Grab your controller and get ready to game
Decorating your video game room can seem more difficult than the hardest game you’ve ever beaten. Luckily, this list of video game room ideas will kickstart your creative brain and inspire you to transform your gaming area.
With billions of gamers on the planet, and as the popularity of video gaming continues to rise, there are more and more ways to modify your home for gaming sessions. A local remodeling contractor will be able to work with you to plan and create the game room of your dreams.
One of the best ways to enjoy your favorite games is by surrounding yourself with items from those games. If you have figures or other pieces of swag from special editions of the game, display them on a shelf or near your screen to extend the vibe into the real world.
Shelving gives you the chance to show off your collection and makes it easy to find the games you want. You can organize them by system and display old consoles on the shelves, too.
Using pieces of memorabilia from your favorite fantasy or comic book franchises is one way to craft a unique gaming space, but it doesn’t have to stop there. You can install sound-dampening panels wrapped with comic book fabric or paint your walls to resemble the inside of a ship.
It’s easy for a gaming room to become cluttered. One way to make focusing on the game your main priority is to go with a minimalist decor theme. Minimalism isn’t about having an empty, boring room but removing distractions and clutter to allow the room to work on its own. By reducing distractions on your desk or gaming area, you may even notice that your gaming improves.
We get it: Not everyone has a full room to devote to gaming. But that doesn’t mean you can’t carve out a dedicated space. Make a corner of shared space like a living room into a video game area. You only need a gaming chair, your systems, and the TV.
Keeping your room dark is essential when you’re playing dark games because you need to be able to see everything on your screen at all times. Window treatments are a big help, but painting the room black can further reduce glare. Black is the most extreme version of a dark room, but deep grays and browns look great, too.
Your gamer room doesn’t have to be a big, bright space that screams gaming. Instead, subtle touches like Tetris block pillows or other 8-bit video game motifs make for interesting art or accents. Framing game art or hanging patterned curtains can make your love of gaming work with the rest of your home’s decor.
Converting your garage into a gamer room is a great way to make use of unused space. The garage is a dedicated space that people won’t be in and out of all the time, and because most garages are pretty sparse, you can start fresh with decorating.
A powerful sound system helps create an immersive experience that can sharpen your reflexes and make every game noteworthy. Choosing and installing a gaming sound system can be tough—there are so many options available at different price points that knowing where to start is the least of your worries.
Luckily, with help from a local home theater installation expert, you’ll be able to get a system that sounds great and works well within your space and your budget.
Lighting is one of the best ways to set a mood or accent everything from decor to framed art. Plus, controlling the lighting is one of the most effective ways to control glare. Installing behind-screen lights can make gaming and watching movies more immersive. Under-cabinet lighting illuminates your collectibles, and accent lights on framed art will make your room feel like a gallery. Smart lighting allows you to control the vibe of your room from your smartphone, even if you’re not in the room.
Whether you’re a console or PC gamer, get the edge on your opponents with multiple screens. If you’re shopping for a gaming desk or entertainment center, make sure it’s large enough to hold the screens. Or you can mount the screens to the wall, saving space and opening up a lot of design possibilities.
Custom or store-bought shelving or cabinets provide storage and can add an interesting design element to your gaming room. Framing your screens with storage looks cool and can help your gaming room stay tidy.
One piece of advice—leave quite a bit of space to the sides and along the top of your screen so you won’t have to move everything around when you upgrade your TV or monitor.
A video game room is about fun, so if you don’t have room for a dedicated game space, create a home theater room or other multifunctional space. That way, you can spend time with your family even if everyone is doing something different. You can let the decor be a mash-up of everyone’s styles or unify the different functions of the room with an overriding theme.
Whether you’re gaming alone or with others, make sure your seating is comfortable for long sessions. There are many options available, including specialty gaming chairs, sofas, recliners, bean bags, and more. If you’re a casual gamer, you can get away with less ergonomic and supportive seating, but if you’re hardcore, a chair designed for gaming can make you comfy and keep your back from getting tweaked.
Gaming can transport you to worlds that only existed in our imagination, but that doesn’t mean that our world isn’t worth spending time in. Installing plant walls or putting popular houseplants on shelves adds a touch of color and brings the natural world inside. You’ll love having the outdoors next to you when you’re playing.
