How to Light Up Your Gaming Setup?

Every gamer has an idea of a perfect gaming setup, but one thing we can’t deny is that lighting plays a major role in evoking an atmosphere in a room. Whether you want the setting to look exuberant or romantic, you can do it by choosing a certain type of lighting.

Lighting has become an integral part of gaming as evidenced by the extensive application in peripherals. Take a look at your CPU, mouse, keyboard, headphones, etc, there’s probably light emanating from those devices. That’s because light can provide an immersive experience especially when they’re combined with smart features like flashing to predetermined profiles.

Now if you want to bring a next-level gaming experience into your gaming room, we suggest you install proper lights. You can install place them in strategic locations across the room so that you can enjoy the astounding visuals everywhere. Using different types of lights can be an option. After all, the sea of choices available makes it hard to settle on just one product.

If you think that the room is spacious to accommodate more several sources of light, then just install some to amp up the ambiance. We’ll share tips on how to light up your gaming setup.

Why Use Gaming Room Lights?

1. Create a nice atmosphere

Lights can set the mood in a room with their radiant colors and adjustable brightness. A unique light arrangement can take you to a different realm. And that’s what’s gaming lights are trying to achieve. Lights specially designed for this purpose often sport unique designs, so that they easily steal the limelight. Besides, colors also have physiological effects on us, which is why you need to be careful with the selection. Some have the tendency to cause tension, while others have a soothing effect.

2. Add charm

Gaming lights look intriguing right out of the box. For example, some sport has a honeycomb design, lightning, cloud, etc. Installing one would add charm to the room because it looks strikingly different from the rest of the decor. That’s not to say that all gaming lights are quirky or anything. Some are more focused on illumination than physical appearance.

3. Come in various designs

Strip lights, light projectors, sconces, are some types of lights you can install in the gaming room. Those you can’t specifically put into a specific category, let’s call them decorative lights because they are useful for decorating. Basically, there are many options as to how you should approach the lighting in the room. If you want soft illumination, a strip lip running behind the monitor’s back would be great. If you need it to be a little brighter, a wall lamp can be a substitute. Or if you want to evoke the outer space feel, a light projector is the way to go.

4. Versatile

Gaming lights are versatile because they can be used to light up different parts of the room. Some are lightweight, so you can move them around without a problem. There are also models that adopt smart technology for remote operation. They usually come with a remote control that you can use to adjust the lighting elements, like colors, brightness, etc. On top of that, some products are also dimmable. When there’s too much glare around, you can soften the light with this feature.

5. Provide the necessary illumination

Despite all the decorative benefits, the main function of light is to provide illumination. While it’s true that these lights can bring a glorious pop to the room, they should shine a good amount of light to prevent eye strain. This is especially important if you decide to keep one light on while gaming. For total control, go for a fixture that offers a dimmable switch. This way, you can adjust the brightness with one press of a button.

Selecting gaming room lights

1. Choose your color

Gaming lights can produce a broad range of hues as well as solid colors. It’s all up to do to decide which one works best for the setting. Some products have both types combined. To make the best of both worlds, you can consider using one. Although the colors are diverse, there are three main ones, namely red, green, and blue (hence the name ‘RGB’).

The RGB lighting is used extensively in products, such as keyboards, mice, headsets, strip lights, etc. If you prefer solid colors, that’s okay, too. Do it as you please because that’s your personal space after all. Having said that, the most important thing is they need to emit a good amount of light to ease tension in your eyes. Staring at a digital screen in a dark room is bad because the eyes are forced to shift focus constantly, which may lead to eye fatigue. The lower the contrast between the background and foreground, the less it’s likely to trigger this issue.

Lights that offer a high level of customization are often referred to smart lights. It’s totally appropriate to call them ‘smart’ because they can do what conventional lights couldn’t. One of those special features is the ability to change color and intensity. Some can also be operated with voice commands, making it easy to control lighting elements.

2. Find the right types of lights

A. Smart bulbs

A smart bulb doesn’t look different from other bulbs. It’s just the fact this bulb can be deliberately controlled is that sets it apart from others. Instead of flicking a switch, you can turn the light on remotely using Bluetooth or a Wi-Fi network. This form of automation is what draws people in because they offer extra convenience.

If you’re a sucker for tech devices, these awesome lights will spark your interest. You can install one in the room. Apparently, smart devices have become commonplace nowadays and that’s expected seeing how fast the technology has evolved in the last few years. In this niche, there are some choices with the Phillips hue being a favorite pick.

