Introduction
If you’ve done any prior research, you might hear people talk about Man Caves, She Caves, and Game Rooms. There’s tons of awesome Pinterest ideas out there and a lot of Facebook groups to be part of to share your setup, but how do you know if it’s something you should do?
Before we start, I’m not talking about gambling rooms, which is often mistaken for a Game Room. I’m talking about family gaming rooms that comprise of video game setups, entertainment centers, and miscellaneous games that the family can enjoy. I don’t think Google understands this term because it’s not something commonly talked about on the web.
If you want to reach out to me with additional questions after reading this, send me an email at entertainmentden.ns@gmail.com.
So is a gaming room worth it? A gaming room is extremely worthwhile and here are the 4 Best Reasons:
- The entire family can enjoy it
- You have a dedicated space to decompress at the end of a long work day
- This is a great way to make use of extra space in a house
- Your kids can enjoy an entertainment room they’re entire upbringing
I did so much research on this topic even though there isn’t a lot of additional information! My goal with this article is to give you the best source possible and leave you inspired and to show you why it’s worth creating.
In this article you will get: Quotes from families with game rooms on why it’s worth it, Product examples so you can start creating one today, and 5 awesome examples to give you ideas. If you’re in a hurry and like to skim, read the red statements throughout to get the most value.
I interviewed some of my family and friends who have kids and this was some of their feedback:
“We set up a game room for our middle school kids so we could organize their media devices, controllers etc” – Erin and Leah H
Pro Tip: Buy vertical shelf storage below your TV. It’s the easiest way to organize accessories like game chargers, consoles, and the controllers.
I’m really glad my parents decided to do this when I was growing up and using our office space as a game room. It’s a really easy way to declutter items and it gives every item a place in the room.
What I like about their picture above is that it shows you the wide variety of items they store under their TV. Sometimes at the end of along movie or gaming session with my brother I would want to just throw the controllers on the floor and go to bed. Keeping shelving near the TV reminds you of where to put everything.
“I set our room up so that their friends can play next to each other, with one of them on the big screen” — David and Malena D
Pro Tip: You can play the same game with your friends on two separate screens if you want to avoid split screen gaming for LAN and other online parties
This picture is a great example of how you can do this well! One person could easily take the seat on the left and one could take the TV. If you have 3 or more people, you could even do split screen on the TV with one person on the monitors.
“We had a small room, so we used décor items to make the room feel unique” — Jennifer and Salil S.
Pro Tip: Decor items like LED lights are an instant way to turn even the most mundane space into a gaming heaven.
The above picture is a great example of LED lighting. You can place them under the desk, on the walls, and behind monitors. Another great décor idea that this room gets right is the use of movie posters and antique displays like the green lightsaber.
“Our kids love racing games, so we finally invested in the GT Race simulator for $200 and bought two units!” — Stacy and Rick
Interestingly enough, the most expensive part of this setup is not the chair simulator models, but rather the multi-screen setup. You can play racing simulator games with only one screen if you’re just starting out. If your budget permits, then two of these setups would be ultimate fun.
Product Examples You Can Use Today
If you aren’t able to create a setup as elaborate as the examples listed above, checkout these awesome accessories that can enhance the setup you already have!
Desk Lights
These make gaming a lot easier on your eyes and they’re an overlooked element of gaming. Desk lights reduce eyestrain and that adds up in the long run.
Pool Tables
The heart of any game room could be a pool table. They’re great if you don’t plan on moving around a lot and have the space for it. My uncle has one in his basement that also counts as his mancave.
L Shaped Desks
L Shaped desks are a great way to diversify space if you have more than one kid or they like to bring their friends over to game. It’s a simple addition to a desk you might already have and it makes small spaces more organized for group gaming.
Dual Monitor Setups to Play on the Same System
Dual monitors can be connected to one console or PC and it’s great if you want two people to have they’re own screen instead of sharing one. You might wonder if dual monitors will slow down your computer and the answer is in this article I wrote here.
Game and Movie Posters
Posters make any room look cooler. You can get them in vintage, modern, and everything in between. They’re cheap and easy to frame any Office Max store and I can’t wait to get more of these for my family’s movie theater room.
Themed Pillows
My brother and I played a lot of the famous online game Destiny on PS4. When we were in high school, my parents got us some pillows on Etsy that were Destiny Game themed. Etsy has all kind of cool gaming designs that you could put any one of your favorite games on.
Is a Home Theater Worth It?
A home theater will revitalize anyone’s desire to watch movies. They’re great for organized family movie nights, events, parties, and can even make video gaming even more immersive.
If you’re still not convinced, check out my other article on why these 5 families say a home theater is worth it. They even posted their pictures in the Facebook group that I’m apart of so you know what they’re talking about!
Check out some home theater inspiration ideas from some of the Facebook community members!
Another great setup idea from a member in the group:
Conclusion
Thanks for reading! If you want more info of business inquires you can reach me at the email from the beginning of this article. I’m also taking article suggestions so feel free to send those over to my email as well and I’ll do my best to respond! Stay tuned for the next article! – Nikhil