Tag: games room

Tips for building a game room in the house

Tips for building a game room in the house

Creating a game room in your home is an exciting way to combine entertainment, relaxation and socialising under one roof. Whether it’s for board games, video games or casino-style gaming, a well-designed game room can become a central hub for family and friends. With thoughtful planning, the space can reflect both style and functionality, making it a perfect retreat for leisure.

Choosing the right space

The first step in building a game room is selecting a suitable area in your house. The location impacts lighting, noise control and accessibility. Basements, spare bedrooms or converted garages are popular choices for game rooms.

Factors to consider when choosing a space

  • Size of the room – enough space for furniture and movement
  • Lighting – natural light during the day, adjustable lighting for gaming
  • Noise levels – choose areas that won’t disturb the rest of the household
  • Ventilation – proper airflow to keep the room comfortable
  • Accessibility – easy access for friends and family

Choosing the right room helps create an environment that’s both functional and enjoyable, allowing gaming sessions to be immersive without causing disruption elsewhere in the home.

Selecting gaming equipment

Once the space is ready, selecting the right equipment is key. This includes consoles, PCs, arcade machines and other entertainment devices. It’s also important to consider online gaming options, as many players enjoy platforms like online slot sites at FIRST to enhance their game room experience.

Popular game room equipment

Equipment typePurpose & benefit
Video game consolesAccess to a variety of digital games
Arcade machinesNostalgic fun and interactive gameplay
Gaming PCsHigh-performance gaming and streaming
Board games & card tablesSocial interaction and strategic fun
VR headsetsImmersive virtual experiences

Selecting a combination of these devices ensures that the game room caters to all types of players, from casual gamers to enthusiasts.

Furniture and layout

Furniture and room layout are essential for comfort and usability. Seating, storage and table arrangements influence the overall gaming experience. Proper planning can create a welcoming space that encourages extended gaming sessions.

Key furniture and layout elements

  • Comfortable seating (gaming chairs, sofas, beanbags)
  • Adjustable tables for card games and board games
  • Shelving or storage for consoles, controllers and accessories
  • Wall-mounted screens for better viewing angles
  • Room zoning for different game types (arcade, board games, console gaming)

Thoughtful furniture placement enhances convenience, ensures space is used efficiently, and allows for smooth transitions between different types of games.

Lighting and ambience

The right lighting and atmosphere can dramatically improve the gaming experience. Lighting affects visibility, mood and the overall aesthetic of the room.

Lighting tips for game rooms

Lighting typePurpose
Ambient lightingGeneral illumination
Task lightingFocused light for board or card games
LED accent lightingAdds colour and energy to the room
Dimmer switchesAdjustable brightness for different moods
Blacklight or neon lightsFun and immersive environment

A balanced combination of lighting options creates a versatile space that is practical for gameplay and visually engaging for players.

Personal touches

Adding personal elements makes the game room unique and inviting. Decor, memorabilia and themed designs can reflect individual tastes while making the space memorable.

Ideas for personalising your game room

  • Posters, artwork or decals featuring favourite games
  • Themed furniture, like a casino-style poker table or racing seats
  • Collectibles and memorabilia from popular games
  • Custom shelving or display cases for trophies and achievements
  • Sound systems to enhance gameplay immersion

By incorporating personal touches, the game room becomes a reflection of the owner’s personality, making it a space where everyone feels welcome and entertained.

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What should you do with a spare room you never use?

What should you do with a spare room you never use?

Do you have a spare room in your house that you never use or even enter? Having extra space at home is a good thing, but you need to think about how best to use it.

Create a games room

The good thing about a games room is that you can set it up to play whatever you love. This could mean setting up a space to play chess, card games or pool and creating the right environment to enjoy these classic games. An alternative would be to set up a computer to access online games from the privacy and comfort of a room that’s designed for this very reason. Comfortable chairs are essential to complete this transformation, but it’s the kind of change that doesn’t usually require a huge amount of work.

You could also consider a room that combines the classic approach with online convenience. Traditional games, including chess, blackjack and bingo, can all be played online. This selection of bingo games includes various ways of playing, such as 75-ball and 90-ball versions. Games are played in themed rooms, where you can chat with other players as you follow the action. Online slots like Lucky Leprechauns and Gold Blitz add extra variety, turning the games room into a sort of home casino.

Enjoy movies in a cinema room

A home cinema room offers a great way to use your spare room for entertainment. This change involves adding technology like a big-screen TV and sound system, so it can prove to be costly. If you add cinema-style seating or sound-proof the walls, it will add to the cost but give a much more authentic experience.

