Corralling The Chaos: Creating An Organized Game Room That’s Perfect For Playing In

Organized games room – Pixabay

A games room has to be one of the most exciting things you can create in your home, and more and more folks are looking at adding them… but there’s a significant bugbear that will soon come to plague your new space if you aren’t careful. Chaos. Clutter. Confusion.

Games of all kinds come with stuff that needs to be stored. Wires, controllers, charging stations, dice, games boxes, rulebooks, boards, tables, counters, chips – the list is nearly endless, especially if you’re someone who enjoys quite varied gaming and has various mediums. To stop the chaos from spilling over and sweeping away your enjoyment of being in your gaming space, or possibly even affecting your health, we’ve put together the most effective approaches for keeping your gaming space tidy.

Designate Zones

First things first: let’s organize the room, not the stuff in it. Start by creating different zones for the different activities; this will automatically inject a bit of order and will make your follow-up organization techniques work better.

So, how does this work? It depends a bit on what you have in your room, so let’s look at a few examples. Let’s say you’re a keen board game player. You need a table for your games with a large enough surface, and you need good seating. This can form one area.

Next, perhaps you’re a fan of digital games too. If you opt mostly for those that can be played on portable systems like mobile devices or laptops, you should set up a cozy corner with good lighting, a place for a drink, and an available power outlet (no dying devices during a play session on your watch!). Let’s say you love playing video poker for real money. With our setup, you’ll have a comfortable and supportive place to sit, constant access to power, and a secondary light so you won’t strain your eyes while looking at the screen.

One of the great things about video poker is that you can settle in for a quick session, or play for longer, depending on your preferences. Making sure the room is conducive to that – with good seating being the number-one priority – will ensure these sessions feel calm, organized, and seamless. No having to move when you’re trying to read a paytable because your phone is flashing a low battery warning. No squinting at the screen or feeling drained and stiff afterward. Organization might not seem necessary for flexible games like video poker, but trust us: putting in the effort first makes all the difference to how these sessions feel, and how much relaxation you can gain from settling in.

That’s true for lots of mobile and laptop games, of course. And if you’re playing a longer form game like poker, you definitely need this organized setup where you’ll be comfortable and have eliminated interruptions in advance. Even if you’re not planning on playing and you’re just going to absorb some related content, you need a good spot to curl up in so you can enjoy things like the top poker secrets with ease.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9NXrWn1UHw

If you’re also a console player, the great news is that you can make a single “digital” zone for everything. The same comfortable chair and outlets will let you set up and enjoy a console and TV, without detracting from your mobile enjoyment.

List The Staples

Once you’ve got your zones, it’s time to figure out how to start organizing the stuff that will go into them. Start by making a list of the components that are non-negotiable, such as power cables, controller docks, TVs, etc. In the area for physical games, this is likely to include things like the games you want to play, any extras (e.g. dice towers, counters, character boards).

Next, look at what kind of storage will work well for those non-negotiables. A TV table, for example, with drawers or shelves for DVD/game storage, is likely to be needed in your electronics area. In the board game area, consider the size and shape of your games to figure out what kind of storage will work well for them. A bookcase can be effective for smaller boxes, while you might need a chest or larger storage if you’ve got lots of large games.

If possible, opt for multi-functional furniture. A coffee table that stores games on a shelf underneath or a TV cabinet with lots of other storage options will really help.

Next, think about space for food and drinks. We all love to snack while we’re gaming, but you don’t want greasy fingers on your cards or screens, and you really don’t want spilled drinks near the boards or electronics! Separate side tables that can be nested away when not in use are often the best solution here.

You can also use storage baskets to corral things like board game pieces, extra cables, charging docks, etc. The less “loose” stuff in your games room, the tidier, fresher, and more organized it will feel.

Do A Post-Organize Check

A couple of weeks after you’ve completed your organization process, do a check of the room and look at anything that’s out of place. Why has it been left out? Do you just need to tidy up, or is it something that doesn’t really have a “home”? If the latter, make a spot for it to live in. It’s much easier to keep a room clear when everything has a designated place to live – so don’t neglect this step!

If any parts seem to be really resistant to your organization efforts, look up specific tips for tidying that precise thing; you’ll find tons of useful guides online. Video games defeat many of us, but even they can be mastered if you find an approach that works for you!