Are you thinking about creating your own gaming den?

If you have access to some kind of spare room, chances are that you’d love to convert this space into a man cave-style sanctuary.

Whether you’d use it for kicking back with a beer or working out, having a place to call your own allows you to escape from the pressures of modern life.

And, for those of you who are passionate about gaming, having a room devoted to your favorite pastime must sound like the ultimate dream.

But, it doesn’t have to be a dream. Creating your very own gaming lair is an achievable objective for anyone willing to spend the time and energy needed to make it happen.

Follow our 12-step guide to find out how to create your very own gaming den.

Step 1: Scope out Your Spot

If you’re lucky enough to have a spare room in your home then this will make an ideal games room. But, if you don’t have that luxury, then, with a little bit of imagination, any area in the home can be transformed into a gaming lair.

Consider spaces that aren’t being used to their full potential, such as the attic or the basement. Once refurbished, basements and attics provide cozy settings for gaming rooms. And, they’re insulated enough to ensure that you won’t be disturbed by noise from the main part of the house.

You could even convert your garage, or at least part of it, into a space for gaming. Garden sheds work too, or, if space is really limited, you can even partition off part of the living room or a bedroom.

Step 2: Decide on Your Budget

You don’t need a lot of money to convert your chosen location into a gaming lair. When it comes to how to make a gaming room, what matters most is that you have somewhere dedicated to your gaming passions to call your own.

Some people may not want to spend anything more than time to get their games den up and running. Others may have plans to splash out big bucks on creating the ultimate gaming room.

But, whatever your spending plans, you need to decide on a budget to work with. With limited funds, you may have to scale down your ideas and prioritize certain features while saving on others.

If you’re planning to clear out your garage or basement to make way for your gaming room, use this to your advantage as a way to raise some cash. After all, there are an average 300,000 items in each US home, so you’re bound to have some items you can sell.

Consider old gadgets you no longer use, family heirlooms collecting dust in the attic, and retro toys and games. They might be more valuable than you realize.

Step 3: Prep Your Games Room

Once you’ve identified your location and planned a budget, you can start prepping your gaming room.

As well as clearing out any junk, you should crack on with decorating jobs. Depending on what your future games den used to be, this could involve stripping wallpaper, painting, installing insulation, or in the case of an attic, you might need to reinforce the flooring.

You should also take the time to consider whether electrical work might be needed. For example, you might need to add or relocate electrical sockets for your gaming equipment.

Step 4: Plan Your Layout

While you’re prepping and decorating your room, you’ll also want to consider how you plan to fill your gaming room and where everything will go.

Make a list of everything you want to include in your games den, keeping your budget in mind. Stick to items you can afford or ones that you might be able to find for a good price.

This is your room, so prioritize what’s important to you and decide how you’ll make use of the space.

A TV is a must, as well as a comfortable gaming chair. If you have space and a big enough budget, many of the ultimate gaming rooms you’ll find online also include a bar. This is a great touch, especially if you plan on inviting friends over for gaming nights.

You might even consider additional games such as a pool table, darts board, or table football. Ultimately, your space restrictions and budget will determine how adventurous you can be. But remember, you can always add items over time to gradually create the gaming lair of your dreams.

Step 5: Get Connected

With the layout decided, you can start connecting your room up if it’s not yet ready to support your gaming equipment.

To make the most of your games den, it’s wise to invest in modern technology. This allows for a diverse and interactive gaming experience.

Look into Chromecast or Apple TV for ways to access a variety of devices through wireless hardware. This will cut costs too. This is because you’ll be able to create a multi-platform gaming den without buying multiple consoles.

A big factor to consider in this case is your internet connection speed. You don’t want your slow connection to interfere with your ability to play games online or stream in HD.

Rather than settling for a standard router, it pays to go for an elite Wi-Fi router. This is the best option to boost your connection as the signal will be strong, no matter where your games room is in relation to your router.

Step 6: Install a Large Screen Display

It goes without saying that the focal point of your gaming lair will be a large screen television.

Whether you use your games room for playing console-inspired titles, or enjoy online casino gaming, the TV in your games room will be where all the action happens.

The single large screen also provides a central design feature for the room for a way to optimize space and finalize your layout. And, if you’re having friends over for games nights, a large screen will bring you all together.

Alternatively, you might prefer to opt for a projector. This way, you can benefit from a much larger screen display for less money. And, when it’s time to update, you only need to replace the projector.

