Growing up, my family and I used to play games almost every night after dinner. There were countless Monopoly marathons, Uno matches that would rival competitive sports, and more than a few domino games that included ‘friendly wagers.’ And while admittedly, I needed a long break before I could eagerly jump back into the game night frenzy, as an adult, I’m happy to keep the tradition going. To help you do the same, I’ve rounded up my favorite game night games that are guaranteed to keep you laughing well into the night. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!

The Best Game Night Games

Before you scroll through, here are a few tips to take game night from an obligatory commitment to something everyone will look forward to. I love making a special but stress-free meal (or putting together a varied spread of appetizers), popping open a bottle of wine, and setting the scene with a curated playlist that has something for everyone. 

Not one for competition? No worries. While you can certainly catch me *aggressively* engaging in all of the games below, when you get down to it, I’m simply happy to be surrounded by my favorite people without any screens among us. And, of course, we certainly don’t need excuses to make that happen. If we’ve learned anything from the past two years (and my goodness, we’ve certainly learned a lot), it’s this: Coming together, connecting, and offering up your presence alone is always enough.

But with that being said, after the greetings and hugs are given, it’s always good to have an activity or two that’ll help you further facilitate the fun. Whether you’re a player who’s all about strategy or someone who loves leaning into their luck, you’ll have your pick of all the best game night games below.

We’re Not Really Strangers

More and more games are coming out that are dedicated to inspiring thoughtful conversations. They allow you to go deep with other players, even if you’ve only just met. We’re Not Really Strangers is all of this and more (there’s a reason the game took social media by storm!).

Patchwork

In this game, crafting a full-blown, beautiful patchwork blanket is the goal. It’s great for players who moonlight as puzzle fanatics (so… everyone) and even lets you indulge in a little strategic thinking.

Werewolf: A Party Game for Devious People

You need at least seven people to play Werewolf, making it a great option for game night. Every player gets a character card (1 Moderator, 1 Seer, 1 Doctor, and 2 Werewolves) and the Werewolves work together to select a victim. Accusations and lies ensue—but don’t worry, it’s just a game.

Just One

While I love getting competitive, sometimes a cooperative game is more my speed. Just One is the perfect blend of Catch Phrase and Monikers (keep scrolling for those recs below). Players work together to give their teammates clues that help them guess the mystery words.

Cards Against Humanity

It’s not game night without the mother of all game night games. Cards Against Humanity is a ridiculous, adult-themed take on the card game Apples to Apples, and it’s quickly worked its way to the No. 1 best-selling spot in the toys and games department.

Monikers

When The New York Times calls something “The perfect party game,” you believe it. It’s simple to play. In three rounds, players give clues and try to get their team to guess as many of the names as possible from the deck. Round one: Say whatever you need to get your team to guess the name on each card (without, of course, using the name itself). Round two is a little more challenging. Using the same cards from the first round, you can only offer up one word as your hint. Round three? Charades, my friends.

Rat-A-Tat-Cat

If memory serves me correctly, I believe this easy, but strategic (and wildly fun) card game came into my life on my sixth birthday—and I’ve played at least a monthly round of Rat-A-Tat-Cat ever since. While it’s simple enough for young children to enjoy, there’s plenty of skill and intuition packed in. Each player is dealt four cards kept face-down. Cards are numbered one through nine, and with every turn, players draw a card from the deck trying to end up with the lowest score.

Mille Bornes

Whether it’s a reunion, holiday, or really any time my family finds ourselves together, you can bet we’ll be playing Mille Bornes. French for a thousand milestones, Mille Bornes is the classic, mid-century card game that has players racing head-to-head.

Hot Seat

Want to get to know your friends better? Then you have to play the Hot Seat card game, which will help you find out who your friends really are—you may even discover a few things you didn’t want to know!

Exploding Kittens

Admittedly, because of my proud cat lady status, I was initially turned off by the name. But because of Exploding Kittens’ popularity, the Russian Roulette-style game piqued my curiosity and found its way into my game night rotation. Contrary to what you might think, it’s a family-friendly option that’s fun for kids and adults alike. And while I love welcoming almost any game into my life, my patience wanes when I have to leaf through ten pages of instructions.

5 Second Rule

5 Second Rule is a simple, yet incredibly fun game where you are challenged to name three of whatever topic is on the card—sometimes you’ll be able to name them in three seconds and other times your mind will go completely blank!