Who says work and play can't coexist? Turn your home office into a gaming space so you can keep your work and gaming equipment in one space. Hang your video game art on the wall you face while working and some more business-friendly art on the wall behind you. That gives you the professional backdrop you need for calls without making your office feel stuffy.
Have you been looking for a way to add some drama to the way your video game room looks? Think about adding some neon features. Neon lights add cool splashes of over-the-top color and you can get them custom-made in nearly any design possible.
Whether they’re retro or new, arcade cabinets add a retro feel and they’re functional. There are also empty cabinets available that you can customize to add in your console, a screen, and then paint it the way you want. Cabinets create a more communal feel, perfect for parties and gaming with your kids.
Creating a space-themed gaming room will help you feel like you’re a part of your favorite games and provides tons of creative opportunities for decor. You can change the room to look like the inside of a spaceship by adding panels and paint or hanging up lots of photos of space objects for an out-of-this-world look.
Underused closets, odd-shaped attic rooms, and other spaces that weren’t quite right for anything else can make great game rooms. Big or small, having a dedicated place to play is a boon, and if you can finally put a space to good use, that’s even better.
Make your video game room into an all-games room for your family and friends to enjoy. Set up a table for board games or role-playing games, or bring in a pinball table for an old-school feel.
Have a ton of different gaming systems? Instead of plugging them all into one TV, set up several TVs with multiple systems to make cable management easier. This setup is excellent when you’re throwing parties or gaming with family. Plus, you can group systems together with vintage television sets to create a living gaming museum.
Every gaming room needs a coffee table. But instead of settling for something standard, create or purchase a coffee table that looks like a controller or another piece of gaming equipment. Or make a collage of old instruction booklets (remember those?), game art, and anything else you like, and seal it with acrylic or a piece of glass over the top.
The flooring in your video game den might be pretty low on the list of things you want to renovate, but if you’re looking for a fast way to make a big statement, a new rug is the way to do it. Look for arcade-style rugs that conjure up images of your childhood arcade or find rugs that work to highlight your decor.
Soundproofing your video game room not only makes it easier for you to game late, but it also makes your sound system hit harder. There are some easy ways to build bass traps and panels to absorb sound, but the best way to make your sound as powerful as possible without shaking the rest of your home is to hire a professional soundproofing contractor near you.
For a more subtle look, adding framed prints with art from your favorite game can make your gaming space feel personalized without committing to a full-on themed room. The more subtle the space, the more versatile it becomes. For example, if your gaming space is also your home office, think about decor that works well for video calls and gaming sessions.
Bringing your system into the bedroom is easy—set up a small desk for a PC rig or hang your screen opposite your bed so you can stay comfy while playing. Add a game-inspired throw blanket and hang up some art for a bedroom gaming room you won’t want to leave.
Geometric decor is not only trendy, but it can also help you define your gaming area. LED lights are available in many colors and shapes, so you’re certain to find some great fixtures with help from a local lighting expert. Geometric-patterned rugs also make for a cool focal point that can tie almost any room together.
Creating space for all of your gaming gear means you’ll always be ready to play. Reserve space for controller-charging stations, remotes, headphones, headsets, and anything else you need. Use floating shelves if floor space is at a premium or use bookshelves to store games and accessories. Keep your desk space organized to avoid unnecessary clutter.
Gaming is usually about looking to the future, but wood furniture or accents will make your gaming room feel a little more timeless. Pair a wood desk with metal accents for a cool industrial loft style that will look at home in nearly any room.
The desire to pack your video game room with your gear and favorite swag is strong, but leaving empty space will keep it from feeling cramped. Start by making a list of everything you want in the gaming room and then narrow down the list until only the most essential items are left. You might be surprised at how much more relaxing the room feels when it’s not stuffed with stuff.
Keep the area around your screen open so you can upgrade your TV or monitor later. Instead of adding permanent shelves, a couple of bookcases give you storage and you can move them when you get a new TV or sound system. If the extra space around the screen is distracting, you can paint it to create an accent wall. Go with a cool color that draws the eye to the screen.
