How To Design Your Own Dream Gaming Setup (Before You Buy)

Woah! That’s a fantastic setup! Have you been on YouTube or other social medial platforms and come across someone’s “rate this set up” post or video? Their thumbnail alone is enough to make you click and watch. Chances are if you click on the link, you like me and think “I wish I could make my setup like that”

You might be surprised to find out that it’s easier than you think. Not only are there a ton of design tools that will help you design your dream gaming setup, but there are ways you can design your gaming setup before you even purchase a keyboard or light. 

In this article, we are going to discuss how you can design your own dream gaming setup to fit your space, your style, and your budget. 

So let’s get into it. 

How To Design Your Own Dream Gaming Setup

For the hardcore gamer, streamer, and content creator, your setup is everything. It’s likely the space where you spend the majority of your downtime (or even working hours). Your gaming setup is an ideal balance between your personality and functionality. 

What Do You Need To Design a Dream Gaming Setup?

Whether you are starting from scratch or recreating your existing space. To build something there are a few things you need before you get started. 

A Vision

Figure out what you are going to do with your space. This is often the easiest part of your design. Generally, as you start to look at a new space or a remodel, you have an idea of what you want the end product to look like. 

Your vision should consider the use of your space. How will your space be best utilized, what are your “wants” and your “needs” of your dream gaming setup? Do you need to have an ideal streaming platform or are you going for a chill vibe where you can hide out for a long weekend gaming session? 

Knowing your end goals will help you focus on your design intent. 

Inspiration

Once you have an idea of how you want to use the space, it’s time to look for inspiration. Youtube, Pinterest, and Instagram are great places to find inspiration for your dream gaming setup. 

These sites can give you a lot of ideas in a short period of time. Look for ideas and lists posts full of pictures and product links to learn more about what you might want to include. 

Hot Tip – use these searches to look for subtle things that you might immediately recognize. Things like where someone put their monitor arms or how their desk hides random cables from a normal view. 

A Budget

A budget is important to keep in mind even when designing your dream gaming setup. With so many amazing setups out there, it’s easy to get carried away with things you want to add and the look you will be achieving.

Dont get discouraged if things initially look out of budget. There are often similar alternatives that can have the same look and feel. There are also plenty of DIY options out there where you can create your own budget-friendly look with a little elbow grease and a few hours of your own time. 

Now that you have a vision, some inspiration, and a budget in mind, it’s time to start putting a plan together. 

If you are trying to design your dream gaming setup without to much upfront cost. You should really be considering using design tools. 

What Are The Design Tools For A Dream Gaming Setup?

There are tons of design tools out there that can help you visualize, design, and even see your space in virtual reality well before you start construction. 

To start your design, you are going to want to use some type of 3D modeling and 3D rendering software. There are options out there that do both. In essence, you can build a digital 3D model of your dream gaming setup and then produce high-quality 3D renderings of the space to help you with your visualization. 

You have probably seen renderings on Pinterest or Instagram. These high-quality renderings really make a design pop. 3D rendering programs also link and incorporate into Virtual Reality headsets allowing you to step inside your dream gaming setup. 

Virtual Reality

If you are a gamer, chances are you have at least heard of virtual reality. The software has really come along in the last few years and games are better than ever. Virtual reality is also an incredibly useful tool for design. 

Using virtual reality in a design sense allows you to step inside your design and see what everything will look like from a human perspective. See how things lay out with a sense of scale and dimensions relative to how you will feel actually standing in the space. 

Augmented Reality

Augmented reality is another great tool you can use when designing your dream gaming setup. AR is the bridge between the physical space and its digital counterpart. Using something as simple as your smartphone, you can take a picture of your space and incorporate a digital product into that space. 

There are large companies like IKEA and Wayfare that have programs that allow you to bring in products from their catalogs and place them into your space at the correct scale, and location in the room Talk about an inexpensive way to figure out if something is going to look good or not.

