How to get the perfect gaming setup?

Ever compared your PC setup, with its messy pile of cables and a chair that hurts your back, to one of those picture-perfect battle stations with a mechanical keyboard and RGB lights? With a brand-new, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing setup, you won’t just transform gaming into a whole new experience – you can work remotely, watch media, and play free slots in an environment that you love.

Especially if you tend to immerse yourself in a game for hours or are thinking of starting a streaming career, turning your gaming space into a Twitch-ready studio is exactly what you need. Getting to that level of style and comfort involves a lot more than just putting up some posters or swapping out your old desk chair, and our guide will walk you through that transformation.

Ergonomic essentials

Regardless of how stylish your setup might be, it won’t serve its purpose without considering ergonomics. These elements are all about the way your workspace is designed to fit your needs – and in the case of gaming, you’ll want to make sure it accommodates all those gaming marathons you’re bound to have.

While there are all sorts of gadgets and goods made for the purpose of ergonomics, you won’t want to skimp on the right desk or chair. These two essentials will make or break your general comfort, helping you maintain proper posture and prevent a sore back and wrists in the long run. You’ll also want to make sure everything is placed optimally, with monitors at eye level, effective lighting to reduce eye strain, and your keyboard and mouse at elbow level.

Choosing the right gaming hardware

What works for one gamer might not work for another. For instance, if you typically play first-person shooters or other competitive multiplayer titles, you’ll want to seek out hardware that will give you precision, provide fast response times, and be capable of handling high frame rates. On the other hand, if you’re more into open-world action adventures, graphics and visuals take priority.

Many hardcore gamers like to build their own PCs from scratch, as it allows them to customize everything from the case design to the cosmetics, and others prefer a pre-built system for convenience. Before you jump the gun, consider the resolution of your screen, refresh rates, memory (RAM) and storage, CPU and GPU capabilities, and the peripherals you’ll want to pair with your computer. These include controllers, a keyboard, and a mouse that will provide the responsiveness and format you need for your favourite gaming genres. 

Relaxing simulation games and puzzle games likely won’t require an overly complex keyboard or mouse, but certain genres will require precision and speed from a mouse with a high DPI sensor or keyboards with mechanical switches. After all, you want to make your hardware work for you and improve your gameplay abilities.

Organizing your setup

There are two reasons to organize your battlestation – for visual reasons and for functional reasons. Let’s face it – empty chip bags and exposed power strips aren’t the most pleasant items to look at, nor do they add to the gaming experience. 

A tidy setup makes for the best setup, with cable management tools like cable ties and management boxes to organize and conceal those unsightly bits and bobs. Drawer dividers, floating shelves, desk organizers, monitor arms, and other storage solutions and tools can all contribute to a much more visually appealing and efficient setup. You’ll actually be able to access your essentials and know where everything is whenever you’re at your desk.

Adding in your personal aesthetics

Although Nanoleaf displays and colour-changing strip lights are all the rage in the gaming community, those stylish fads might not resonate with your personal style one bit. But that’s the best part of the gaming setup – you can design and tailor your space however you want to, whether you prefer natural wood elements, neon lights, or a sleek and minimalistic feel. 

To make your space uniquely yours, it can help to define a theme. If you want the space to reflect all your favourite games, characters, and genres, you could display figurines, put up framed artwork, and even choose other decor knick-knacks that fit the bill. Smart lighting solutions like hue lights and bulb dimmers can set the mood, and skins and decals are often the best way to jazz up gaming peripherals so they don’t look like every other accessory on the shelves.

Keeping up with maintenance

Once you’re all set up, you’ll find that your space won’t look as pristine as it does in the beginning. With time and use, you might start seeing dust build-up, irrelevant items creeping onto your desk, fraying cables, or even deteriorating hardware.

Keeping your space maintained is just as important as transforming your setup in the first place – think cleaning putty, microfiber cloths, air dusters, and soft brushes to keep it spic and span. Regularly checking on your computer, cleaning your monitor and other equipment with compatible cleaning products, and keeping your software up to date are all essential tasks to make sure your gaming setup stays in good shape. Those few minutes invested into these activities every couple of days can prevent you from unnecessary replacements and preserve the integrity of the gaming space you put so much effort – and money – into creating.

Sticking to your budget

Revamping your gaming setup might sound like an expensive feat, but it doesn’t have to be. Being intentional about what you’re buying and how much you’re planning to spend before you head onto Amazon or into specialist shops will help you stay within your budget. If you’re tight on cash, invest in the essentials like an ergonomic chair and keyboard wrist support. Check out sales, compare prices between retailers, and avoid impulse purchases on random novelties, and you’ll be well on your way to putting together your dream gaming setup.