How to set up your living room for PC gaming

With previous “console exclusives” like God of WarWith consoles such as PlayStation 5 difficult to locate, many people are curious about PC gaming. But console gaming can be tough to move away from, as it’s always had one major advantage over PC: comfort. Consoles are made for sitting on the sofa in the living room, while computers are designed to work in the office.

Nobody could be blamed for not wanting to sit at a desk for their leisure time — especially in this era of increased remote work. How can you mix comfort and gaming on the computer? It’s possible to build your computer lab in your living space.

Lucky for you I’ve had some success in turning my living space into a gaming area. Let’s walk through what items you’ll need if you want to put a PC in your living room, and how each fits into your project.

Computer

The most important thing you’ll need in your setup is, of course, the PC itself. Mini PCs are smaller and more compact than regular desktops. They look like routers, but the AMD Ryzen should still work. However, this kind of PC doesn’t have a dedicated graphics card, which will cause problems if you want to play modern games.

It might not be the sexiest option for your living space, but I recommend just putting a desktop tower in your living room and telling respectable guests that it’s a fancy-looking subwoofer. My living room computer is a used workstation that I had replaced in the last year. It does the job. If you’re feeling adventurous, you have two options: build your own PC from a source like PCPartPicker, or buy a prebuilt PC on a site like iBuyPower.

I’ve gone both avenues in the past, and recommend the pre-built option. It’s easy, the PC just works when you plug it in, and you can pay for it in payments over months or years.

Monitors and TVs

Photo: Ryan Gilliam/Polygon

You’re going to need some kind of display to run your PC through, which is the second most important purchase on this list. While you can use any old HDMI-enabled TV you have lying around — I, for example, use an old 55’ 4K TCL display from 2017, and it usually works fine — you need to consider potential latency problems while playing. Using my setup, I’ve run into some issues with certain games, which can make controlling them difficult, and suck a lot of fun out of the experience.

You want this to be done right so you need a TV that is low in latency. There are two popular options: the Samsung Class QN90A Ne QLED or the LG Class C1 Series. They are very expensive and have very low latency.

You may feel some input lag even with the best TV. Consider messing with your in-game settings — turning vsync off is usually where I start — to help smooth out your experience.

Keyboards and lapboards

Photo by Ryan Gilliam/Polygon

One of the big problems with PC gaming in the living room is figuring out where you’ll put the keyboard and mouse, as both traditionally need a flat surface to use. That’s where a lapboard comes in handy.

The lapboard, as it is called, provides you with a smooth surface for storing your belongings and allows you to sit comfortably on the lap. Two main choices are available when using a lapboard to play PC games: one with keyboard integrated and one without.

A plain lapboard is the more versatile option. LapGear BamBoards have a mouse pad built in and space to hold a keyboard or laptop. This can be used for PC gaming but it will not work with wireless keyboards. Depending on which switches you prefer, your mileage may vary. However the Corsair K57 is perfectly capable.

Although less flexible, the lapboards with built-in keyboards are more practical. The Corsair K63 wireless keyboard is what I use with my lapboard. (The combo I have has been discontinued, but you can buy the shell of the lapboard and a companion keyboard on Corsair’s website.) The mouse pad is large and easy to turn on and off. It’s also cushioned on the bottom, so it’s comfortable to have on my lap for hours at a time.

Mice

Photo by Ryan Gilliam/Polygon

Regardless of the surface you’ll be using for your keyboard, you’ll need a mouse to control your PC. And unless your desktop will be sitting next to you, you’ll probably want a wireless mouse with a USB dongle.

My setup uses the Corsair Harpoon RGB wireless mice. It can either be wired or wireless depending on what you need. It does a great job at turning off itself when I forget it, saving battery power when I really need it.

Controllers

Photo by Ryan Gilliam/Polygon

If you’re playing PC games in your living room, chances are you’ll want to have a controller. It’s more comfortable than using the mouse and keyboard on the couch, even with a lapboard. Many games today just work better when you have a controller.

While the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller would be ideal, they can sometimes prove to be too expensive. If it’s too much, consider a normal Xbox Series X controller or a custom one. The majority of PC games utilize Xbox button prompts.

You can also use the Steam Deck

Photo: Ryan Gilliam/Polygon

It is the most popular non-desktop alternative, so you need to seriously think about it before making the purchase. It is a portable PC that can run some very demanding games. You can plug it in to your TV, and you can connect multiple devices.

The Steam Deck won’t help you transform your living room (a bonus for some), but if you’re just looking for a way to play PC games on the couch, it’s an excellent option for as low as $399. If you choose to purchase the most expensive Steam Deck, an SD Card is recommended for more storage.

PowerUp Rewards Pro: $14.99/year

It is difficult to find the most advanced gaming equipment. With things like PS5s selling as fast as they can stock them and Pokémon cards getting whisked off virtual shelves, knowing where to buy and when is critical. Enter Power Up Rewards, GameStop’s membership program, which offers early access to consoles, trading cards, graphics cards, collectibles, and more. Additional benefits include 2% back on points and monthly rewards. Members can also subscribe to Game Informer magazine.