This is also one of the most enjoyable ways to decorate a spare room. This look at some of the most luxurious home cinemas of the stars features incredible details, but there are also simpler ways you could decorate this space. Adding vintage movie posters and a popcorn machine are a couple of simple ideas for making it a great place to settle down and watch a film.

A useful home office to avoid the commute

Not everyone needs to have a home office, but it can prove to be a very worthwhile alteration. The Pew Research Center confirmed in 2023 that a third of all workers who have the option of carrying out their jobs from home have decided to work remotely all the time. This suggests that more people might work from home if they had a suitable office space.

Adding a desk and laptop should be easy enough for most people. However, you should bear in mind factors like the amount of natural light and whether there’s going to be a lot of noise or interruptions during your working hours.

Any of these changes can work wonders for adding something extra to your house and lifestyle for a limited cost. Whether you want a new way to enjoy your favourite hobby or avoid the daily commute, bringing new life to a spare room is an idea worth considering.

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From setup to gadgets: Maximising your home gaming experience

From setup to gadgets: Maximising your home gaming experience

Gaming is among the most popular forms of entertainment globally. According to recent statistics by Exploding Topics, there were at least 3.32 billion active video gamers in 2024. Can you imagine that this number rose by almost 1 billion within a mere 8 years? How insane! And you can bet that most of these gamers do their thing at home. 

Now, there’s a way that you can set yourself up at home to ensure that you’re having a good gaming experience. And no, we’re not saying that you install the latest gaming setup or buy the most expensive gear. Just using the resources that you have at hand is enough. 

For instance, let’s say you’re a lover of casino games. Improving your gaming experience may involve searching the internet to find some exclusive online casino welcome bonus offers. You’ll discover that finding these bonuses isn’t that hard, as there are sites that find the bonuses for you. Ultimately, you’ll be able to play your favourite casino games without having to worry about risking your funds and will end up having a much better gaming experience.

Now that you have the gist of what we’re talking about, let’s get right into it. Here are some of the practical things you can do at home to improve your home gaming experience. 

Connect to fast internet 

One thing that’s guaranteed to ruin your gaming experience is the internet network you’re using. It doesn’t matter how good your gadgets are; if your internet connection is terrible, then you won’t enjoy your games. You’ll be dealing with lagging games, an experience that is every gamer’s nightmare. 

If you’re playing an online game, then probably 3mbps may do the job. However, if you’re playing competitive and multiplayer games, then you should have an internet connection with speeds of at least 20mbps. And, if you’re sharing a connection with other people and devices, then experts recommend speeds of at least 50mbps. 

The biggest task you have is choosing the fastest broadband network available. However, if you don’t have much control over the speed of the internet, you can try doing some of the following things:

  • Game during off-peak times, such as late at night or early mornings.
  • Use Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi.
  • Turn off your other devices that are using the connection.
  • Connect to the closest server, as distance affects latency.

Just imagine the agony that you’d experience if you were close to breaking a record and then – BOOM – connection lost!

Invest in a gaming chair

In many cases, gaming involves sitting for many hours. According to a report by Statista, in 2020, avid gamers were playing for an average of 112.8 minutes on a daily basis. Other reports show that avid gamers play from anywhere between 2 and 4 hours a day. This requires you to have a good chair to reduce the risk of hurting your back. Just to put it out there, comfort is key when gaming.

A gaming chair is specifically designed to support your neck, spine and lumbar. A good gaming chair will help you maintain proper posture. In addition to the health benefits, gaming chairs offer comfort through its various features, including:

  • Plush padding
  • Adjustable armrests for the perfect sitting position
  • Reclining settings

Create the right ambience

Let’s talk about the right gaming ambience. It starts with the lighting through to the wall colour and décor. Consider setting up your gaming room like a stage. What kind of lights evoke the mood you want? Using RGB lights will allow you to switch between colours to set the desired mood and game vibe. Also, for eye comfort, ensure that you add bias lighting behind your monitor. This will balance out the light in your room and that on your screen and help you not to strain.

When it comes to room decoration, have wall art and colour scheme that reflect your personality. You’ll realise that this will give you a significant mood boost even when playing tough levels. In fact, a study by Stacey Baxter of the University of Sydney revealed that ambient lighting increases the duration of gameplay. 

Keep drinks and snacks around

It is said that food is the gateway to the soul, and we totally agree. When gaming, it’s important that you have snacks and drinks close at hand. But why is this the case? You may ask.

Well, when you’re gaming, sometimes you expend a lot of energy (because of working your brain) and you may need to replenish it, especially when you have long gaming sessions. Thus, if you don’t have your energy boosters around, then you’ll have to pause the game and go look for something to eat. What this does is that it reduces your gaming time and reduces your concentration levels. If you’re playing a multi-player game, you’ll have to leave your teammates, which may be catastrophic. Therefore, it’s wise if you have your nourishment nearby.

