News

Jun 24, 2023

30 Gaming Desk Setup Upgrades To Level Up Your Look

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Aka how to make *your* desk look more like those fancy battle stations and cozy setups people post online.

BuzzFeed Staff

Using LED strips is one of the oldest tricks in the book when it comes to decking out your setup, but I still had to mention it here, because you might not realize just *how* easy they are to use. These come with a 24-key remote that controls the 16 different colors and four dimmable modes. You can display multiple colors at the same time!

Promising review: "I used these LEDs for the back of my setup, replacing some old cheap RGB strips I had beforehand. These are STARS better than what I bought last time, and they aren't even that more expensive! Being able to edit the colors of each light is amazing, and it's actual true RGB, which is a plus. It really adds a nice ambience to my setup, and I love being able to have the colors be multiple things rather than the strip being stuck to one color across the whole thing. They are also really bright!" —Bailey Smith

Get a 6.5-feet strip from Amazon for $21.99.

Real neon signs will cost you, but if you're looking to try out the aesthetic while on a budget, you can get some highly rated LED options on Amazon.

Get the gamepad neon sign for $20.99 (plus a similar thunder cloud for $13.99 and crescent moon for $11.99) and the Sailor Moon neon sign for $39.99, all from Amazon.

Neon Craftsman is a small biz founded in 2018 that specializes in neon signs as home decor and for special events.

Promising review: "I bought this neon sign as a gift for my friend. The entire ordering process went without any problems. The customer service is very friendly, answers promptly, and translates personal ideas and wishes into reality! The neon sign is very high quality and the color looks in reality even more beautiful than in the photos! It creates a cozy atmosphere during my friend's livestreams on Twitch. Overall, I am really very satisfied and recommend this shop! :)" —Alina B.

Get it from Neon Craftsman on Etsy for $120+ (available in 15 sizes, based on the number of letters required, with personalization available).

Promising review: "I wanted to get an extended mousepad to cover the scratch marks made on my desk over the years, and stumbled upon Razer's Goliathus after purchasing a keyboard and mouse. I'm incredibly impressed by the RGB coloring, and also appreciated the way it was packaged (hard cardboard tube on the inside and surrounded by a plastic adhesive sheath). I was expecting the corners and edges to be a bit flared from the shipment and packaging process, but it rolled completely flat out of the box, and setup was incredibly easy with the Razer Synapse Software. A must buy for anyone who wants to make their work/gaming station just a bit more pleasing to the eyes." —Niko

Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in three sizes and four styles).

This is a great option for people not as into the RGB-lit gamer vibe, and there are so many beautiful desk mats out there you can match to your personal interests or aesthetic.

Get the retro vaporwave mat from DeskNeko on Etsy for $20.45+ (available in eight sizes, three styles, and four colors).

Get the wildflower mat from Handcraftopia on Etsy for $12.49+ (available in six sizes and two colors).

Both of the above stores are small businesses on Etsy and have more stunning designs in their storefronts. Etsy has a bunch of other cute desk mats worth perusing as well!

For a solid-colored design that's cheaper, you can get a cute reversible mat from Amazon for $10.19+ (available in seven color combinations and three sizes).

Having a high-quality, gaming-centric desk for storing and displaying all your equipment (monitors, PC tower, controllers, etc.) will give the entire area a cohesive and thought-out look. That said, it definitely has more of a traditional "gamer aesthetic," which you may or may not be into!

Promising review: "I’ve been researching a lot of gaming desks on a budget and I was sketchy about a lot of the ones I saw, including this one. I saw some reviews saying the alignment on some of the hardware is poor or the product comes damaged, but I liked the overall aesthetic of it so I went for it. Setup was easy, finished in about a half hour. Every piece and hardware lined up like a dream. Like I honestly had zero issue when it came to building this desk. Overall, gorgeous desk and easy setup, couldn't ask for anything better. If you’re on the fence, I say go for it." —Joshua

Get it from Amazon for $209.79+ (available in two colors).

It'll fit a pair of monitors and other small peripherals just fine. The headphone hook and cup holder are removable!

