods and room space

Plan the room for a table football table, compare telescopic and through rods, and know what to check before buying for a UK home.

Games-room lighting: pool tables, darts and table tennis

Light a pool or snooker table, a dartboard and a table tennis area evenly, without glare or shadows, with practical mounting guidance.

Where it goes

Turning a spare bedroom into a games room

What fits in a typical UK spare bedroom, from darts and table football to a small pool table, plus floors, noise, light and getting the table upstairs.

Games room flooring: what works for pool, darts and table tennis

Choose games-room flooring that suits pool tables, darts and table tennis: carpet, vinyl, laminate, rubber and concrete compared, plus levelling and floor protection.

Keeping a games room quiet: pool, darts and table tennis

Cut the noise from rolling balls, darts, table tennis and air hockey blowers with practical fixes for floors, walls, doors and timing in UK homes.

Converting a garage into a games room

Plan the floor, damp, warmth, light, power and access before putting a games table in a garage, with a step-by-step checklist.

Loft and upstairs games rooms: what to check first

Check floor strength, access, headroom and heat before putting a games table in a loft, spare bedroom or upstairs room.

Garden room and outbuilding games rooms

Plan a garden room, cabin or outbuilding as a games room: base, damp, heating, power, security and the rules to check.

A family games room: tables, junior cues and safety

Plan a games room for children and adults: which games suit which ages, junior cue sizes, darts safety, folding tables and storage.

Choose and set up

Getting a games table into your home: the delivery route

Measure doors, hallways, corners and stairs before a pool, snooker or table tennis table arrives, and know what to ask the retailer.

Slate vs MDF pool tables: which is worth it?

Slate or MDF? Compare the weight, levelness, play, price and installation of slate and MDF pool tables, and find out which bed suits your room.

English vs American pool: tables, balls and rules

Understand the differences between English and American pool tables, balls, pockets and rules before buying a table for a UK home.

Multi-game tables: are 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 tables any good?

Learn where convertible games tables work well, which games they combine, and what compromises to inspect before buying.

Cue weight, length and tip size: how to choose

Compare cue weights, lengths and tip sizes for snooker, English pool and American pool, with a simple way to match a cue to the player and the table.

Dartboard height and oche distance

Set up a dartboard at the standard height and throwing distance with a step-by-step method, measurements in metric and imperial, and a checklist.

How to level a pool table

Check and level an MDF pool table step by step, understand when a slate table needs a fitter, and know when the floor is the problem.

Rules of the game

How to play 501 darts: rules, scoring and finishing

The rules of 501 darts explained simply: who throws first, how scoring works, finishing on a double, going bust, legs and sets.

Darts games to play at home: cricket, killer and more

Six darts games for home: cricket, around the clock, killer, Shanghai, halve-it and 301, with simple rules for every level and age.

Table tennis rules: scoring, serving and doubles

The main table tennis rules explained for home play: games to 11, how to serve legally, lets, changing serve and doubles order.

Snooker rules and scoring, explained simply

A plain-English guide to snooker: ball values, the order of play, fouls and penalties, free balls, snookers and how a frame is won.

English pool rules: eight-ball and blackball explained

How English eight-ball pool works: the break, choosing groups, fouls, ball in hand or two visits, and the shots that lose the frame.

Rest, spider and swan: which snooker rest to use

Understand the standard rest, spider, swan and extended rests, when to use each, and what a home snooker table needs.

Look after it

Pool and snooker table care: cloth, cushions and balls

Keep a home pool or snooker table playing well with simple routines for brushing the cloth, cleaning balls, covering the table and spotting wear.

Cue care: straightness, warping and re-tipping

Look after a pool or snooker cue: check it is straight, store it so it does not warp, and replace a worn tip step by step.

Upgrade your home pool or snooker table: what to do first

A practical order for improving how a home pool or snooker table plays, starting with free fixes and ending with re-covering and cushions.