# The Ultimate Biophilic Game Room: Creating My Nature-Gaming Paradise
You know that feeling when you walk into a space and immediately think “wow, I could hang out here forever”? That’s exactly what happened when I started experimenting with turning my spare room into a proper game room. But here’s the thing – I didn’t want it to feel like some sterile arcade or basement dungeon. I wanted something that felt alive, you know? Something that combined my love for gaming with all the plant stuff and natural design elements I’d been reading about.
I’ve been obsessed with biophilic design for the past couple years now, ever since I started noticing how much better I felt in spaces with plants and natural light. So when I finally had the chance to create my own gaming space, I figured why not try combining the two? Turns out, there’s something really magical about mixing high-tech entertainment with the calming vibes of nature. It’s like getting the best of both worlds – the excitement of gaming with the restoration you’d get from sitting in a forest.
The whole thing started when my friend Jake asked me to help him spruce up his game room. This guy has an incredible setup – VR headsets, multiple monitors, a vintage pinball machine, the works. But when I walked into his space, it felt so cold and artificial. Everything was black plastic and LED strips, like stepping into a cyberpunk movie but not in a good way. We talked about it, and I suggested trying some of the biophilic principles I’d been learning about. Nothing too crazy – just some trailing plants behind his gaming setup, wooden shelving instead of metal, warmer lighting. The transformation was immediate. Jake said it felt way more inviting, and he actually found himself feeling calmer during those intense gaming moments instead of getting all wound up.
That experience got me thinking about natural light in gaming spaces, which is honestly something I’d never considered before. Most game rooms I’d seen were these windowless caves, but I read this article about how natural light affects mood and focus, and it made total sense. When I was setting up my own space, I made sure to position everything to take advantage of the morning light that comes through my west-facing windows. Even when I’m playing at night, I’ve got these warm-colored LED strips positioned behind my monitors that simulate sunlight without creating glare on the screens.
I also invested in some decent task lighting for when I’m working on miniature painting or playing board games. Got these adjustable desk lamps from IKEA for like thirty bucks each, and they’ve made a huge difference. There’s something about having the right light that makes everything more enjoyable, whether you’re trying to read tiny text on a game card or spot details in a video game.
The material choices were probably the biggest game-changer though. I used to have this cheap plastic gaming chair that looked cool but felt terrible after an hour of sitting. Did some research and found this leather chair with a wooden base on Facebook Marketplace for $150. It’s not specifically a “gaming” chair, but it’s so much more comfortable and adds this warmth to the room that the plastic stuff just can’t match. Same thing with storage – I built some simple shelves out of reclaimed wood planks I got from a local salvage yard. Cost me maybe sixty dollars total and a weekend of work, but they look amazing and smell faintly of whatever wood they used to be part of.
Plants were the obvious next step. I’d been killing succulents left and right in other parts of my apartment, but I was determined to get something green into the game room. Did a ton of research on low-light plants since the room doesn’t get amazing natural light all day. Ended up with a snake plant next to my main gaming station, some pothos trailing from the shelves, and this ZZ plant that’s been basically indestructible. The snake plant was like twenty-five dollars at Home Depot, and it’s been going strong for eight months now without me doing much beyond watering it when I remember.
The coolest addition has been this small tabletop fountain I found at a yard sale for twelve dollars. I wasn’t sure if it would be too distracting while gaming, but it’s actually perfect. The sound of trickling water is just loud enough to mask some of the noise from my upstairs neighbors but quiet enough that I can still hear game audio clearly. There’s something really soothing about glancing over at it between matches or during loading screens.
Color was another thing I had to completely rethink. My first instinct was to go with the typical gamer aesthetic – lots of black and bright neon accents. But I’d been reading about how certain colors affect stress levels and focus, and I decided to try something different. Painted the main wall this deep forest green that I found at Sherwin Williams. It’s called “Evergreens” and it was on sale for like thirty dollars a gallon. My friends thought I was crazy at first, but everyone who’s seen the finished room comments on how relaxing it feels.
I also picked up this large canvas print of a misty forest scene from a local artist’s booth at a farmers market. It’s not like, overtly nature-y in a cheesy way, but it definitely reinforces the whole outdoor vibe I was going for. Cost me eighty dollars, which felt like a lot at the time, but it really ties the whole room together.
Sound design was something I never would’ve thought about before getting into all this biophilic stuff. I came across this documentary about how natural sounds affect our brains, and it mentioned how water sounds and rustling leaves can actually improve focus and reduce stress. So I experimented with playing very quiet nature soundscapes through a small Bluetooth speaker during gaming sessions. Nothing loud or distracting, just this subtle background of forest sounds that you almost don’t notice until it’s not there.
The effect is really interesting. During intense gaming moments, I’ve noticed I stay calmer and more focused instead of getting that jittery, overstimulated feeling I used to get. It also helps mask some of the ambient noise from other parts of the apartment, which is great when my partner’s watching TV in the living room or when the neighbors are being loud.
Texture has become something I pay way more attention to now. I added this wool throw to my gaming chair that makes it incredibly cozy for long sessions. Found it at Target for thirty-five dollars, and it’s been one of my best purchases. There’s something about having different textures to touch – the smooth wood of the shelves, the soft wool of the throw, the slightly rough bark texture of the small decorative branches I have scattered around – that makes the space feel more engaging on a sensory level.
I also installed this small section of reclaimed wood planks on one wall, mostly just because I liked how they looked and felt. Each plank has its own texture and grain pattern, and I find myself running my hands along them while thinking during strategy games. It’s become this weird little ritual that helps me focus.
The whole project took about three months and maybe five hundred dollars total, which was way less than I expected. Most of that went toward the chair and some of the wood materials. The plants were surprisingly affordable, and a lot of the smaller touches – the fountain, the throw, some of the lighting – came from thrift stores and yard sales.
What’s funny is how the room has evolved beyond just gaming. I spend time in there reading now, which I never used to do in my old setup. Sometimes I’ll just sit with a cup of coffee and listen to the fountain while checking my phone or planning out my day. My partner uses it for video calls sometimes because the lighting is so good and the background looks nice on camera.
I’ve had friends tell me they’ve never seen a game room that feels so relaxing. Usually those spaces are all about energy and excitement, but this one manages to be exciting when you want it to be and calming when you need it to be. It’s like having an indoor retreat that happens to have really good Wi-Fi and a killer gaming setup.
The whole experience has made me think differently about how we design spaces for entertainment. Why should fun spaces have to be sterile or artificial? There’s no reason you can’t have cutting-edge technology surrounded by living plants and natural materials. If anything, the contrast makes both elements more interesting.
I’m still experimenting with the space, adding small touches here and there. Recently got some air plants that don’t need soil – they just hang in these little glass orbs and look like tiny floating ecosystems. They were eight dollars each at a local nursery, and they add this cool sci-fi element that somehow still feels natural.
The game room has become my favorite space in the apartment, and not just because of the gaming setup. It’s become this place where technology and nature coexist in this really balanced way that I didn’t know was possible before I started learning about biophilic design. Whether I’m deep into a strategy game or just hanging out and watering plants, it feels like a space where I can be both energized and restored, depending on what I need at the moment.
Jeff writes about bringing bits of nature into everyday living spaces — not as a designer, but as a curious renter who experiments, fails, and keeps trying again. He shares what he’s learned about light, plants, and small changes that make big differences for real people living in ordinary apartments.