Your budget and the size of your lair will determine how big you can go with the screen. After all, a 140-inch screen will be overwhelming in a room that’s only five feet deep. So, make sure you measure everything to ensure that the screen you go for is a good fit for your den.

Step 7: Choose the Right Games

With a den devoted to gaming, you want to make sure you have the right selection of games to keep you entertained for hours on end.

Access to games that you can play and play without getting bored is a must. Whether it’s the latest installment of Call of Duty or your favorite online game, creating your ideal gaming experience is key to making the most of your games den. The last thing you want to do is to splash out on games that you can complete in a few days.

And remember, if you plan on inviting your buddies over for a gaming night, make sure you have a good selection of games that work well with multiple players.

Step 8: Invest in Quality Seating

The next step is to ensure that your games den has all the comforts necessary to create the kind of space you never want to leave. Aside from games and a screen to play them on, there’s nothing more important than comfortable, good quality seating.

As well as providing a place for you and your friends to relax in-between games, you want supportive seating that won’t distract you from gaming.

Features such as a reclining function and cup holders, as well as extra accessories such as additional armrests or a phone holder, will ensure the ultimate gaming room experience.

Step 9: Consider Sound and Lighting

These days, games graphics are so advanced they almost look like movies. So, it makes sense to complement your gaming experience with the same attention to sound and lighting that you’d find in a home theater.

Powerful surround-sound speakers are ideal for the ultimate gaming experience. Or, for those time when you end up playing late into the night, noise-canceling headphones will ensure great sound without waking up the rest of the house.

It also pays to spend some time getting the lighting situation right. Blackout blinds can help you avoid glare on your screen, while spotlighting can add to the tension of a gaming tournament between you and your friends.

Step 10: Personalize Your Space

You might not have had much of a say when it came to decorating the rest of the house. And that can have a negative effect on how you react to your environment.

As well as having a place to devote to your passion for gaming, your games lair also represents a place to call your own within the home. So, take some time to consider how you’d like to decorate.

Expressing your own style and tastes in your gaming den helps create harmony between your environment and your emotions. This harmony allows you to relax on a deeper level and might even improve your gaming skills!

That means not settling for the pastel wallpaper left over from when your future games lair was a guest bedroom. Make every inch of the room your own by decorating and personalizing your games den as you wish, with your choice of colors, furniture, and decor.

Video games posters make create wall art for your den. Whatever your gaming preference, be inspired by hanging up artwork from your favorite games, such as Assassin’s Creed, Fortnite, or Skyrim. And, if you have game figurines or other collectibles you might want to put up shelving to show them off.

A low table in front of your seating area is ideal for laying out drinks and snacks when the guys come over. And of course, a mini-fridge in the room is very convenient for entertaining too. This way you can avoid trips to the kitchen when you want fresh drinks or dips.

Step 11: Upgrade Security and Insurance

When your gaming room is equipped with everything you need for a great gaming experience, you might need to consider additional security for your den.

If you have young children in the house, all that shiny new technology will draw them to your games room like a magnet. Before you realize it, they will have had their sticky fingers over everything, and your expensive equipment could be wrecked.

Fit a lock on your games room to keep unwanted intruders away. And, if you’re installing your gaming equipment in external buildings such as your garage or shed, you might need to consider added security features or extra insurance to make sure you’re covered for theft or damage.

Step 12: Invite Your Friends

Now that your gaming lair is all set up, all that’s left to do is invite your buddies for the ultimate gaming night!

And, once they see how great your games room is, they’ll be sure to want one of their own.

Your Guide to Creating the Ultimate Gaming Den

Creating your perfect gaming den doesn’t have to mean splashing the cash. But, as this step-by-step guide shows, there is a degree of planning and preparation involved, as well as a few factors you might not have considered.

Above all, your gaming den should represent a relaxing space devoted to your passion for gaming. Just remember, whether you’re playing solo or decide to invite the guys for some multi-player fun, the right environment is key for the best gaming experience.

For more information about creating your very own gaming lair, feel free to contact us with any questions or queries.

If the silver screen is your passion, why not build your own state-of-the-art home theater?

You’ll never have to leave the house to see movies on the “big screen” again. This article provides you with a complete guide to building the best wireless home theater system.

