Gameroom

Gaming, like any sport, can be very individual. Some people prefer one console over another, or like to use multiple consoles for different games. What any gamer can agree on though is that a legitimate game room should be comfortable, immersive and offer the fastest, clearest technology available.

That’s where professionals like Paul Bochner, owner of Electronic Concepts, come into the picture. Bochner was tasked with transforming an existing guest bedroom and in-law suite into a game room for the kids. It would need to accommodate three levels of gaming: PlayStation (PS5, specifically), Xbox and a PC setup as well. It would also need to work as a movie room for the whole family.

“I let them teach me what we needed to do and how to give them what they wanted out of the space, ” said Bochner, who admitted that the kids’ setups on their PCs were out of his league. “This was one time where we really relied on the kids to guide us and help us make the right choices.”

Home Theatre Game Room Combo

It was important to this family that the kids not only get to use this space for high-quality gaming, but also that the rest of the household can enjoy movies together here. That’s why an ultra short throw projection system was installed. According to Bochner, having this allows the users to set up a larger-than-life image virtually anywhere in the room, because the distance between the screen and the projector is significantly less than a traditional projection system. Hanging a projector from the ceiling or using a lift mechanism was impractical in this small space, which also opened up the door for the ultra short throw set up.

Electronic Concepts used the LG HU85LA 4K short throw projector for video, housed in a Salamander Designs Miami cabinet created specifically for short-throw applications. This cabinet also houses all the system components, like the Anthem MRX740 receiver. A Screen Innovations (SI) motorized 110-in. solar white, 1.3 gain recessed 16:9 screen was installed to work with the projector and is used for movies and group gameplay.

For serious games, the kids use a Samsung 4K HD QLED backlit TV, which is connected to the PS5 and the Xbox and situated to the left of the screen. The TV (now TVs, since Electronic Concepts added another TV to the right of the screen after the original installation) offers a better refresh rate than the projector, so the kids like it for more personalized experiences.

Community Help: Pimp My Gameroom!

“Since this was the kids’ area. we wanted to have some level of sound for movies/gaming but also reduce some of the noise the young guys might make when friends are over, ” said Bochner.

The integration team accomplished this with a unique ceiling design: a GETA panel by Mikodam, an acoustic wall panel designed to be both a modern design element and a way to control sound. This particular panel offers a geometric and three dimensional design that distributes sound much more effectively than a flat ceiling. Bowers & Wilkins in-ceiling speakers and a JL Audio subwoofer in a 5.1 surround setup provide audio and bass for the room. Additionally, the home has a large Savant IP audio/automation system attached to the room for easy control options.

Around the panel and throughout the room are USAI infinite color fixtures with Savant Pro RGB LED strips throughout. This makes it possible to do fun and interesting lighting scenes, such as a “Let’s Go Rangers” scene with red and blue lights when the Rangers hockey team are playing.

The Best Spot For Your Game Room Is Your Garage

Together with the impactful screens and well-integrated audio, this room exemplifies what integrators have been seeing: more high-quality, immersive gaming spaces for the whole family to enjoy. Bochner confirmed that he has done several of these spaces in the last year alone.

“Make sure to talk to the gamers and find out what they need, ” he said, when asked what advice he would give to other integrators tasked with designing this type of space. “They know best what they want out of the room and systems. Do not tell them what they should do, but instead listen.”Gaming is one of the biggest hobbies in the world, and as anyone who’s really into it will tell you, ambience counts. It’s not only what you play or which systems you game on, but also where you do the gaming. Sure, you can do gaming almost anywhere, but a truly dedicated gamer will want to have their own gaming corner or gaming space. This can be a section of your home, or an entire gaming room. In many cases it’s been referred to as a gaming man cave or man cave gaming room. Recently, gaming bedrooms have become very popular, although we recommend gaming in a dedicated space other than where you sleep if you can help it.

Each person wants to express their passion for gaming in a different way, and most of us are on a budget so it’s not like we can just hire an interior designer. In this article we’ll show you some of the essentials of making your own gaming room a place that’ll enhance your enjoyment of every moment you spend with your favorite hobby. Since it’s a lucky number, we’ll list the top eight! 

Basement Playroom Turned Game Room

1. Space: this depends on where you live, of course. We don’t want to make any assumptions. If you have a cozy studio that you love very much, then a corner or a section of it will work great as your gaming base. But of course the more space you have, the better. Larger spaces not only fit more, they’re better for heat dissipation plus cable management and are surprisingly easier to clean. If you can dedicate a whole room to gaming, that would be best. If you have a basement, then that’s ideal because you could game loud and proud without disturbing your neighbors or even family members. Also, basements make for excellent game caves or man caves, they just have the right feel to them.

2. Lighting: according to all official health advice, gaming is best done in a well-lit environment to reduce the risk of headaches and even epileptic episodes. However, many prefer to game in dim environments so flexible lighting you can easily control is best. A light management system may come in handy. Additionally, the connection between gamers and RGB lighting is now so firm, it appears unbreakable. Dynamic RGB certainly makes your gaming room a lot more stylish and interesting to be in, and you can get tons of RGB lights for not a whole lot of money.

3. Hardware: a bit obvious, but you need to choose your gaming platforms. That will affect the size and arrangement of your gaming room. Consoles like PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, and certainly Switch have a small space footprint overall, and typically only need two wires to work. You will need a place for your controllers, though. Add a PC and things get more complex, even if it’s a gaming laptop. For serious gaming you’ll want the option of a full-size keyboard and a good gaming mouse, and those require large-ish surfaces to work on. And since everything’s online now and gaming’s an always-connected hobby, you want your game room to have good quality internet connectivity. You should invest in a good router so that all of your gaming devices will get a stable Wi-Fi signal, or be able to connect via Ethernet if you want the best connection for multiplayer gaming. 

Ultimate Game Room

4. Display: here’s an interesting thought. Projectors make for the most flexible gaming displays, and modern gaming projectors feature high refresh rates, superb HDR, and true 4K. With a projector, you decide how big the screen is, while with a TV you get a fixed size. Also, TVs take up much more space than projectors and aren’t as versatile. But most importantly, per inch projectors provide far superior value and the best gaming models have very low input lag, just like the finest and fastest TVs. For when you want to zoom in on the action or if you have a PC and want a display for both gaming and other applications, then of course a monitor is the best choice. 

If you’re in a basement aka gaming cave, then you can go for a much bolder and more powerful sound system because you’re less likely to disturb others. Surround sound is standard in gaming, meaning getting a good speaker and subwoofer array is definitely viable for realistic audio. Additionally, wireless gaming headsets offer great sound without the hassle of being tied down by cables, and battery life keeps improving. If you have several headphones and want to show them off, investing in a headphone stand is a wise choice. 

6. Seating: generally speaking, console gaming is done from afar and on the comfort of a couch or sofa. But then again, something like a cushy recliner will do just as well if you’re mostly by yourself. If you have guests over for gaming sessions regularly, then obviously a larger couch

Cool Garage Game Room Ideas