Wrapping up

Now, just as we have mentioned above, you don’t need expensive gadgets to have a wonderful gaming experience. It’s easy; just work with what you have around, sit in a comfortable chair, have your snacks around you etc. You’re playing a fantastic game in a wonderful environment. And that’s all you need to make it work.

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5 must-have additions to your games room in 2025

5 must-have additions to your games room in 2025

In recent years, games rooms have become more popular than ever and are now seen as a great addition to any home. The possibilities are endless, and each space can be designed to be fun, stylish and practical.

Whether you already have a games room at home and are looking for ways to upgrade it and take it to the next level or are considering starting a new project and making a new games room with the space you have, here are five must-have additions everyone should consider for their games room in 2025.

Why are game rooms more popular than ever?

Games rooms are popular for many reasons, but the number one reason is that they are fun. Having a space at home to relax and unwind is a great way to bond with friends and relatives.

Games rooms allow people to come together in a fun and unique way, and they can create unforgettable experiences and, hopefully, memories that will last a lifetime.

When it comes to designing your own private space for you and your guests, you can let your imagination run wild. Some people prefer a modern or quirky look and feel, whereas others prefer a more traditional or retro/old-school theme. Once you have decided upon a theme, decorating and filling your games room with furniture and accessories will be much easier. Adorn your walls with framed hockey jerseys or fill shelves with a collection of Manga and Anime figures – it’s your choice!

You can use your room as a hangout spot whenever you need to chill out and escape the stresses of everyday life, and if the room is big enough, it can be used for parties, game nights and other special occasions during the holidays.

In addition to filling your games room with entertainment activities, you can also use them to exercise and stay fit.

Well-designed, fully functional games rooms have even been known to increase the value of the home as they are seen as attractive features for prospective buyers.

If you are keen on reducing your carbon footprint and the average cost of your electricity bills, then you may also want to consider installing solar panels at home to help power any new appliances you decide to add to your new games room and can also help add value to your property.

People who like to game online can also go green by choosing eco-friendly gaming products, such as ocean-recovered/recycled plastic PC mice.

You can also now find eco-friendly games made using raw materials like cardboard, paper and FSC-certified wood instead of harmful plastics. Plus, there are many other green/sustainable gaming products out there.

You might also want to improve your room’s insulation to keep the heat in and the cold out, and remember to do simple things like switching off devices and appliances when they aren’t being used in your games room.

5 must-have additions to your games room in 2025

Anyone who is looking to take their games room at home to the next level may want to invest in one or more of these must-have additions. These top suggestions can help create a better atmosphere and make your space more enjoyable to relax in.

Five must-have additions to consider for your games room are the following:

  1. Smart TV – perhaps consider getting a smart TV if you haven’t already, or if you already have one, go for a bigger, newer Smart TV. They are excellent for playing free slot games without downloading or registration, watching TV shows and movies on major streaming platforms like Netflix and Prime and taking in live sporting events, musical concerts and so much more.
  2. Furniture – adding the right kind of furniture to your games room will boost comfort for you and your guests and provide a more organised layout so you can get the most out of your space. You might also want to investigate getting a corner sofa, snuggle chair, pouffes or footstools, depending on how much space you have. Again, if you are a PC or console gamer, bucket/gaming chairs are a great idea.
  3. Ambient lighting – there are so many amazing home lighting systems on the market today that can really change the ambience of a room. You can incorporate simple and affordable LED strips, lamps and neon lights or more sophisticated and slightly pricier smartphone-controlled lighting systems.
  4. Games – the most important feature of a games room is the types of games. If you and your guests aren’t console or PC gamers, then you might like to try adding a selection of board games, card games, a bowling lane, pool/billiards table, dart board, shuffleboard, dominoes, air hockey, Jenga, flip cup, mini golf or table football games.
  5. Bar – if you plan on inviting guests around for an evening, you may want to consider adding a small bar area where you can prepare food and drinks. You don’t necessarily need a sink with running water, but adding them would definitely take your games room to the next level.

Final thoughts

When adding the final touches to your games room, you also want to think about how to decorate it, but also consider how much everything is going to cost.

Try to set a reasonable spending budget based on how much disposable income you’re prepared to spend to make it the best games room ever before buying anything.

You might also want to ask your friends or relatives for their input. When it comes to fitting lighting fixtures, sound systems or additional plug sockets for any devices you plan on adding to your games room at home, it may also be a good idea to get some help from either those same people or the professionals.

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