If you’re looking for more options, GE and Samsung are also worth checking out. What matters in terms of choosing a smart bulb is compatibility. Make sure to learn how a bulb works and is connected to a Wi-Fi network before buying.

B. Dimmable LED lights

As the name suggests, dimmable light is a type of light in which the intensity can be adjusted. It follows one of these methods; analog and pulse width modulation. That’s not what we’re going to explain today, though. You may be more intrigued by the benefits. There are many of them actually.

First, they are energy-efficient. The dimmer mechanism is useful when you need to decrease the illumination, which will result in a longer lifespan. Like for example, an LED is expected to last up to 50,000 originally, but by dimming it frequently, it may last over 60,000 hours. Not only that, but you can also save on the monthly bills.

How so? That’s not a hard concept to grasp. Each time you dim the light, it will consume less power than usual. As a result, your energy bill will see a drop, but it also on how extensive the use of these lights is in your household.

C. Task lights

Task lights are popular, but in gaming setups, they are not as common as other types. But keep in mind that a gaming setup can double as a workstation. If you do your work on the same desk where you play favorite games, this would still be a nice addition because it can project light at a specific angle to help you read and see.

A lack of light can put a strain on the eye. This is something you want to avoid because the long-term implications can be serious. Digital screens aren’t the only thing that contributes to eye strain. Reading under dim light may also result in vision problems like nearsightedness. For this reason, don’t overlook task lights especially if you spend time just as much working. LED is best suited for these lights because they tend to be less harsh to the retina.

D. Backlights / wall lights

A wall light can be a primary source of illumination in the room because it’s bright. Besides, they also come in all shapes and sizes. Installing one will elevate the ambiance because the colors are stunning. Some products are available in colors other than white. To make it take the center stage, choose one with a combination of several shades.

Please be careful with the color selection as can set the mood in the room. Wall lights are more than their decorative feature. They can provide illumination as effectively as task lighting. However, to use them that way, brightness should be a key consideration. It’s advised to use one that emits bright light instead of a soft one.

Now let’s move onto backlights. Does this term sound familiar? Backlights are like those mounted on the back of TVs. Due to their sleek design, they can also be installed on the walls, so to brand them as such isn’t an exaggeration.

E. Projection lights

First off, projection lights and light projectors are the same. These are the type of lights that cast images onto surfaces. One of the examples is featured in the picture above. What makes them special is that they can project amazing visuals, like the cosmos, snowflakes, and more.

If you’re still curious about the mechanism, LED light is passed through a lens which then magnifies the pattern before it hits the surface. The surface can be the wall, the floor, or the entire room. It’s a good way to personalize your gaming room. You can express yourself by choosing a projector that best suits your interest.

These devices offer various customizations. Apart from static images, some also have modes likes flashing and moving. And the effects can be controlled using a remote assuming it’s included in the package. It usually operates on batteries, so prepare them prior to use.

F. Shelf lighting

Is there a shelf in your gaming room? If so, this light would add a wonderful glow to it. The first notion that comes to mind when this word is mentioned is probably a strip light.

Well, you’re not wrong for thinking so because the glare looks quite similar. By the way, shelf light is rather an umbrella term because any light used to adorn furniture items can be called that. Be it a bulb or an LED light strip, as long as it can be housed inside a shelf, we can categorize it as shelf lighting. Lights are more than just fixtures for illumination.

We also use them because they help draw attention to objects. If you love your shelf with all your heart because it displays collectibles or valuables, then installing a light on it will make the priceless objects more visible. Anyone who enters will also notice them thanks to the light emanating from the shelf. Even if it’s not the brightest type, for instance, it will be bright enough when there’s one running under each shelf.

G. Lighting panels

Light panels are one of the coolest lighting trends in recent years. They come in various shapes, such as triangles, rectangles, hexagons, etc. Light panels offer many benefits. Since they’re LEDs, they also mimic the traits of these lights. For example, they are extremely durable, can last for over 50,000 hours. And then, they can be expanded to cover a broader area.

Several panels can make up one form of light. And if you plan on adding more, feel free to do it. Furthermore, these lights have even illumination. There are no areas that are noticeably darker or lighter than the rest. The light should be evenly distributed across the surface. You’ll also benefit from the low power consumption.

Well, they’re LEDs after all, and this property of them has been known for ages. The various colors are another major appeal. Do you want to up the gaming space with a vibrant light? You can go for this variant. They can shine in so many different colors. Just read the product description to find out.