Codenames

Only serious game players are allowed! There are two spymasters and each spymaster is trying to get their team to guess which word or picture cards are theirs by only saying one very strategic word.

Sorry!

I recently played this game on vacation and it was way more fun than I remembered (it helps that I kept winning!). Sorry! is proof that sometimes, the best games are the ones we loved but haven’t played since childhood. All the more reason to break out your favorite, classic game night games.

Catch Phrase

Catch Phrase is definitely an oldie, but a goodie. If you haven’t played, you try to get your teammates to guess the word or phrase that appears, but you can’t say any of the words on the screen.

Ticket to Ride

In this cross-country train adventure game, you and your friends will collect cards and grow your railway across America. If you can connect two cities and have the longest railway, you’re the winner. If you want your array of game night games to keep the party going all night long, this is a great pick to include.

Sleeping Queens

Some might write it off as being only for kids, but not a family holiday goes by without my sisters and I breaking out the Sleeping Queens box. The game is fast-moving and requires some quick thinking on every player’s part. The game ends when the player who wakes the most queens wins.

Bananagrams

Bananagrams is simple: build your own crossword with the tiles you’re dealt with, and the first player to complete their grid is the winner. Honestly, though, this is one of the few games where I forget all about the competition, rewrite the rules, (hey, it’s my game night), and throw the timer away. Instead, I love focusing on trying to use up the whole bag of letters and seeing all the creative combos people can come up with.

Scattergories

I. Love. Scattergories. End of story. It’s one of my favorite game night games for a reason. While Scattergories has been around for years, it never gets old. The classic, category-based game puts your creativity to the test. Each round only takes about three minutes to complete, so you can fill your game night full of Scattergories.

The Hygge Game

While this is less about competition and more a game meant to inspire meaningful conversations, it nonetheless gets to the heart of game night: connecting and coming together with family and friends.

Twister

Okay, everyone is familiar with this game since it’s been around since the ’60s, but we think it has been unjustly forgotten over time. The great thing about Twister is that it is just as appropriate at an eight-year-old birthday party as at a grown-up party. Because after all, the greatest game night games can be enjoyed by players of all ages.

What Do You Meme?

If memes crack you up, you’ll seriously love this game. Think Cards Against Humanity, but with meme captions as the playing cards to make the best photo/text combo.

Smart Ass

Was trivia night at your local bar the highlight of your week? Bring the fun home with Smart Ass, a game where you have to shout out the answer to each who, what, or where question first to win the round.

Cranium

This all-rounder game is played in teams and forces players to use different kinds of creative intelligence, hence the name. Teams try to complete tasks by doing all kinds of things—getting your teammates to guess what you’re making out of clay, solving a puzzle, acting out a scene, or spelling words backward, for example.

Carcassonne

Like Catan, but different (and IMO—better). With 2-5 players and a bit of strategy in your back pocket, your goal is to place tiles to construct the landscape around the medieval French city of Carcassonne. Build, create, and claim roads, fields, and monasteries with your followers to win the game. When it comes to the best game night games, you’ll want to be sure you have this one on hand.

Without question, the coffee table is one of the best places to express creativity and make a design statement in the living room. It’s a little like lipstick at the end of your makeup routine: a quick final step, but one that makes all the difference. However, finding coffee table decor ideas that are a little outside-the-box can be stressful for many of us. (Self included.) But since I’ve been wanting to freshen up my own, I reached out to a few of my favorite interior designers and asked if they’d spill their best foolproof coffee table decor ideas.

Ro Miller Rynd of RM Rynd Interiors puts it best: “The coffee table is often the centerpiece of the space, so we should treat it with respect.”

One common thread throughout these expert coffee table decor ideas is to fill it with things that feel personal to you. Whether that be a functional design that can (stylishly) house remotes and other small items, a stack of colorful books, or fresh flowers—the goal is to make it your own. According to Penelope Bianchi of McCormick Interiors, decorating your house should be like writing your autobiography; nothing should be fake or contrived. Amen!

Designers Share 12 Essential Coffee Table Decor Ideas

Read on for 12 coffee table decor ideas from the following interior designers to create a coffee table that speaks to your style.