Promising review: "I literally set this up myself, no men required. I am so happy with it. It is adorable, super sturdy, and exactly as the pictures made it seem. Plus, the cup holder fits my wine glass. Bonus points. Super happy!" —Alyssa S.

Get it from Amazon for $79.99+ (available in six colors and three sizes).

Psst — If you pick this up, check out this reviewer's great installation tips for applying it to a desk!

Promising review: "I purchased this for the sit-to-stand desk that I recently got to dress it up a bit and couldn't be happier with how it turned out! The contact paper is thick and great quality. It does not easily tear and easy to install! Adhesion is amazing! Easy peel, yet would stick again with no problem! Glossy finish and seamless look!" —NotSoChillMom

Get it from Amazon for $5.99+ (available in six sizes).

It's wide enough to support dual monitors, an ultrawide monitor, or even a TV, with support up to 100 pounds. It's made of solid bamboo with sturdy stainless steel legs. Thinner consoles like the PS4 or Xbox Series S can be stored underneath it as well.

Promising review: "Didn't want a TV mount. Didn't want to buy a whole new entertainment stand. Didn't want tempered glass with added anxiety of it possibly shattering. This is what I wanted! A nice simple, sturdy stand to place my LG OLED TV on and have room for additional speakers and my game consoles to sit under it. It sits on it perfectly." —K. Cortez

Get it from Amazon for $39.95+ (available in three colors and two sizes).

This particular stand has Razer's signature RGB lighting around the base, which is sturdy with a non-slip rubber bottom that ensures your headphones won't tip over. It plugs directly into your laptop or PC and gives you two extra USB ports for charging other devices! I have the older version of this stand and absolutely love it.

Promising review: "This thing is amazing!! It helps so much if you are limited on USB ports and it helps save space by holding your headphones. It's totally worth it, and I recommend it to everyone; it doesn't matter if you game or not. This is perfect for office spaces or gaming spaces." —yeily

Get it from Amazon for $69.99+ (available in three colors).

This set includes a wireless keyboard and mouse with a USB receiver. It'd be a great option if you're just getting into gaming and aren't looking to break the bank on pricier brands like Logitech or Corsair just yet — and mainly care about your ~aesthetic~. Pick up some AA batteries — both the keyboard and mouse will need them!

You can spot the green version of this keyboard in this TikTok!

Promising review (it's long but worth the read!): "I thought about this purchase for a long time before making it. Reviews for round keys vs. square keys online were pretty mixed, with some people saying they were weird or difficult to adjust to. However, the kawaii-ness of this thing overtook me. I needed it. I HAD to buy it.

"My fingers fell in PERFECTLY with the keys the second I plugged in the USB and started typing. It's the most comfortable keyboard I have ever used, both for typing case notes at work and for gaming. Going back to my laptop's keyboard felt wrong. It felt dirty. The colors are STUNNING and haven't faded in the least over the past year, nor have the letters. The battery life on the keyboard is AMAZING. With regular, cheap-o Amazon AAs, it lasts me several months. I purchased this thing in September of 2020, and only had to replace the batteries in August of 2021 with CONSTANT daily use — over eight hours of typing for work, and then another four to eight hours of gaming, every day, and 10 to 16 hours of gaming on my days off — so this isn't idle battery life, this is ACTIVE USE battery life! 100% suggest it if you're looking for a comfortable, long-lasting, and aesthetic keyboard." —Sam Hargis

Get it from Amazon for $31.91+ (available in 11 styles). If you love the style but don't need (or have the space for) a full-sized keyboard, you can find the tenkeyless version here.

It comes in a sleek, gorgeous white, but you can get colored top plates (like the pink one I'm currently using, shown above) direct from Logitech's store for $19.99!

Check out an unboxing + see it in action on TikTok! I'm seeing it in a ton of setups lately.

I've been using the wired version of this mechanical keyboard for months, both for gaming and for everyday work, and absolutely love it. I had a full-sized keyboard before, so I really appreciate the more compact tenkeyless design of this keyboard (which fits on my desk better). The keys sound perfectly clicky and feel great to type on, and the cloud wrist rest keeps my wrists supported really comfortably. And even though I've been using wrist rest for 8+ hours a day for so long, it still looks totally new! My favorite thing is undeniably the aesthetic, though. It's the prettiest keyboard I've ever had, in a really sleek and modern way. I highly recommend it whether you play PC games or just work from home!

