If you’re a gamer, or you know someone who regularly plays video games, then you’ll know the importance of good surroundings. Gone are the days when gamers were restricted to tiny CRT televisions and crummy sound systems; nowadays gaming is nothing if it’s not done on a huge TV with a monstrous speaker setup reproducing every bullet and every earthquake with breathtaking veracity.
The gamer in your life, whether it’s you or someone else, requires the perfect gaming room in which to immerse themselves. Building such a room isn’t easy; it requires dedication, patience and the right materials to even get started. Once the end product is complete, though, you’ll marvel at the difference it makes to your hobby. Here are a few tips on how to build the perfect gaming room for the gamer in your life.
Get the furniture setup right
One of the most important aspects of a good gaming room is the furniture. It might not seem significant at first, but without the correct shelving arrangement a gaming room can be awkward to navigate. Everything from seating angles to the amount of shelves required to house (say) a console collection is necessary to consider. There are plenty of out-of-the-box furniture solutions to opt for, but we’d strongly recommend a custom DIY furniture fitter such as this one for a gaming room. Custom solutions will allow you to structure the room according to what you want; you’ll be able to designate shelves for consoles, a cutout for the TV and assign shelves for the sound system and other accoutrements. A custom furniture setup allows for more freedom when it comes to design, and that’s important for a gaming room.
Consider your cable management
If there’s one thing that gamers know, it’s the pain of incorrect cable management. Aside from being an eyesore, poor cable routing can also lead to consoles being accidentally unplugged when moving a wired controller or, on a more serious note, electrical failures. It’s very important to consider cable management when building a gaming room. There are plenty of companies out there who sell sturdy, high-quality cable management systems which can integrate with desks and shelving, so do some research and settle on the one that works best for you. If your cables are all over the place, that’s the first thing people will notice, not the lavishly-decorated, advanced gaming setup you’ve got going on.
Buy a TV that can keep up
Believe it or not, even some top-of-the-range TVs are not good for gaming. If you’re a PC gamer, this shouldn’t be a problem for you; most PC monitors have lightning-fast response times to the point where the time difference between moving the mouse and the cursor moving on screen is not visible to the human eye. Many top-end TVs, however, are made more for movies and TV viewing than gaming, and as a result the latency (input lag) takes a hit. No gamer likes to move their character only to watch the model judder into life hundreds of milliseconds after their command has been registered. Make sure you opt for a TV with a naturally low latency score, or with a Game Mode that reduces input lag (sometimes at the cost of picture quality, but it’s barely noticeable with the best TVs). Be aware, though, that some Game Modes don’t actually lower latency; they just alter the picture and sound in an arbitrary way. Opt for a TV that has a functional Game Mode.
Get the right sound system
Just like TVs, some sound systems simply aren’t made for the low-latency environment of gaming. You’ll need to get a speaker setup or home cinema arrangement that is compatible with your hobby. Where possible, it’s a good idea to go for the same manufacturer as your TV, as there’s bound to be increased interoperability between the two devices. If that isn’t possible, though, make sure you choose a system with a low latency score, especially if it’s wireless; sound communicated over a wireless system very often exhibits high latency scores. Wired sound systems should always use an optical connection for the highest possible quality. For a space-saving, budget-friendly solution, don’t be afraid to buy a soundbar; just make sure it’s a good-quality one, as a number of low-budget options don’t cut the mustard for gamers.
Add the finishing touches
A gaming room just won’t feel like home if it doesn’t have all the necessary adornments. Cover the walls in posters, paraphernalia and reminders of your favourite gaming franchises, whatever they may be. Scatter the floors and shelves with figures, artwork and other miscellaneous articles related to gaming. Every time you go into your gaming room, you should feel like you’re entering a space designed for you; your hobby is one of the most important things in your life, so there’s no reason you shouldn’t feel totally at home while you’re doing it. Don’t forget the necessary additions, too; adequate power supply, the correct lighting and ventilation, et cetera. The last thing you want is for your PC to overheat or for you to trip over a cable you didn’t see in the dark.
