The setups that look expensive online usually aren't defined by their hardware. They look good because they are tidy, consistent in colour, well lit and finished with a few personal touches, and almost all of that is cheap. Here is how to build a cheap gaming setup that looks far more expensive than it was.
Where to spend and where to save
- Spend on: the things you touch and look at for hours: a comfortable chair, a decent monitor and a mouse that fits your hand.
- Save on: the desk itself, RGB everything, branded accessories and extras you will use once.
1. Any desk, covered with a desk mat
A plain, cheap desk becomes a finished surface under a full-width desk mat. It hides scratches and mismatched surfaces, keeps the keyboard in place and gives the whole setup a colour theme. It is the single biggest visual upgrade for the money.
2. Hide every cable
Velcro ties, an adhesive cable channel down the desk leg and a basic tray underneath cost very little and make the most difference of anything on this list. Even a few binder clips on the back edge of the desk can hold cables out of sight.
3. One LED strip, two colours
A plain LED strip behind the monitor or under the desk edge, set to one or two colours, does what expensive RGB peripherals try to do. Keep it consistent with the mat.
4. Raise the monitor
Books or a simple wooden riser work as well as a monitor arm for comfort, and give you a shelf for the keyboard to slide under.
5. One piece of art on the wall
A single poster above the desk, in the same colours as the mat and lighting, makes the setup look like a planned room rather than a desk against a wall. A poster is far cheaper than a canvas and looks smart in a simple frame. See how to frame a poster.
6. Match your colours
Pick two colours plus black or white and stick to them. Matching is free, and it is what makes setups look expensive. Our post on choosing a desk mat by colour scheme helps.
7. Buy second-hand for hardware
Monitors, chairs and keyboards are often available second-hand in good condition. Clean them and they look new. Office-clearance chairs are often far more comfortable than cheap new gaming chairs.
8. Keep the desk clear
Clutter makes anything look cheap. A headphone hook under the desk and one small tray for loose items keep the surface clear.
9. Use what you already have
A spare lamp with a warm bulb, a plant from another room, a shelf you already own: rearranging is free and often makes a bigger difference than buying.
10. Light the room, not just the desk
A setup looks better when the room behind it is lit softly. A cheap floor lamp in a corner or a warm bulb in an existing lamp stops the screen being the only light.
A budget plan in three steps
- Week one: cable management and a clear desk. Almost free.
- Week two: a desk mat and an LED strip in matching colours.
- Week three: one poster above the monitor.
What not to waste money on
- A "gaming desk" with built-in lights: an ordinary desk and a strip does the same.
- Lots of cheap RGB accessories that don't match.
- Novelty gadgets that crowd the desk.
For more ideas see small desk setups, gaming desk setup ideas and the cozy gaming setup. Browse the desk mats and posters.