If you recently moved into a home that has space for a video game room, make a list of your needs and wants, and focus on what you need before buying pieces of decor. Planning the layout and look of the room ahead of time will help make it more unified. Deciding on upgrades like a better sound system, a new monitor, and more comfortable seating might make other decisions easier when those upgrades are in place.
One excellent method for saving space while adding a great design element to a room is with built-in shelves. Not only do they work with any decor style, but they can also help reduce the clutter in a room by offering extra storage. You can make a wall of floating shelves for a fresh look or if you’re remodeling your home, ask your local remodeling contractor for shelves that are just right for your needs.
If your game room has built-in bookshelves, take advantage of them. While they might not be perfectly sized, they’ll save you money and they won’t take up any extra space. If there are oddly sized shelves, consider making them into your charging station or adding a cool design element like LED lights.
If you built a colorful gaming PC, match the decor and lighting to it—it’s the room’s main focus, after all. You can take inspo from neon signs, a stylish desk, an accent wall, or painted storage units and mimic or play off your PC’s style and color.
If you don’t have a room solely dedicated to gaming, don’t worry. A temporary setup can be comfortable and it gives you time to plan out exactly what you want your eventual game space to look like. You can temporarily set up your gaming PC at an underused table, or stick your console and games on a rolling cart that you can plug into the TV when it’s time for a session. Having all of your gear in one place will keep it more organized, too.
Make your gaming room stand out from the pack with unique, funky furniture. For example, go to thrift stores or check local online marketplaces for secondhand or specialty desks. Audio production furniture is sturdy, ergonomic, and different from what you’ll see in most gamer rooms. Bring in some metal shelving or an entertainment center for a steampunk look.
Do you have a favorite video game character? Make sure they’re in the room with you whenever you play in the form of a wall sticker. Large custom stickers are a creative way to show off your love for your favorite games without requiring you to commit to the time and effort it takes to paint.
Adding glow-in-the-dark accents will make your video game room feel otherworldly and exciting. If you’re a streamer, they add a unique touch that can be retro or contemporary. You don’t have to settle for off-the-shelf glow-in-the-dark items—there is paint, tape, and resin that will give you the glow you need on almost anything.
The best rooms are the ones you want to be in, so give yourself permission to bring your passions together in one place. If you’re a musician, keep an instrument in the room. If you’re a comic fan, keep some graphic novels on your desk to give you something to do when you aren’t gaming but want to spend time in your gaming room.
If you’re running multiple systems, screens, sound systems, and lighting in one room, you’ll need a lot of power. Power strips are easy to overload, so the best way to make sure you have adequate power is to hire a local electrician to install extra outlets in your gaming room. Adding outlets will provide you with extra power without putting a strain on the existing outlets.
Yes, your gaming room is filled with tech devices, but it’s smart to keep your Wi-FI router and important tech together in an area where they’ll be safe from interference and spills. Tuck them away on a shelf, in an entertainment center, or somewhere close enough to your PC or console to give you the speed you need without exposing them to unnecessary risks.
It’s too easy to think of your basement as not much more than a storage unit. That room tends to accumulate things that we don’t need right now. But if you need a video gaming space and you don't have many options upstairs, renovating the basement can solve that problem. The space is flexible, has low natural light (which is good for games and movies), and is often underutilized, meaning you won’t be fighting over it. Having a professional soundproofing pro add in some soundproofing and getting a new screen, surround sound system, and smart lighting installed will make your basement everyone’s favorite room in the house.
If you have a small gaming area, or you want to make the room feel more open, remove bulky entertainment centers and hire a pro to mount your TV and floating shelves to the wall. Mounting your TV gives you tons of options for decor that don’t have to be based around an entertainment center. Take the time to measure where you’re mounting your screen so it’s at the right height for the best viewing angle and always use a bracket that is strong enough to hold your TV.
Floating shelves installed under a mounted TV are great for displaying and gaining easy access to your consoles, they look great, and they’re easier to clean than heavy entertainment centers.
Being a gamer goes hand in hand with being a collector. But what should you do with all the old systems and games that you’ve stashed away as new generations of consoles arrive? Instead of leaving them in a box, use them to decorate your video game room. Hang up old controllers, make collages with old discs, or frame the covers of old games to create a monument to your gaming history.