H. Colored fan lights

Colored fan lights can refer to two 2 things, lights for CPU fans and lights for ceiling fans. We’re sure you know the first already. The second one only works if you have a fan suspended from the ceiling. As we know, not everyone uses it as a cooling system in their bedroom. Some use an air conditioner, instead. Well, if you do have one and want to amp up the beauty, this light can come to the rescue. It will elevate the atmosphere with its bewitching design.

Shop around to compare the different designs, so you have an idea of what it looks like when it’s put in place. For a modern gaming room, choose a simple light to go with the decor. But if it’s retro-leaning, then pick one that has this vibe. Any design should be good as long as it complements the interior. As for the color temperature, beam angle, and other specs, they can be found on the product page.

3. Decide where to place

Deciding on a location to install shouldn’t be difficult. You can tailor it to its function. For example, a task light is ideally placed on a table because it serves to project focused light onto an object. The desktop is an area where we usually work on something, so it’s sensible to display the lamp there. The same goes for wall light. It’s not called that for no reason. A wall light typically projects light in a horizontal or vertical direction. That’s because it’s supposed to be mounted on the wall.

Can you install it somewhere else? Yes, but it’s going to look all over the place. Meanwhile, strip lights are slightly different. There’s such thing as a perfect location for these lights. Any location would be ideal because they have a versatile design. Behind the monitor, TV, under the desk, cabinetry, sofa, shelf, you name it. All in all, you know better where to install lights in the gaming room because you’re a frequent to space.

4. Minimize wires

Wires come as a consequence of using a computer system and peripherals. Sure, there are wireless versions, but we can’t completely get rid of cables. They’ll always be a hurdle in setting up a gaming room. Just don’t freak out because there are many things you can do to tidy them up.

First, as mentioned before, you can use wireless peripherals. Headphones, keyboards, mice, controllers, there are a lot of products that have wireless variants. Using them will free up some space. You can also choose a desk with a cable management system. It’s designed to manage cords and kick clutter to the curb. The underside of the desk can also be an area to hide cords. You should take advantage of it to keep wires out of sight.

Next, try flooring tape. All you have to do is collect the wires and wrap them up with the tape, so they don’t look cluttered. Of all these options, a specially designed desk probably remains the most tempting solution. Some desks are designed with a cable management system. There should be a mention of it when a product has one. You can buy the unit to organize long wires that make a mess in the room.

FAQs

How can I improve my gaming setup?

There are many ways to do it, like installing decorative lights. You can draw inspiration from the types mentioned in this article. Another alternative is an oversized mouse. Have you seen a mouse stretched far sideways? That’s what’s we are talking about. It’s not just the mouse that glides around while playing.

The pad also moves especially when the bottom is kind of slippery. And this can be annoying since you need to adjust it throughout the gaming session. An oversized mouse will solve the problem by providing a larger area to move the mouse. Next up on this rundown is a gaming chair. We recommend it because it’s comfy to sit on compared to a stool or another traditional chair.

What color LED is best for gaming?

For a solid color, white is the best pick because it’s bright and neutral. But if you want a colorful one, it can be a mix of several colors like an RGB light. Colors aren’t the only thing that matters, though. The brightness should also be adequate. Hence, regardless of the color combination, make sure that the light is bright enough.

Does RGB increase FPS?

RGB has nothing to do with someone’s gaming skills. While we could argue that RGB light puts us into an immersive experience, your gaming performance still depends on your skills.

This idea probably stems from the fact RGB lights can be adjusted to be in sync with in-game elements. In this regard, the audio output has a bigger impact as it helps ascertain the enemies’ positions.

What LED lights do gamers use?

They use many of the lights listed out before. Light panels, colored fan lights, backlights, wall lights, and smart bulbs are some of the examples. They are popular in gamers’ setups, so you can also use one or two for the gaming room.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, after reading this article, now you know how to light up your gaming setup properly.

We know it sounds like a lot of work, so there’s no need to rush. You can add one at a time. For example, start with the desktop. If the monitor needs light, a strip light can be an option. It can be installed on the back of the monitor and under the desk.

Once you’re done, look around and see if there are spots in the room that need illumination. The wall can have one, so can the storage units.

Another good placement is under the bed or sofa, but we suggest this only if the room has both items. Keep it up until the room is filled with lights your personally adore.

Besides placements and designs, light intensity is also important to take into account. Last but not least, take your time to assess everything and decide on the best lights for space.