1. A Strong Foundation is Key

When styling a coffee table, Sarah Peddicord starts with the foundation. A ceramic, leather or textured tray will both ground the coffee table and give the foundation for layering opportunities on the table. Next, she suggests playing around with adding different ceramic vases that can hold flowers, giving the coffee table height. This can also be achieved by adding unique sculptural elements, matchstick holders, and other treasured elements, all of which give the table a lived-in look.

2. Appeal to All the Senses

Shazalynn Cavin Winfrey believes that the best coffee tables appeal to all of our senses. They are tactile and display items we can touch; they include things that smell wonderful like candles or scented wax sculptures; they have a small vessel for your favorite candies, and they are also visually interesting. Pro tip: Look for pieces that double as conversation starters.

3. Think in Odd Numbers

This is a common rule of design but Peddicord encourages anyone who’s arranging coffee table decor to consider it in the preliminary stages. Depending on the size of the table, she recommends having three or five different elements. It’s also important to note that every part of the table should be the same. Remember juxtaposition creates tension that engages the eye and is much more visually appealing than a table that’s one-note. 

4. Showcase Your Books and Arrange Bindings in Different Directions

While Cindy Witmer Olrik agrees with the odd numbers rule, she makes an exception with square coffee tables. She loves using beautiful books and wants to showcase them on every corner. Arranging the bindings in different directions, usually facing the seat closest to that side, topped with “the prettiest little objet d’art that I can get my hands on” makes a perfect setting. Check out some of our favorite coffee table books here. 

5. Divide the Table Into Balanced Quadrants

Once you’ve divided your table into quadrants, Ro Miller Rynd suggests placing items in each of them to achieve visual balance. They do not need to match each other, but you’ll want to use things that take up similar space. For example, if you use a stack of books in one quadrant, you will want to use a plant or bowl of similar size in the quadrant diagonal from it.

6. Think of Your Table as Your Autobiography

This is Penelope Bianchi’s decorating philosophy. Her entryway table is full of antiques she’s collected throughout her travels—they’re beautiful and great conversation starters. Similarly, Winfrey suggests using trays and glass boxes to hold collections that evoke an emotional response from the owner. She once designed a coffee table for a family with enclosed specimen trays to house items they collected on nature walks nearby. Never be afraid to use non-traditional, personal elements. 

7. Curate Your Decor Items to the Space

Another one of Rynd’s tried and true coffee table decor ideas is to use items that relate to the space. For example, use design or art books in a common area, but use sports or travel books in a men’s library. She also suggests layering books from largest to smallest on the top. Select favorite accessories such as bowls, candlesticks, plants, or succulents for the other quadrants, and finish off with small accessories placed on top of books.

8. Use the Rule of Threes

Abbe Fenimore likes to style coffee tables using the rule of threes. This entails arranging items in odd numbers for a visually dynamic aesthetic. This is perfect for adding interest to a large square coffee table, plus it leaves a little space to kick your feet up. Don’t feel like you need to fill up every inch of the coffee table either.

9. Fresh Flowers Are Your Friend

This is the number one thing I heard from designers when it comes to coffee tables. According to Abbe Fenimore, an age-old styling trick (and still a favorite of hers) is to add fresh flowers. “They will instantly add life and soften up the area,” she notes. Fresh flowers appeal to all five of the senses and can be changed with the seasons. Peddicord also loves decorative branches to create a foraged look.

10. Employ the Triangle Method

Holly Lydick styles her coffee tables in the shape of a triangle. This is different from the rule of threes, as it applies to height. Start with a taller accessory, such as a box or a plant, and tier down to a lower height accessory, such as a small tray, and then a final, third-tier even lower. This helps to maintain balance and consistently draws the eye downward. 

11. Try Two

If you’re looking for an option with maximum functionality but also want to showcase your style, try out a two-tiered coffee table. Lydick recommends using one with a glass top. Here you can curate a collection of antique tortoise boxes on a tray or stack your favorite books detailing their beautiful bindings on the open end, while still leaving open space up top.

12. Don’t Be Afraid to Change It Up

Rynd reminds us that we’re not married to one look. Feel free to add new items as you like from your travels or as the seasons change. When you’re entertaining, subtract items as you need for extra space. Your coffee table can always be evolving which makes it a favorite and reasonable spot to modify. Lydick similarly advises making sure that any groupings still allow room for entertaining—creating space for coffee, wine, appetizers, etc.

Our Favorite Coffee Table Decor

From candles to design books to decorative objects—these are a few of our favorite things that we always keep out on the coffee table. Remember: when curating your coffee table aesthetic, less is always more. Be thoughtful and discerning with what you display and consider how the various components play together to create the vibe you want.

