If you’re one of the millions of people who loves to play PC and console games, the chances are that you spend a lot of time at home enjoying this pastime – or maybe not. There are many people who would love nothing more than to be able to enjoy gaming at home, but without a dedicated place to play, they often end up getting under other people’s feet and finding themselves without a place to go for their gaming fun.
Another issue for hardcore gamers is that their love of it can become highly irritating to other members of the household. Those who have tried to commandeer the living room to enjoy a few hours of uninterrupted gaming on the big-screen TV will probably be familiar with the being told to stop hogging, get off the console and to do something more useful. So, what’s the solution?
Create your own perfect gaming den
One ideal solution to eliminate most of these problems is to create your own dedicated gaming den, where you can spend uninterrupted quality time with your beloved games without getting in the way of others. 7 steps to help you to create the perfect den in your very own home include the following:
- Identify a suitable space: In order to create the perfect den, you need to identify a perfect space in the home where you will not be infringing on other people’s space and will not end up having your own personal space invaded. A disused cellar that could be done up, a large attic, or even the spare/box room that nobody ever uses. All are ideal.
- Work out your maximum budget: The amount you’ll need to spend on creating your games den can vary. Some people may not need to spend anything other than a little time. Others may want to splash out and turn the room into the ultimate games den. If you plan to spend some money on your new den, you need to work out your maximum budget. If the other half isn’t too pleased about you dipping into the savings account for cash to create a gaming den, look at alternative ways of raising money. For example, you could hold a car boot sale, sell old gadgets that you no longer use, or even sell your old clothes to raise some extra cash.
- Decide what you want in the den: You need to make a list of all the things you want in your den. Try and be realistic – there are probably many outlandish and wildly expensive things you would like, but stick to things that you can realistically get and afford rather than trying to create the kind of games room a super rich celebrity might have in their home. This could include things such as special furniture such as a gaming chair, new games, upgraded consoles and equipment and a larger monitor or TV. If you have a large enough space, you could really go to town and set up a small bar in case you have friends over for gaming nights, extra seating and furniture, fitting decor and additional games such as a darts board or pool table. Your budget and space restrictions will determine what you can actually opt for. However, do bear in mind that you can add to your games den over time, so if you cannot get everything right away just prioritise and start with the most vital purchases.
- Work out what you already have: Once you have made your list, the chances are that you will already have some of the items. For example, you may already have the perfect console or a large enough monitor for your needs. List the items that you do not already have in order of priority, so that you know which ones to purchase first.
- Start looking for deals: When you have worked out exactly what you need to purchase, you can start looking for the best deals. If you are prepared to wait it out, it might be worth hanging on for summer or winter sales to start, as you could save a fortune on your purchases if your timing is right.
- Decorate the designated room: In the meantime, while you are waiting for deliveries or for the sales to start, you can start working on the room itself. Crack on with any decorating such as painting, papering or clearing out the junk. Also, make sure you take the time to work out whether any electrical or other work will be required in the room, such as adding or relocating electrical sockets for your equipment.
- Fit a lock: Once your games room is all set up, one thing you might want to consider doing is fitting a lock. This is particularly important if you have young kids in the house, as they will be drawn to this room like a magnet and before you know it, your costly equipment could be wrecked beyond recognition!
When you have a dedicated games room, you can look forward to enjoying your favourite games in peace and comfort, as well as having a great place to enjoy some time with like-minded friends.
