Game rooms: design tips from Haus of Tiles founder Jenna Zielbauer
I asked one of my favorite interior designers, Jenna Zielbauer, to give me some of her favorite game room design tips. Not only is Jenna a professional designer, but she is also the owner of Haus of Tiles, a new mahjong brand giving an upscale look to the game world.
Zielbauer offers more than another pretty mahjong tile set. Using her professional design expertise, she knows about furniture scale, pattern play and texture.
And, yes, I am a paying customer. Her designs are meant to be displayed like works of art. I am proud to display her game pieces in my modern Nashville home and my country cabin in Wisconsin. Her mahjong tiles and accessories are too pretty to be put away.
And one more thing: I didn’t get paid to say any of this. I’m just honest, y’all.
Let’s hear from Jenna Zielbauer…
01. GO ROUND
Our favorite way to play? Around a round table. Without hard corners, everyone feels equally part of the game and conversation flows more naturally. There’s a little feng shui behind it, too: round shapes encourage movement and connection, creating a softer, more communal energy around the table. Our octagon mats fit beautifully on a 36" round table for a tailored look. If you like a little more breathing room for drinks and accessories, go with a 40" round.
02. MIX YOUR PATTERNS, NOT YOUR SCALE
We love a pattern-on-pattern moment. The secret is making sure they aren’t fighting for attention. If your mahjong mat has a larger, bolder repeat, pair it with a smaller-scale pattern on your tablecloth, napkins or upholstery. If one pattern is the star, let the other play supporting role. Think contrast in scale, connection in color. That’s what makes mixed patterns feel collected instead of chaotic.
03. LAYER IT LIKE A ROOM
Style your mahjong table the same way you would a room. Colors should feel intentional and complementary, but not so perfectly matched that the table loses its personality. Then layer in character through pattern, texture and material. Your mat, tiles, racks, tablecloth and accessories should each bring something different while still feeling connected. Think about what makes a beautifully designed room interesting: everything works together, but nothing feels like it came as a set.
A note from Missy: Thank you to Jenna for these incredible game room design tips. I can't wait to show y'all the mat I bought in an upcoming NEWSletter. It will be on display all year round!