After reading, you won’t need to rent out an entire movie theater to watch a movie, play a game, or host a premier. Read step-by-step how to build your theater and what equipment you need to enable wireless connectivity.

Home Theaters vs. the Movie Theater

The history of movie theaters goes back to 1894 when the first group viewing of a film is said to have taken place. In the 1950’s, many thought that the advent of the commercial television set would bring an end to the age of movie theaters.

But contrary to popular expectations, movie theaters continue to thrive and expand, even as homeowners continue investing in expanding their home entertainment quality. Today, more and more homeowners create their very own home theater.

Benefits of a Home Theater

A home theater offers many advantages to traditional cinemas, such as exclusivity and wireless streaming capabilities. Not to mention, the popcorn is considerably less expensive.

Anyone can build their own home theater. Unlike a movie theater, it is completely wireless, internet ready, and you can play content from your computer or mobile device.

Want to build the best wireless home theater system? Here is everything you need to know:

Building the Best Wireless Home Theater System – A Complete Guide

Did you know movie theaters don’t use reels of film to play movies anymore? There is no difference between the film quality at the movie theater and what you can have in your own home.

Thanks to digital projectors, streaming services, and high-quality wireless speakers there is no reason that you cannot have a genuine theater experience from the comfort of your home. With a little elbow grease, some know-how, and the right hardware your theater will rival the best.

Choosing a Location for your Home Theater

The location of your home theater should be out of the way and secluded. The further it is from a high-noise area, the less sound insulation padding you will need. Movies are no fun if you have to have the volume low, so make sure that it is somewhere that will not be bothersome to others in the house.

A room in the back of the basement is ideal for home theater systems. If you have a house that is built into a hillside, that’s even better. A room that is below the soil line of your house is perfect for home theaters.

Choose a room, or build a space, that is around 20 feet long by 13 to 15 feet wide. The smallest you should go is 12 feet by 12 feet.

If you are constructing the theater space from scratch, consider attaching it to your main living space or family room area. If you have two-story ceilings, consider lowering the ceiling to accommodate the theater above.

Choosing a Wireless Surround Sound System

All the best home entertainment systems feature an excellent surround sound system. The standard sound system size for a cinema-quality experience is 7.1.

7.1 surround sound systems include a subwoofer and seven channel speakers. The channels include one left, one right, two sides, and two rear speakers.

A wireless surround sound system is a lot easier to set up than a traditional wired system.

With wireless, you don’t have to run any cables or wires through the drywall to hide the unsightly connections. Just mount each speaker on your walls with wall anchors, and you’re ready to go.

Bluetooth surround sound speakers might be battery operated or rechargeable. But, the best wireless wifi surround sound speakers require a power source.

Even though they are “wireless”, they still need power.

The good thing is that you don’t have to run the speaker wires back to the amplifier. The audio signal from the amplifier transmits wirelessly, so you can have your amp receiver anywhere that’s convenient.

Install standard AC electrical outlets on the wall next to or just behind your surround sound speaker locations.

Placement for 7.1 Surround Sound Speakers

You don’t need the most expensive sound system to create a great cinematic experience. You just need to know how to place your surround sound speakers.

Your surround sound speaker placement must be tailored to the design of your home theater. But, no matter the design of your space, there are a few standard rules for how, and where to place the speakers of a surround sound system.

Center Speakers

For the center speakers, mount them above or below the screen area. There should be about an inch of space between the screen and the speakers for every 50 inches of screen size. For a 150-inch screen, mount the center speakers about three inches above or below the screen.

Left and Right Speakers

The left and right speakers go on either side of the screen. Mount them at ear height. Ear height is measured from a seated viewer’s position — not standing.

Side Speakers

The side surround speakers should be mounted on the side walls at ear height and centered to the seating area. The seating area starts with the front row of seats and ends with the back row-not the entire length of the room.

Rear Speakers

Placement for the rear surround sound speakers is measured according to the size, slope, and occupancy of the room.

Mount them on the wall directly behind the last row of seats. If the wall is close to the seats, position the speakers 6 to 12 inches above a viewer’s head height. If the wall is several feet from the last row of seating, mount the speakers at ear height.

If your seating rows are longer than four seats then mount the rear speakers one seat width apart, in the center of the back wall. Seating for five or more should have speakers centered to the end seats of the back row.

