Did you know that, in the United States alone, almost 250 million people play video games on a regular basis? If you’re a big gamer yourself, you’ve most likely thought about building your own ultimate gaming room before.
We’ll be honest. Building a gaming room is hard work and takes a great deal of planning to execute correctly. But if you know what to do, and what not to do, you can get the job done in a few short weekends.
In this article, we’ll tell you how to build your own gaming room from the ground up. We’ll tell you how to get started, what gadgets to buy, as well as how you can make sure that your game room lives up to your expectations.
Make a Budget (and a Plan)
When you’re sitting down and brainstorming ideas for your game room, it’s a good idea to get some paper and map out things in great detail. Decide what you want, and how much you’re willing to spend, so you can create both a budget and a plan at the same time.
Doing this will not only help ensure that you build the perfect game room for you, but it’ll help you get an idea of how much it’s going to cost to do so. That information is crucial, as the last thing that you want to do is overspend, or even overpay, for your game room setup.
A pro tip? When you have an idea of what kind of gear and gadgets you’re going to buy, start searching for the best deals online ASAP. You can even find used gear online for a discount price, helping you stretch your budget even further.
Try to Do More With Less
We get it. You want to build an incredible gaming space that you and your friends and family can enjoy for years to come. But unless you have a large room to work with, like a full basement, you most likely can’t get everything that you want to fit comfortably in your space.
Our advice? When you’re mapping out your game room layout, try to do more with less. Don’t overcrowd your space, and in fact, be comfortable with leaving some spaces completely open.
Remember, you want to make it a place where many people can hang out comfortably. To do that, you need to limit how much furniture or gadgets you squeeze into your room. Prioritize your choices, and don’t be afraid to cut some ideas, so you can make sure your room is warm and inviting.
Focus on Comfortable Seating
To piggyback off of that last point, it’s important to go over and beyond to ensure that your gaming space is a place where you can sit comfortably for hours at a time. One of the best ways to do this is to invest in comfortable seating for your game room.
So, if you’re going to have a big TV setup, consider getting a quality couch to put in front of it. Something that you can enjoy, instead of something cheap that hurts your back, is more than recommended.
If you have a desk-only setup, a gaming chair is worth investing in. They’re a bit pricey, but again, you can’t overstate how important being comfortable while gaming is.
Invest in a Projector Screen or TV
Are you a big console gamer? Looking to set up a gaming room so you can play your PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo? If so, one of the things that absolutely needs to be on your list of items to purchase is a projector screen or TV.
Because short-throw projectors are a thing now, you can get a projector setup without having to mount a projector in your ceiling. That can be ideal for people who are renting, or for people who are working with a small room and have issues setting up traditional projectors.
If a nice gaming TV sounds better for you, make sure to get one that displays a 4K picture. 4K gaming is very much the future, so you want to make sure that the TV that you purchase is somewhat future-proof, especially if you have a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X.
Buy Many Gadgets for Sound
While having a 4K gaming TV or 4K gaming monitor is ideal, having a good sound setup is important, too. The best way to get quality sound while working on a budget? Invest in a gaming-specific soundbar for your space.
Unless you have a large game room, a soundbar should be more than enough sound to give you the results that you’re looking for. And like short-throw projectors, they’re easier to install than traditional surround sound setups, which means you won’t have to deal with mounting speakers or hiding as many wires.
Also, you should consider investing in a quality pair of gaming headphones. Being able to immerse yourself into a video game without disturbing others around you is important, especially if you like to game at night while others are sleeping.
Build or Buy Your Own Gaming PC
We’ve talked a lot about what you need to build the perfect console gaming setup. But for PC gamers, building a game room is going to be a completely different process.
On top of needing a comfortable chair, and the perfect desk, you’re going to need to build or purchase your own gaming PC. Building your PC can be a fun experience, especially if you’re somewhat handy, so keep that in mind.
With that being said, buying a premade gaming PC is also an option, and an affordable one, as brands like Lenovo have fair prices for powerful gaming PCs. So, don’t feel like you have to build your own PC to save money, you can very much get buy with buying a prebuilt PC if that makes you more comfortable.
Focus Heavily on Cable Management
When it comes to building a gaming room, it’s exciting to talk about things like projector setups or gaming PCs. It’s not as fun to talk about cable management, but it’s an important part of the process, especially if you want to have a setup that looks and feels clean.
The good news? Investing in a few cable management devices is super affordable and won’t set you back more than a hundred bucks or so. It’ll also help you keep things organized, which is ideal, especially when something needs to be repaired or replaced.
Go Crazy With LED Lights
Once you have your setup designed, purchased, and installed, it’s time to get to the final step of the process: decorating your space. If you know anything about modern gaming setups, you know that LED lights are an absolute must-have for most gamers.
If you’re big on LED lights, feel free to go crazy with them. Line your TV or your projector screen with LED strips to create a more immersive experience.
Also, consider installing smart bulbs in your ceiling, so you can control your lights via your smartphone. That way you can make your game room look and feel however you want without having to get up from your couch or chair.
Create a Space for Snacks and Drinks
When you’re playing games for hours at a time, it can be easy to forget to eat or drink. That’s why, for most game rooms, a snack area is a good idea.
It’s nice to have some drinks and snacks in your game room, to say the least. But something as simple as a mini-fridge and a shelf to hold your snacks is all you need to get the job done.
Simply put, you don’t need to build an entire bar set up, unless you want to, or have the space to do so.
Have Fun With Wall Decor
Finally, when you’re wrapping up the final touches on your game room, you’re most likely looking for ideas on how to decorate your walls. Because it’s a game room, we recommend that you like your walls with posters from your favorite video game franchises.
If you’re looking for something more practical, shelves for figurines, and even video game cases, are also a good idea. And if you want to take things up a notch, painting your room to look like a Mario level, or something else from a game franchise you enjoy, is a fun option, too.
Need More Help Designing the Ultimate Gaming Room?
As you can see, a lot goes into creating the ultimate gaming room setup. But if you keep these ideas in mind, and take your time creating a plan, you can bring the game room of your dreams to life yourself.
Looking for more information on how to build a gaming room? Check back with our blog for more ideas and information.