Having the right furniture, equipment, and gear are key to the look and function of your ultimate gaming room. Yet, none of that matters when you don't have the right amount of lighting. When we talk about lighting, we are not just talking about visibility, we are also talking about the quality of that light and how it can be incorporated into the room design. Because let’s face it, lighting is the essential ingredient to transforming an ordinary room in your home to the ultimate gaming room.
Depending on your living situation, you will face some challenges in regards to lighting. However, the possibilities are unlimited when it comes to customization. Believe it or not, it may be one of the easiest tasks that you will accomplish when you are setting up your gaming room. And in most cases, lighting can be the most inexpensive items in your budget. So, before you make any decisions, we at The Gamer Experience Review (GXPR) want to give you some facts and ideas to help you along the way.
Use discernment with wiring
When we at The GXPR talk about discernment, we are not here to lecture you on the hazards of electricity. Knowing how far you should go with wiring is important. To put it another way, we hope that you avoid the temptation of doing more than you have to. In most cases, you will be able to create the ideal lighting for your gaming room without needing to add any more wiring to your gaming area.
Simple ways you can enhance the lighting is to change out your current white light blubs with colored ones. You can also add desk or table lamps to the mix. Changing the color of your curtains or window shading can help the light stand out. Hanging Christmas lights in your room is another simple wiring project you can perform without breaking the bank. Whether you are wanting a simple accent to your electronic gear or for the entire room, you can't go wrong with these ideas.
If you still need to install additional outlets or you need to completely rewire the room or your whole home, then we recommend you contact a licensed electrician. Hiring a local electrician to add more plugs is surprisingly more affordable than you might think. Of course, you should expect to pay a lot more if you are wanting to rewire the room.
Bulbs and Tubes
As you look at the fixture or lamp, you will be able to tell right away whether it will take a bulb or a tube. The only real physical difference between a bulb and a tube is the size. Other than that, all that is left for you to consider is what kind bulb/tube are you looking for.
It is safe to assume we are talking about color, shape, etc. However, we are wanting you to consider the heating element of the light in this instance. Some of you may not think it is important. But, if you are paying the electric bills, it is essential to know. Regardless of your situation, everyone should know what your getting out of your light bulb/tube. It's not so much the cost of the light you have to think about, it's more about the durability.
Before you buy, The GXPR has identified four kinds of light bulbs/tubes that can work for your gaming room. The four types of lighting we are talking about are incandescent, florescent, neon, and LED. While these bulbs/tubes can work to make your room the ultimate gaming room, you will consider whether the benefits will outweigh the costs. If you are not sure about what you are looking for, that’s OK. We will give you some tidbits to help in your research.
Incandescent
The history of incandescent lights can be traced as far back as the mid-18th century. By the mid to late 19th century, incandescent lighting came in bulb form. Incandescent bulbs illuminate when the base is heated and the filament inside the glass vacuum is lit. Just like the old days, once the line of the filament is broken, you will have to replace the bulb.
As well as the incandescent bulb has done through history, they are not known to last very long. On top of that, incandescent bulbs require a lot of energy to produce the necessary heat. You could use this kind of lighting in spurts throughout the day to offset those concerns. But if you’re wanting to use your gaming room more often than that, you may want to consider something else.
Florescent
Perhaps incandescent lights make the room too bright for your liking. If that is the case, you can always turn to florescent lights. Florescent lights come to life when the mercury inside is ignited and they are commonly in the forms of tubes. You can also get them in bulb form if you prefer. These kinds of light are great for gaming rooms based in garages and basements.
As great as florescent lights look, the process of replacing the light can be a hassle. Since most florescent lighting comes in tube form and are in specialized lamps hanging from the ceiling, the process becomes a bigger challenge when you are handling a fragile item. Plus, you can’t throw these lights away with your regular trash and recycling. Thanks to the mercury left inside of the bulb/tube, you will have to find a place that is certified to handle toxic materials.
Neon
There is something about having a neon sign in your gaming room that gives it your own personal touch. Neon lights are like florescent lights. Except neon lights don’t use mercury and are much easier to install. Plus, the tubing is lighter weight and is much easier to customize as a result.
However, these customizations do not come cheap. A good size neon sign can cost you from $50 to over $500. If you are wanting to go even bigger, expect to pay a lot more. The other down side to having neon lights is that you can only hang them on a wall or a ceiling. They are great for accenting a wall or even your electronics and furniture, but are not so great for lighting an entire room.
LED
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) can be found in any electronic device that uses backlights. If you have a smartphone, TV, computer, or even a new vehicle, you would be hard pressed not to find an LED light. Not only do LEDs work great with newer products on the market, they are also compatible with older electrical light fixtures.
When you compare LED lights to the incandescent ones, you will be paying the same retail price. However, LEDs have the reputation of being 90% more efficient than incandescent lights. Thanks to their heat sink design, LEDs use less heat and are replaced less frequently as a result.
Give your room some tint
For the lighting to stand out, you will need to find a way to darken the room. Assuming your gaming room has windows, you will obviously need to cover them with thick, dark colored window treatments (blinds, curtains, drapes). If you prefer a lighter color, you can make them work as well. Just as long as the material is thick enough to block out the outside light, you will be just fine. The cost of these window treatments have a starting cost of under $10. You could also use a thick blanket as a substitute.
Next, we will take on the walls. Again, you could go with a darker or lighter colored paint to start. The finish of the paint be key to how it will affect the lighting. If you are looking for a finish that does not reflect the light back into your eyes, you will want to avoid paints that are gloss or semi-gloss. But if painting is not an option, you could hang posters on the walls. Alternatively, you can hang pennants or any other memorabilia that you feel goes with the motif.
There is also the option of installing a dimmer switch. It is always nice to be able to make the room as light or dark as you prefer. Dimmer switches can be easily installed and work well with any light fixture in your home. Of course, the more advanced the switch is, the more you will be paying for it. For the best effect, you will need to consider using 3 way light bulbs. The good news on those bulbs is that they are not any more expensive than the regular ones.
Conclusion
Shopping for lighting is one of the easiest tasks when it comes to designing your ultimate gaming room. Light bulbs/tubes very much fit the definition of WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get). You can’t go wrong with buying in store or online. No matter how simple the buying process is, how far you are willing to go with the lighting can make things complicated. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be.
No matter how big your gaming room is, there is always something you can do with the lighting. Some of you may only want to use what you have on hand to decorate your room.
Then again, maybe you don’t mind paying some money to change some of the lights. Of course if money is no obstacle, then you can do a major remodel of the room or just build a new house. Just remember that you always have options.
If there are any other questions in regards to lighting you would like to ask The GXPR, please feel free to contact us.
