Homes Brief
Mahjong is moving into Washington-area homes
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Photo: Courtesy of Jennifer Grillo
Mahjong is the newest fixture in Washington-area homes, as people turn underused rooms into dedicated parlors for playing.
Why it matters: The centuries-old Chinese tile game that's sweeping D.C. is "one of the best things that you can do for your brain," says Gregg Swain, a historian of the game with a doctorate in clinical psychology.
Catch up quick: A staple among Asian families and later beloved by Jewish communities, mahjong is part of a larger return to hands-on hobbies.
- Younger Asian Americans are embracing mahjong to connect with their heritage, while Gen Z and Southern transplants drive new growth, including in Washington.
- There are more than 40 global variations, including an American one, and "the game has been changing ever since it started," Swain says.
Zoom in: In Falls Church, Virginia, a space that was once a playroom and then a craft room now holds three mahjong tables, 12 chairs and at least one weekly game.
- "My family was getting a little tired of walking in and having mahjong in the main space" and "a bunch of ladies in the hallway," says homeowner Paige Hahn, who learned to play about a year ago.
- "Now it's a dedicated space, and everybody's much happier," Hahn tells Axios.
In Arlington, the dining room in Jennifer Grillo's house sat mostly empty except for Christmas dinner and the occasional party.
- That changed when her husband, who owns a design and build firm, gave her a table that automatically shuffles mahjong tiles — sparking a room revamp that features floral wallpaper and glossy pink and green paint. Now it's a mahjong room.
- "It's nice to have an extra space for entertaining that you'll actually use," Grillo tells Axios. (She picked up the game a year ago, and so have her kids and neighbors.)
"Don't overthink it," says Alexandria homeowner Jennifer Miller about updating her dining room for mahjong.
- She swapped out the rarely used dining table for a smaller table, added a chandelier and now hosts players two to three times a week in her home.
- A full renovation isn't necessary, she says. "It's just a place for people to congregate."
The big picture: Mahjong not only brings people together, but research supports the idea that it's also good for brain health.
- A 2024 review of 53 studies found mahjong is linked to better cognitive and psychological outcomes in older adults — though researchers say more work is needed to understand exactly why.
- The game fires up strategic thinking, pattern recognition and memory, which can support healthy aging.