Note that this also comes in a bundle with a mouse, but having used it, I wouldn't say the mouse is worth paying more for *unless* you're in need of a new mouse and really want to match the aesthetic. (I like that it's lightweight and portable, but in terms of ergonomics, and especially for gaming, I prefer Logitech's G502 mouse.)

Get it from Amazon for $146.22+ (available wired or wireless, with three types of switches, and with or without a mouse).

You can stick with one color scheme or mix and match colors to give these a really cool effect. The hexagonal shape also makes them easy to arrange however you like, and you can even combine them with other types of soundproofing and wall art like the reviewer on the left did above (you can find the white 3D panels pictured above and other soundproofing options on Amazon).

Promising review: "We have tiled floors throughout our entire house, and I get sick of hearing every bit of everybody else's conversations and decided to start trying to do something about the sound. I ordered one pack of the white, one of the grey. The difference in my office is kind of jaw-dropping. I mean, I'd like to think I know a thing or two about something sounding different... and my office sounds completely different dude. I'll probably order more of these little gems soon." —Chance Mayfield

Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in 12 colors).

The kit comes with nine light panels and everything you need to get them mounted and control them. A rhythm module is included, which lets them automatically pick up on audio to sync the colors in a cool way, and you can control the lighting from an app too — customize the color of each specific panel, set them up in advance to cycle through certain color schemes, or peruse arrangements other people have made and try those out.

Promising review: "Ever since I saw these, I knew I wanted them in my room. I figured they were going to be expensive since everywhere I saw them was in badass battle stations and game rooms. They were fairly easy to mount and set up. The app was a bit confusing, turned out I needed to set up my home app on my iPhone. These work mainly with the app and Wi-Fi. If you don't have either, they will just go random colors. People have made color combinations that you can find and download on the app. They’ve created mind-blowing atmospheres like lightning and even cop car lights. I am simply in love, but I figured I would be in love anyway since I love all types of gadgets. I highly recommend these if you want your gaming setup to stand out or even if it's to impress some friends while listening to music." —Eye_Complain

Get the kit from Amazon for $259.99.

Several reviewers compare these to Hue LightStrips and say these are even better, especially for a fraction of the price! You could also pair these with the cheaper LED strips mentioned earlier, using those as monitor backlighting and this neon rope light for more of a visual design (the reviewer image on the top right above is a good example of using both kinds). For a cozy nest vibe, you want as much ambient lighting as possible!

Get a closer look at these on TikTok — the reviewer shows how easy they are to put on the wall!

Promising review: "I'm a big fan of Govee products and this is no exception. I got the 6-foot rope light and it was the perfect addition to my gaming setup. The app is easy to use, and it saves previously used colors so I was able to perfectly match the lights I already had behind my desk. These lights are VERY bright." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $55.99+ (available in two lengths).

Hi, that's my desk setup above (which doubles as a full-time WFH setup, hence the MacBook!), and even though it's very much still a work in progress, I'm *loving* the effect of the shelves above it, which draw the eyes upward and give the area greater visual impact. I copied the asymmetric look (with the top shelf longer than the bottom one) from this TikToker, but some people opt for shelves of the same size, or for three smaller shelves arranged at different positions.

Check out floating shelf options on Amazon.

You can place just a few plants here and there or *really* go all out and make the theme of your gaming setup — I *love* (but am also intimidated by??) this TikToker's setup decked out with all sorts of greenery.

Get a two-pack of the artificial vines shown above for $10.99 and check out more artificial plants on Amazon. Of course, you could use real ones too if your gaming area gets plenty of light during the day!

You can check out a similar galaxy projector being used in this TikTok — it adds *such* a cool vibe to a gaming setup, especially as an accent to other lighting. It comes *loaded* with options, with dual-projection lenses that can create 33 light effects, with five levels of brightness and flow speed. It also has eight white noise options and serves as a Bluetooth speaker too!

