In today’s digital era of console and PC gamers and the popularity of streamers, traditional game rooms with foosball tables and pinball machines have taken a backseat to a new kind of recreational space: the gaming room. Many households now boast dedicated nooks or entire rooms for indulging in this increasingly popular video game pastime. What sets these gaming rooms apart is the wide array of specialised gaming furniture, gamer-themed decor, and vibrant LED lighting accessories, ensuring each gaming room has its unique look and feel.
With so many options available, knowing where to start when creating your own gaming room can be challenging. To help you begin your DIY upgrade, we’ve compiled a list of high-quality gaming room ideas and a step-by-step guide to ensure you’ll create an idealistic gaming sanctuary.
Location
Any room in your home can become an incredible gaming space when approached correctly. While bedrooms and living rooms are commonly chosen for gaming setups worldwide, other areas such as studies, lofts, and basements can also be transformed into ideal gaming rooms. The key is to ensure that your gaming space is cosy and inviting.
Essential Equipment
The complexity of your gaming setup can vary based on your preferences and financial resources. To illustrate, a minimal design may entail a computer, monitor, and gaming console. Conversely, a more elaborate arrangement might encompass multiple monitors, a gaming chair, a dedicated gaming desk, and surround sound speakers. The crucial aspect is to strike the right equilibrium between your chosen components, ensuring optimal performance within your budgetary constraints.
The minimal components required for a basic gaming setup include:
- A Gaming PC and/or games console
- A monitor/TV
- Keyboard/Mouse
- Desk
- Space in your house
Cable Management
The cable management system is an ideal solution for concealing and organising all your cords beneath your desk, ensuring their safety and minimising the risk of damage. This user-friendly tool can be easily attached to the surface using the included application products.
Installation can be done effortlessly with a universal tip mounting screwdriver or a power drill. Within seconds, you can have your cables neatly organised and in place.
Lighting and Ambience
Enhance your gaming experience by incorporating lighting trims into your desk, furniture, and walls. LED strip lighting, a popular choice among gamers, offers adjustable options with various colours to suit your needs.
RGB lights, which are “red, green, and blue” LEDs, provide over 16 million colours, making them a must-have for PC gaming setups. Take your gaming to the next level by integrating these lights into your gaming space.
Reactive lighting can be added in several ways. One option is to use bias lighting around the edges of your TV or monitor, creating indirect backlighting that provides a soothing glow without causing eye strain.
Advanced Hardware Recommendations
A mouse bungee is often considered necessary unless you use a wireless mouse. These handy accessories are also available with RGB lighting, ensuring you can find a bungee that complements your setup preferences.
A headset stand may be seen as a luxury, as there is nothing inherently wrong with placing it on the desk when not in use. However, using a stand undoubtedly tidies up the space and is highly recommended for individuals seeking a minimalist gaming setup.
If you are contemplating streaming, it would be wise to include a camera, a retractable green stream, a stream deck, and a standalone microphone in your setup.
Software Essentials
you have assembled your hardware; the next step is to install the operating system (OS) and essential drivers. To do this, create a bootable USB drive containing your preferred OS, such as Windows or Linux. Follow the installation instructions and customise the settings to suit your preferences.
After the OS installation, installing the latest drivers for all your components is crucial. Visit the manufacturers’ websites to download the most up-to-date drivers for your GPU, motherboard, and other peripherals. Updated drivers significantly improve performance, stability, and compatibility, ensuring your gaming PC operates at its maximum potential.
And, of course, the aforementioned drivers must be updated to keep your games running smoothly, specifically while streaming. Whether you’re a traditional streamer sharing your live gaming action with an audience or if you attack niche markets like a guide to the UK real money casinos, the approach to drivers and up-to-date software applies.
Storage and Organisation
To maintain the visual appeal of your gaming haven, it is essential to consider the storage system you desire, given the abundance of equipment and accessories. Whether you opt to construct or purchase it, the storage system should effectively serve its primary purpose: organising your consoles, PCs, and games in an aesthetically pleasing manner, while ensuring easy accessibility.
One simple solution could be acquiring a shelving system with separate compartments for each device and designated spaces for your game collection.
Acoustics
Acoustic panels hold significant importance in a gaming room. As a gamer, you are likely aware of sound echoing and deteriorating in your room due to sound waves reflecting off walls. Acoustic panels can help prevent this problem, creating a clearer and more immersive sound experience. For a touch of creativity, consider opting for uniquely patterned acoustic panels. Once
Gaming Room: How much does it cost?
The price to build a gaming room depends on your wants and needs. We’ve given a rough estimated price on basic and advanced hardware and accessories below.
| Hardware/Equipment | Basic | Advanced |
| Gaming PC | £800-£1000 | £1000-£10,000 |
| Gaming Monitor | £200-£300 | £500-£1000+ |
| Gaming Keyboard | £100 | £200+ |
| Gaming Mouse | £50 | £100+ |
| Gaming Chair | £100-£500 | £500+ |
| Microphone | £50 | £100-£1000 |
| Camera | £50 | £500-£2000 |
| Lighting | £50 | £100-£1000 |
| Green Screen | £50 | £100-£1000 |
Final Thoughts
Your game room setup should reflect your personal preferences. After all, you are the one designing and spending the most time in your gaming space. However, creating an inviting and comfortable environment with interesting decor ideas that will impress guests and friends is always a bonus.
Whether you prefer arcade games, video games, or retro-inspired wall art for your gaming room, we hope you now have abundant ideas and inspiration for your game room sanctuary and decoration.