This April 22nd, people all around the world will celebrate Earth Day. It’s a time to celebrate our precious planet, and consider how we can care for her better. Rooted in a legacy of environmental activism, this special day invites us to unite in honoring Mother Earth. Growing up in California, Earth Day was more than just a date on the calendar for me—it was woven into the fabric of my childhood and shaped by my mom’s deep reverence for nature. Now, as a parent, passing on these values to my own children feels like a sacred duty. If you’re wondering how to celebrate Earth Day with your little ones, join me on a journey filled with wonder, learning, and love for our planet.

Featured image from our interview with Roti Brown.

How to Celebrate Earth Day: 5 Ideas to Inspire a Meaningful Celebration

Historically, Earth Day has come and gone for many of us without an acknowledgment of its importance. Until climate change became a growing concern for society on a global level—much of this awareness due to shifting weather patterns and warmer temps—we were met with messages to use less, recycle more, and maybe volunteer to plant a tree. But thankfully, things are shifting, and we understand how closely planetary health and community wellness are tied. Many people feel this responsibility and want to pass down a respect for the Earth to their children.

That said, it can be hard to know how to celebrate Earth Day in a meaningful, resonant way. For parents and caregivers looking for answers, I hope the following ideas spark inspiration and action.

Growing Gardens and Cultivating Connections

Planting a garden is more than just digging in the dirt. It’s a labor of love that yields countless rewards. My family has nurtured seeds into sprouts, tended to the soil with care, and celebrated in the bountiful mini harvests. Through this hands-on experience, my children have learned invaluable lessons about patience, stewardship, and the interconnectedness of all living things.

Whether it’s a backyard plot or a shared community garden, cultivating green spaces fosters not only a love for nature but also a sense of belonging and community spirit. Harlem Grown is a great book that speaks to the shared love of gardening.

Chasing Sunsets and Cherishing Moments

Few things rival the enchantment of a sunset. It’s a natural phenomenon and fleeting masterpiece that paints itself across the sky. Whether we’re nestled in a blanket at the park or strolling along the pier, witnessing the sun’s descent always fills us with wonder. Watching the golden hues dance across the horizon can be an opportunity to express gratitude. For the warmth on our bodies, the light it extends, and its fascinating movements. I remind my children of our planet’s beauty and fragility, nurturing a sense of love and awe for the natural world that surrounds us.

Coastal Clean-up and Bonding by the Water

There’s something magical about being near water. It’s soothing for the soul and brings families closer together. Recently, a parent organized a beach clean-up with my daughter’s school friends. We armed ourselves with grabbers, gloves, and trash bags. As we combed the shoreline, picking up litter and sharing stories, I witnessed firsthand the power of collective action and environmental education. Remember, you don’t need an ocean to make a difference. A local park or trail can serve as a canvas for teaching your children about the importance of conservation and community care.

Stargazing Adventures and Eco-Lessons

Picture this: a warm evening, a telescope poised for exploration, and eager little faces reflecting the awe of the cosmos. My children’s fascination with the planets and solar system, ignited by a recent eclipse, has opened the door to meaningful conversations about pollution and light pollution. Together, we’ve peered into the night sky, marveling at distant stars while discussing the importance of preserving our skies for future generations.

This Earth Day, grab a telescope, and let the wonders of the universe spark curiosity and environmental consciousness in your own little astronomers.

Reducing, Reusing, and Sparking Creativity

In a world dominated by consumption, teaching our children the importance of reducing waste and reusing resources is paramount. One of our favorite activities is reading This Is Not a Box. It’s a delightful book that ignites their imaginations and prompts them to see an everyday item in a new way. By encouraging creativity and resourcefulness, we not only minimize our environmental footprint but also cultivate a mindset of mindful consumption. It’s a gift I know will serve my children well throughout their lives.

The Takeaway

As Earth Day approaches, let’s seize the opportunity to celebrate our planet with our children. It’s a day where we can weave together moments of wonder, learning, and connection. Through stargazing adventures, coastal clean-ups, sunset chases, creative reuse projects, and gardening endeavors, we can instill in them a deep appreciation for the natural world and a commitment to protecting it for generations to come. Let’s embark on a journey of love and stewardship, nurturing a brighter, greener future for all.