Game room compromise with my wife

[nikon_62]

A few months ago my wife pointed out that I don't use my game room much. She wanted to turn the room into a guest bedroom. I agreed and converted the room to what she wanted. Seeing the tote buckets in the garage containing my collection has been a sad daily event that I can't take any more.

So I need to compromise and come up with a way to make the room a game room slash guest bedroom. It's only a 9x11 space and it will have to contain a futon and a dresser to make her happy that guests can stay in there.

So here are my questions.

1. What size CRT would make the most sense for classic gaming in a 9x11 room.
2. What kind of storage ideas will tone down the gaming space and make it guest friendly
3. What gaming / living space compromises has everyone else made?

[samsonlonghair]

A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece.

1. What size CRT would make the most sense for classic gaming in a 9x11 room.

For such a small space, an LCD would be much more practical. I love CRTs too. My 20 inch CRT is just big enough to feel like a "real" TV - not just a "toy" TV set. Yet, it's small enough to fit on any stand (like a dresser for instance).

2. What kind of storage ideas will tone down the gaming space and make it guest friendly

A few years back, Racket posted an article about keeping one's game room tidy with cabinets.

3. What gaming / living space compromises has everyone else made?

My wife demanded that I get rid of my hundreds of video games and dozens of systems. I compromised by simply getting rid of one wife.

Nah, I'm just joking.

Women can make a room feel more "homey". There's only one way to make your wife happy with the way the room looks: ask her for help decorating. Tell her that you value her opinions, and that her choice in curtains is lovely. Then play all the video games you please in your new "guest room".

[flojocabron]

maybe, make a bed with cabinets/drawers under it. The cabinets have the compartments for games and controllers.

Can a bookshelf be built into the wall? It can save a couple of inches and they could be filled with books and other stuff?

[shallowgamer]

If there's a closet in the room, I suggest you claim it. Your guests will never stay long enough to park their stuff in it. I use a bunch of stackable rubbermaids for each system's loose games.

http://www.target.com/p/Sterilite-Wide- ... A-11861831

You can even get them on casters and roll them out when you're using them.

I use these even in my "dedicated" game cave, just because I don't like having a bunch of loose games sitting out.

As for the TV, get a 27" CRT. It will look plenty big in a 9' by 11' room.

[Hatta]

Hook all the game consoles up in the living room instead.

[nikon_62]

If there's a closet in the room, I suggest you claim it. Your guests will never stay long enough to park their stuff in it. I use a bunch of stackable rubbermaids for each system's loose games.

http://www.target.com/p/Sterilite-Wide- ... A-11861831

You can even get them on casters and roll them out when you're using them.

I use these even in my "dedicated" game cave, just because I don't like having a bunch of loose games sitting out.

As for the TV, get a 27" CRT. It will look plenty big in a 9' by 11' room.

Yeah there is a closet with a little extra space in it I can use those totes in. I was thinking 25" or 27" so I guess I was right on with what you're thinking.

[nikon_62]

Hook all the game consoles up in the living room instead.

I have four hooked up in the living room right now. I started getting dirty looks when the top of the entertainment center was totally out of space and I started stacking consoles and carts on each other.

[eskil]

Hook all the game consoles up in the living room instead.

I have four hooked up in the living room right now. I started getting dirty looks when the top of the entertainment center was totally out of space and I started stacking consoles and carts on each other.

Have you considered keeping most of your consoles in storage and only hooking up one or two? You could rotate them monthly, this way you could focus on "discovering" each console's library by itself, and plus it would keep things fresh for you as well as appease your wife.

[vlame]

Hook all the game consoles up in the living room instead.

I have four hooked up in the living room right now. I started getting dirty looks when the top of the entertainment center was totally out of space and I started stacking consoles and carts on each other.

Have you considered keeping most of your consoles in storage and only hooking up one or two? You could rotate them monthly, this way you could focus on "discovering" each console's library by itself, and plus it would keep things fresh for you as well as appease your wife.

good idea!

[FerretGamer]

I will second the storage idea!

The storage idea is not a bad one and I do it myself. Honestly, I actually prefer not having a whole bunch of consoles hooked up at once with wires everywhere. It also seems a lot less overwhelming and makes the space look clean and simple. Instead, if you properly store away you consoles with their necessary connections, it will be very simple to pull out the console you need and get it hooked up and ready. Then, you can alternate and put a console back into the storage thus keeping your number of consoles down to a minimum.