Promising review: "I love this thing. I use it every night to help me fall asleep, I also use it while I game. My girlfriend really enjoys it too and she uses it a lot to do meditation. The Bluetooth speaker is even a decent size too!! The colors are also amazing. There's so many different ways that you can make the lights work, plus they match with my LED lights." —Thomas franklin

Get it from Amazon for $33.99 (available in four colors).

See it on TikTok.

BuzzFeed Shopping writer Emma Lord has nothing but good things to say about this lamp: "First of all, it really does look hyper realistically like a small moon and adds a chill vibe wherever you plant it. But it's also just so soothing to watch and have in the periphery. You can control dozens of different colors for it and either keep it on those colors or have them alternate, fade quickly, or fade gradually. It's super easy to charge and controlled by a remote, so you can move it off its stand and have it light up wherever you want. Definitely one of my favorite 'the internet made me do it' purchases."

Promising review: "Purchased for my space-loving fiancé, who still has it two years later and works like a charm. He loves the office dim when playing video games and this adds to the vibe. He changes the color as desired, which is pretty cool too. Super easy setup of the stand (literally putting one 'square' on top of the other)." —Brooke

Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in seven sizes).

Check out an unboxing + how it works in this TikTok!

Promising review: "I’m slowly buying things to add fun elements to my office/gaming/stream room. I saw this and thought it would be a cool tabletop display. As soon as I plugged it in I couldn't believe how bright it actually was. If you set it to the white setting it could easily be used as a lamp for a small room. The app is super easy to use and I love the preset scenes. Plus it syncs to music. This thing is going to be a fun element in my office!" —Loren J

Get it from Amazon for $35.99+ (available in three styles).

I *love* how a sunset lamp is used in this gaming setup on TikTok — it instantly warms up your entire desk area even if you don't have a ton of other ambient light. It basically lets you enjoy golden hour at any time of day, whether it's 2 p.m. or 2 a.m. The distance determines how wide and intense the light is — position it farther away for a softer diffused light, or closer up to focus the colorful beam on a specific spot.

I use both Govee LED strips and a sunset lamp similar to this one (the exact one I have is no longer available) in my desk setup, which you can see on the right above. I have black walls so the effect is more subtle, but even so my sunset lamp helps light the area and instantly makes me feel more cozy, especially when I turn my LED light strips on at the same time.

Promising review: "This lamp really exceeded my expectations. I bought it on a whim and honestly wasn't expecting that much, but I'm really happy with it. Feels like it's made of durable, quality material and emits a strong light (but it's not too bright — I use it in the evenings when I'm trying to wind down before bed and it's bright enough to light up my room without feeling like it's going to mess up my sleep cycles). Highly recommend — really does feel like you're watching a lovely sunset :)" —amazon customer

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in two styles).

Promising review: "I bought this because I started streaming and I use my MacBook to process OBS streaming so my laptop began overheating a TON. This has helped cool it so so much! The fans aren't silent as some reviews say, but they definitely aren't heard when I stream. I’ve asked my viewers and they don't hear a thing. I like that you can control how many fans are on at a time and the speed basically. The lights are a great touch and make the setup nicer and the lifted platform is the best part of this product in my opinion! Definitely worth. The picture is to show how it blends nicely with my setup." —Angie

Get it from Amazon for $27.98+ (available in three colors). If you don't feel the deeply ingrained gamer need to have as much RGB lighting as possible in your setup, here's another option for $13.99+ (available in black or white).

Promising review: "I remember seeing this stand off from Amazon Japan, but I never got it because the shipping was a lil' pricy. A week later, I saw this listing and couldn't pass up!!! It's so worth it and everything I dreamed of. 🥺 It's very easy to assemble. It's sturdy and does the job well. The handles are adjustable. I HIGHLY recommend 10000/10 ⭐️." —Jasmine

Get it from Amazon for $23.10+ (available in white or black).

They have eight different lighting modes and come in warm or cool white along with multicolor options.

Promising review: "I've been looking for fairy lights for my curtains for a while. These are great and look great! I love the multiple settings you can use to set the right mood/ambiance. I'm currently using them in my gaming office and really like the aesthetic feel to the room now." —Charlie V.

