Video Game Rooms to Maximize Gaming Experience

Video games have become more popular than ever with the pandemic. People have been staying home more often for one reason or another and are looking for things to occupy themselves. Video games have provided just that and if you take it a bit further, it has also provided an escape from reality for a time that may be needed.

To make the most of your game experience, you must provide the right atmosphere. First you start with a plan…

Game Plan

Nothing creates a better gaming experience than the presence of great atmosphere. Create a place not just a room where you play games, but a world you enter and are taken away from everyday problems. A place you can come and just relax, have fun, and defeat enemies, search for look, and battle bosses.

The first step in creating the right gaming atmosphere is to create a ‘game plan’. A plan for your game room that suits you (and possibly your player 2’s and more)

You may not think there is much to decide when creating your game plan, though you might be surprised by that you could do to make the space into a gamers paradise.

Some items to think about as you plan:

• Layout/Space
• Organization/Storage
• Budget
• Equipment
• Themes
• Decor
• Game Play Experience

Layout/Space

The layout of your game room must suit what type of gaming you plan to use your space for. Do you plan to have console gaming and VR or just one or the other? Do you plan to add in some old school touches like pinball machines and such? Those may not be video game related, but they are game related and if you want to add a little nostalgia to your game room, you need to take those into account.

Take a moment to think of where you would like things to go: Entertainment center, storage, chairs/couches, controllers, games, etc. Having a plan will make the set up of your game room so much easier. Jot down a floor plan of the room for reference as you go about setting things up. Check out our Creative Atmosphere Guide for more assistance.

Room Size

One thing you will need to decide is whether you will have a complete room for your gaming area or part of a room. What space do you have and are willing to give up to get the game room you desire. (Compromising with your family/spouse, of course). You’ll have to keep in mind how you are going to use the space. Console play (single or double) will require less room than group or VR play.

Organization and Storage

Once you have the size of the room, you can then decide the placement of the larger items and work your way down to the smaller ones. Furniture like entertainment center, TV/Monitor/Projector, chairs, couches, and storage first. Then work on console placement, games, controllers and more.

Budget

Yes, it would be wonderful if we all had unlimited funds for the perfect game room, but let’s be realistic. Most of us only have so much to spend at one time or will need to start small and add when items become affordable. Consoles and games themselves can rack up a pretty penny on their own, which may not leave much more in the budget for other desired items.

Antique and thrift stores can be a great place to get items you won’t find anywhere else, sometimes at a more reasonable price. You can also check out sites like eBay, Facebook Marketplace and others; you never know what you might find to add to your space.

Equipment

This includes anything you use within your game room to it up for your use. Let’s take a look at some specifics to get you going on the right track.

Gaming TV Stand

Your TV stand/entertainment center can be as simple or elaborate as you wish. You can search for one or if you’re handy, you can create your own that will match your room and themes.

Find or create one that’s unique to you and your plans. SUfficient size for equipment, wires, accessories, and games

Be sure when you are looking at things like entertainment centers that you keep in mind just how you want to use it and what all will be homed there. You don’t want to get something too small and have to find more storage to awkwardly blend with your current equipment. Keep in mind the wires, accessories, and games you’ll have on your center.

Wide Monitor/Projector/TV

Depending on your play, you may want to invest in a wide monitor/TV or projector. Talk about immersing yourself into the game. Even w/o VR, a large screen can provide ample value for your gaming experience. When purchasing anything with connections, you want to make sure you are purchasing the right ones for the connections you need. This will make your set up run smother by thinking ahead when purchasing.

Consoles

Console have come in many shapes and sizes throughout the years and they continue to surprise us on the design and specs of each one as they are released. Keep in mind how many you own along with their shape and size when planning your space. Also think about controllers, camera, and accessory placement and storage.

Speakers

Speakers add next level sound to the room as you are playing along with raising tension and excitement. Think about surround sound and other audio devices to add to your gaming experience.

Electricity/Lighting

Lighting is important for a game room to give atmosphere as well as light. You can use rope lighting to give accents. Another is themed lighting such as PlayStation/xbox symbol lights or other game themed accented lighting to add to your setup.

Remember you want to add to the atmosphere, not take away from it and light placement can make or break the atmosphere. Push button controls can’t be added for easy and direct use.

Extra Equipment

Thinking about getting your gaming area set up, you may not think of some things right away like power cords, wall hooks, cord hiders, other stands, WiFi router hook up and the like. Make a note of these things when planning your room so you have them handy. There is always a problem of out of control wires and cables, find/create an atmosphere solution, the a wall design or hide using wire hiders.

Decor/Comfort

Comfort is the number one concern, other than the gaming of course, when it comes to setting up a game room. For longer periods of gaming, you want to be comfortable with the right atmosphere to keep your gaming spirit going.

Decor/Themes

The decorations you choose for your game room truly depend on your interest and tastes. Use colors and themes you enjoy and would accent the area well.

Shelves as well as the items you place on them can add to the theme and aesthetic of the room. If you choose a theme, whether that is a color scheme, your favorite video game characters, or simple modern feel, murals and decals can add the perfect touch to any game room.

Comfort

When playing any game, we look for comfort most of all. If we are not comfortable, continuing to play becomes difficult. You may put up with it or you may stop and come back shortly after getting up to ease your discomfort.

What you will need to decide is what you need in terms of comfort and what compliments the room (if you deem it worthy of complimenting your furniture with your theme)

Seating

Seating is the first thing you think of when it comes to comfort. Depending on how you are going to use the room will make your seating decisions a bit easier. If you are going to have groups then couch(es) and perhaps theatre seating may suit your atmosphere best.

If it’s just you and/or a parter, then a couple recliners, or gaming chairs may suit you better. Some other seating could be bean bag chairs or even hammock swing chairs. It’s totally up to you and how you play!

Ease of Play

Something else to think about is the ease of play. How can you make the layout and position of things so that the ease of play is seamless. Think of the placement of controllers and charging stations, having to load discs (unless you strictly play online or off the network)

Another thing to think of is concessions! I don’t know about you, but I’m always drinking and eating something while I play. Especially something with pieces that easy to pop in the mouth. Creating a small concession area with stocked snacks and drinks or even a larger one if that’s more to your tastes will add to your game room.

Gameplay Experience

Your gameplay experience is the whole reason you are creating a space for gaming in the first place. Creating an area where you relax, and take out the aggressions of the day on fictional creatures, bosses, and continue (or start) a journey of epic proportions.

Self Expression/Personalization

Of course, with any room you decorate you’ll put in your own additions that are unique to you and your interests. Themes and colors as mentioned above can add to the rooms aesthetics as well as your personality. Any extras at this point are yours to decide.

If you like movies or board games, this is something you can add for your own personal touches. Not to mention any gaming related items you want to add.

Sound Proofing

To keep the excitement or anger contained while playing you may want add soundproofing to minimize distractions to others or to keep them contained within the room. There are options when choosing soundproofing and it may be something you want to look into when planning your game room.

Final Thoughts

There may be a lot that goes into planning a game room, but the efforts are definitely worth it when it’s complete and you are enjoying the best video game room that suits you and your personality. You have the perfect gaming atmosphere to enter the gaming world from the moment you step foot inside the space.

Have fun and game on!