Do you have a spare room in your house? Are you a gamer or at least a game collector? Every gamer wants a game room where they can spend time finishing a video game or discussing its merits over chat or video call. What kind of game room do you want? Do you want a Vegas-themed game room?
How about one that looks like a cross between a 50s nightclub and the inside of the International Space Station? Whether you want a full-on video game room or an entertainment zone, there are plenty of ways to make sure you don’t burn your cash away.
Do Not Overdo It
The thing about creating a game room is that you don’t have to overdo it. This means that if you have a spare room, you will save on the cost of renovating it by not changing things that are not broken. Remember that adage? So, if there’s already a customized Roman blind on the window, don’t swap it for blackout curtains. You can easily put up a wood panel on the window to completely block the light from outside. Keep the roman blinds so that it still looks aesthetically sound.
As for the walls, do you have to paint them midnight blue or black? Do you need those glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling? Instead of investing in those, spend your money on things that matter, like a good sound system for your video game console.
Avoid Themes
Since you are trying to save money, you should avoid going all-out on themes. While a Star Wars-themed game room is great, you will also have to spend on Star Wars merchandise. That’s not going to be cheap. Instead of being tied to one theme, focus on ensuring your game room has all the things you need—shelves and storage spaces, consoles, comfortable chairs, a mini-fridge, and even a minibar.
Choose Projectors
Who doesn’t want a 75-inch television screen? That’s the dream, right? Imagine playing Call of Duty there. But, a 75-inch TV will cost thousands of dollars. This is money you cannot spare right now. Instead of an actual television screen, go for a high-quality projector. It can cast the pictures wider than 75 inches, depending on how much space you have in the room.
Visit Secondhand Stores
Do you want a pinball machine? You don’t need to pay for those modern ones you see in stores. Over the years, plenty of arcade centers have closed down. Most of their inventory is now for sale in bargain stores. Or, if not in bargain and discount stores, you can check out websites for secondhand items. You can even swap something of yours for an old pinball machine. Many people on the internet may be looking for what you have, so feel free to “shop” around.
Do It on Your Own
If you hire an interior designer or a contractor, that’s going to cost a lot of money. Forget about professionals. Do this yourself. Turn this into a little home improvement project that you can do during your free time. There are plenty of YouTube videos to guide you in designing your game room. You don’t need professional help if you are willing to learn by yourself.
Embrace Natural Light
Building game rooms become expensive because people think they have to block out the sun. So, they invest in blinds and drapes. They also remove the windows and close those parts of the wall with wooden boards or concrete. You don’t have to do that if you can embrace natural light in your game room. While playing video games will be hard when the sun comes in, that’s what drapes and blinds are for. But for the most part, you can let in the natural light as you play a game of pool or hang out with friends.
Take It Slow
You don’t need to finish your game room in a week or even a month. Take it slow when designing and creating your game room. There’s no need to rush since you already have a goal in mind. Rushing things make materials and services more expensive. You’ll be forced to spend on things that you do not need.
Everyone wishes for a game room, but not everyone has the money to spend on one, or even the skills to make one themselves. Thankfully, with the resources already available now, you will have plenty of opportunities to create the game room of your dreams. With a bit of luck and effort, you might have your game room ready in a month.