If you’re a hardcore gamer, you’ve probably considered becoming a live streamer. The best part? It doesn’t take a ton of effort to create a cool-looking setup. Start by painting a wall green or get a green screen you can hang up to fly in a digital background. Then, install a high-quality microphone and camera setup that works with your budget and you’re good to go.
Use your gaming room’s features to the fullest potential, even rooms with odd corners. If your room has a scalloped ceiling, use colored lights to create a cool vibe when the lights are off. If you have mismatched walls, repaint one to contrast the other.
Mix the old with the new to make a space rooted in the past and a future that may be on the way. Steampunk is a combination of Victorian and industrial aesthetics. Popularized in fantasy novels of the late 70s and early 80s, it has become a visually stunning staple of futuristic and alternate-history video games.
By melding early industrial elements like weathered metal and wood with Victorian or art deco-influenced items, you’re making the room more exciting and a lot more unique. If you love to tinker, the steampunk look gives you the opportunity to kitbash on a large scale.
Graffiti-style murals pack creativity into any gaming room, plus you can personalize them to your taste. You can use traditional bomb-can spray paint if you (or a friend) have the talent, use stencils and indoor paint, or add colorful decals or wallpapers that mimic those styles. At the very least, buy some framed graffiti-style art to hang up.
Get inspired by your favorite games and incorporate them into the murals or combine games with street culture to make one-of-a-kind designs that are larger than life. Don’t feel like you have the talent to pull off exactly what you want? Look for local artists with compatible sensibilities and work together on ideas.
Polished concrete is a cost-effective way of adding a cool dimension to a gaming room. There are many different colors of stains available, so you can match it to your decor. If you’re starting your game room from the floor up, polished concrete can make the room seem larger and more futuristic.
Buy or make your own video game-influenced pillows. Toss them on the couch, put one in each chair, or stack them up in a corner so people can use them when they come over for a game night. Get creative with pillows that feature characters you like, as well as power-ups and logos.
Most people use their phones to check the time, but there’s something nice about having a clock in the important rooms in your home. That's true of your gaming area, too. A high-tech digital clock makes any room look sleeker, or go old school with a regular clock and change out the face for something game-themed.
If you’re decorating your game room, put your stamp on it by making your own pieces or asking friends to make art for your game room. Handmade decor or digital media looks cool and it lets you stretch your creativity. Here are a few examples:
Paintings
Cross stitch and embroidery
Pixel art
Collages
Photography
Don’t interrupt your flow because you need to get something to eat or drink. A mini fridge keeps drinks and snacks cool and within arm’s reach, and you can decorate it to match the rest of your room. If you want to make sure you’re always set, building a bar in your home makes entertaining easier and it will keep your energy stores stocked for long sessions.
If you have a partner or housemate who loves to game as much as you do, having stations for each of you in the same room makes a once-solitary pursuit more social. Look for ways to mix and match decor pieces to complement each other’s styles and likes, or create distinct zones for each person.
Use your game room to stay sharp and in shape. Combining the gym with video games could be the best motivation for you to get some reps in between matches. Bringing those areas together will also give you more reasons to keep the area tidy and clean, especially if you have a smaller room for your gym.
A huge screen with automated controls to raise and lower it? Sounds like a plan. While old-school projectors weren’t made to play games on, modern projectors are a different story. So if you’re gaming in a small space, or you want to have the room open enough for other activities, like throwing the best movie nights, a projector might be the best bet. A projector can be difficult to install on your own, so hiring a local home theater installation professional might be a good idea.
Cable management can be tough, but there are creative ways to hide them. There are plenty of ways to hide electrical cords, wires, and cables to keep your game room tidy. Flexible sheathing, cable ties, and even Velcro straps work great. If you have a themed video game room, look for ways to tie the cables into the design of the room.
Choosing the most modern furniture creates a sleek look and feel. Even if the rest of your home isn’t contemporary, having your gaming station modern will work. It is a shrine built around incredible technology that brings other worlds to life, after all.
Inspired by this list of video game room decor ideas? Ready to start drawing up plans for your in-home arcade or dream gamer bedroom? There’s no better time to start than today. If you aren’t certain of the best way to bring your vision to life, talk to an interior designer in your area.