A Wrap On Design Tools

These design tools are incredibly valuable as you design your dream gaming setup. The abilities they provide you along with the money they save you upfront means you will be able to get as close to that “perfect” setup on the first try instead of the 5th try. 

Think about how much money you will save by “doing it right” the first time. Not to mention, if you enjoy time on the computer, you might find to really enjoy playing with design models and building your dream setup.

Some Other Things You Might Consider When On Your Next Setup

Establish Your Style

As we mentioned earlier, your style is everything in your setup. After all, this dream setup reflects you. They say wear your heart on your sleeve, I say wear it on your setup. Showcase your mood, your favorite game, your favorite team, or anything else that is meaningful to you. 

Here are the best ways you can establish your style.

Find A Theme

• Clean
• Simplistic
• Black And White
• Colorful
• Character Theme
• Natural 
• Minimalist

Color

Find a color palette and stick to it. Choosing the right colors that complement your setup can really tie everything together. Let the colors reflect who you are, bold, chill, or low-key are all great ideas for your dream gaming setup.

Decor

Choose a decor theme and stick to it. If you are going to vibrant colors, work that into your decor. Looking for a natural style, dont forget to include natural decor elements.

Some Other Things You Can Consider For Your Dream Setup

Clean Up The Cords

Messy cables and gaming stations are things of the past. Cut the clutter and clean up the cords. Feel better about not having to stare at a rat’s nest of cables and cords.

Pay Attention To The Lighting

Gaming setups have become synonymous with LED lights and background lighting. If that is something you are interested in, pay attention to how you set up your lighting. Pay attention to any potential glare on your screen and if you have a good amount of background lighting to help reduce eye strain. 

Your Desk Is Everything

If you are a PC gamer, then chances are you are going to need a desk. A word of advice, do not skimp on your desk setup. A nice desk can make or break your setup. You do not have to spend a fortune on one either, there are tons of great-looking desks that you can buy (or even build yourself) with a little research. 

Don’t Skimp On Your Chair

Long gaming sessions can take a lot out of you if you dont have the right chair. Make sure to invest in a good chair that you are comfortable spending hours in. Focus on things like the lumbar support and maybe even consider a headrest. 

Dont Forget About The Rest Of The Room

Now your gaming setup might be primarily focused on the pc setup and the immediate area surrounding it. But it’s important to remember to not forget about the rest of your space. If it’s your room or a special space in your home, having the room tied together is a perfect way to create your dream gaming setup. 

Here are some thing to remember 

Space For Friends To Sit

Do you plan on having the gang over the hangout? Dont forget to include some place for your crew to chill in between sessions. Something as simple as a small couch or a couple of bean bags can go a long way.

Don’t Forget The Big Screen

Let’s face it if your friends are already coming over to hang out, why not provide a second screen? If you are a PC gamer, this is the perfect place to hook up your consoles and run multi-screen campaigns or just relax to some good old fashion Super Smash Brothers or Mario Kart.  

Clear Background For Streaming?

If you think you want to get into streaming. Keep in mind what is behind your webcam (if you plan to show your face). Keeping the space behind you clean and uninteresting can help keep the focus on your stream. (it also prevents people from pointing our how dirty your room is)

What Do You NEED For A PC Gaming Setup

Here are some of the big need items to remember when setting up your dream gaming setup. 

• Computer
• Monitor(s)
• Storage
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Speakers
• Desk 
• Chair

What Might You WANT For a Gaming Setup

And of course, we can’t forget about the want items too. 

• Headphones
• Streaming Deck
• Microphone
• Ambient lighting
• Webcam
• Wall Decor

The Wrap Up

Your own dream gaming setup is closer than you think. When designing anything, it’s important to think about what you are going to do before you start buying your setup. 

The tools mentioned in this article are great tools to help you visualize your space. Don’t forget to first visualize the idea you want, look for your inspiration, and then establish a budget for you to keep in mind while building your dream gaming setup.