Get them from Amazon for $19.99 (available in five styles).

This is another product I've seen all over TikTok in cute desk setups like this one! It can be mounted on a wall or propped up anywhere with the included stand. It also helps add to your ambient lighting at night.

Promising review: "I have been working on redecorating my game room for a few weeks now. Being a gamer, I know we lose track of time so fast! So I knew having a clock in the room would help me. And I can definitely say this clock is awesome! Very readable/clear. You can hang it on the wall or just place it on any flat surface with the stand that comes with it. If fits perfectly with my set up! Easy to set up as well. Highly recommended." —RabidBunny08

Get it from Amazon for $17.09+ (available in six styles).

I've found Urban Outfitters is a great place to find a lot of small, unique lighting, which you can place on or around your desk — perfect for injecting some of your personality into the space and really making it come alive at night. Whether it's a Himalayan salt lamp, neon signs, or even a cute floor lamp, there are a ton of products that can help bring some warmth and color into a drab gaming setup.

Get the vine lights for $9.99 (originally $16) and the moon Himalayan salt lamp for $59, both from Urban Outfitters.

Hello, I bought this night-light on a whim a few months ago and it might be the best $6 I've ever spent in my life. I have it plugged into an outlet near the floor of my kitchen, near my cats' water fountain and food bowls, and it surprisingly provides a good amount of light to see by — not to mention looking absolutely ADORABLE. Seriously, I have to take a moment to appreciate this light every time I walk into the kitchen at night — the way it changes colors is so beautiful! The light flips on automatically when it gets dark, so you don't have to remember to turn it on and off. Also, you might have to gently pull apart / "fluff" the leaves and mushrooms a bit since they come a bit squished inside the packaging, but they'll take on a good shape in no time. Though I use mine in the kitchen, I think this would look incredible in a gaming desk setup if you have a spare outlet.

Get it from Amazon for $5.97.

Sure, it can also play music and podcasts — all the usual Bluetooth speaker capabilities — but it's also just so dang cute, and a lot of people just use it as desk decor. I've seen this in literally *dozens* of TikToks, like this unboxing video and in the background of setups like this one — which is why I ended up picking one up myself. If you're curious, you can read more on why I love mine here.

Promising review: "I love it! It's so cute and it fits perfect with the decorations by my gaming setup. I love that you can change the pixels to what you want them to be with the app. I also love that you can play games on it; I think that's really cool. I was not expecting the sound quality to be so good — it sounds so clear! Just a side note: The noises the keys make are so so satisfying!!" —Asjani

Get it from Amazon for $84.91 (available in five colors).

Lxjery is a small biz that's one of the top stores selling Pokémon terrariums on Etsy, but there are a lot of other stores out there selling them nowadays, if you're looking for a specific Pokémon.

Psst — You can spot a very similar Pokémon terrarium (and the same Bluetooth speaker as above!) in this TikTok. I see them in setups all the time!

Promising review: "One of the best gifts you can think of for Pokémon lovers! Had the best reaction and it's so pretty to have! Real eye-catcher for your desk!" —Leezle

Get the Eevee terrarium from Lxjery on Etsy for $59.29+ (available with or without light), and check out their store for more options.

Both of these are USB- or battery-powered, which gives you some flexibility in how you place them.

Get the PlayStation icons light for $24.99 and the Xbox light for $29.99, both from Amazon.

Typical gaming setups have a pretty intense look, with lots of black paired with shades of red, green, or blue, but lately I've been seeing a lot of softer setups that lean harder into the cozy vibes. Of course, your color scheme and choice of decor will have a lot to do with your overall aesthetic, but adding touches like an oil diffuser, candles, and warm lighting (as opposed to cool neon or RGB) will help create a space you want to curl up in and never leave (not like we needed another excuse).

TikToker @kailacottage has one of my favorite cozy gaming setups — check it out if you're in need of more inspo!

Get the glass essential oil diffuser for $59.68 (and essential oils here if you need them) and a four-pack of amber jar candles for $27.99, both from Amazon.

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.