9.1 Surround Sound Speakers

If you have a 9.1 surround sound system, mount the extra two speakers on the top half of the wall next to your screen. They are meant to add aerial sound effects and other ambient noises, like birds, planes, noises from the attic-and so forth.

Wireless Surround Sound: Wifi vs. Bluetooth

Your surround sound system needs a method of transmitting and receiving a wireless signal, which is accomplished through a wifi or Bluetooth connection. The best wireless home theater systems are wifi enabled. Wifi provides the most stable transmission signal, as well as retains all of the digital audio signals quality.

Bluetooth surrounds sound systems are less reliable than wifi. They also condense the audio, which eliminates the hi-fi.

On the flip side, Bluetooth easily connects to any device, like smartphones and tablets. Without a control hub of some sort, like an Amazon Alexa or Google Home, wifi systems will not connect directly to devices.

A smart home hub enables you to connect your wifi sound system directly to your home theater system. So, Bluetooth is best for a budget home theater, while wifi is ideal for the best home theater systems.

Choosing the Best Wireless Video Projector

Home video projectors did not use to be nearly as high-quality as those available today. The market’s selection of home projectors went through a phase of substantial quality improvements in recent years.

The projection systems available on the market today rival any of the best cinemas and flat-screen TVs picture quality. The benefit of a wireless video projector is in pairing your computer, smartphone, tablet, or smart device without a cord.

The best wireless video projectors are equipped with a special, Mobile High-Definition (MHL) HDMI port. MHL lets you screen share high-definition video content from your Apple or Android device to your projector.

The best video projection technology is LCD, though it is also the most expensive. DLP produces high-quality video, as well.

Keep in mind when installing a projector screen, the optimal viewing angle is at 30 to 40 degrees-not flat on the wall. You want to see the clear color resolution when sitting.

It is important to size your screen appropriately to the size of your room and seating. Your seating space is essential in finding the ideal projection screen size. Place the front row of seats a distance of no less than 1.5 to 2.5 times the width of the screen.

Lighting Your Home Theater

The most atmospheric element to your viewing experience is your home theater’s lighting. Every movie theater has lighting for, both, transit in the theater and mobility while viewing. No theater gets pitch black.

Smart devices have revolutionized home theaters. Your home automation enables wireless, voice-activated control of your theater lighting.

But, smart-enabled home theater lighting has much more to offer. The Phillips Hue line of smart lights will work with your smart-enabled projector to produce synchronized effects with movies and music. So, when the Millenium Falcon goes into hyper-speed, your smart Hue lights flash, blink, and move with the movie.

Smart lighting comes in three categories: plug-in, wired, and bulbs. The easiest wireless method of lighting your homes theater with smart lights is with bulbs, like the Phillips Hue. Plug-in smart lighting is great for voice-activated light controls, but it doesn’t sync up with your viewable content.

Smart lighting opens the door to an entirely new dimension of home theater viewing. But, no matter what light bulbs you have, place them in recessed lighting. Track lighting looks clunky and obvious in a small home theater.

And don’t forget to install floor lighting that is recessed into the ground and on the edge of stairs. This will make sure that nobody trips and falls in the dark.

Choosing your Theaters Seats

Many homeowners are tempted to furnish their home theater with traditional couches and armchairs. But, this seating causes improper ergonomics for watching a large screen. The best home theaters are complete with theater-style seating.

Create a raised platform on which to place your seating. This allows for the most comfortable viewing. Seating that is made specifically for movie theaters features reclining backs, footrests, and built-in cup holders.

Not to mention you can get theater seating with wireless LED strip underglow lighting. Standard theater-style seating fits a row of four with ample space. In a 20-foot by 13 to 15-foot theater, a row of five seats will fit with narrow aisles on either side.

Keep in mind, that if you raise your seating area it will affect the correct speaker placement for your surround sound system. Raised seating also enables the best audio, since sound waves naturally carry upward.

If your home theater space is large enough, you might consider installing soundproofing tiles to dampen the rooms sound reverberation. Common carpeting is the DIY method, but professional sound insulation is the best option.

Final Thoughts

Building the best wireless home theater system takes planning. The best part of going wireless is the versatility of use it enables.

And, it saves you from running speaker cables through your walls. A wireless home theater certainly doesn’t signal the death toll for movie theaters, but it has forced them to up their game.

If you found this complete guide to building the best wireless home theater system helpful, share it with your friends and family on social media. And, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter to receive the most recent news and posts on the blog.