Once upon a time, the definition of a nerd cave was a dimly lit basement filled with second-hand tables and rackety chairs. Fortunately, those days are long gone and modern nerd caves reflect all fine points of modern interior decorating. Here are a few tips on how to make your own ultimate nerd cave.
Before we start
The first thing we need to clarify is the function of a nerd cave. Role-playing and card games have become a part of the mainstream a long time ago, so the main function of your new nerd space will be gaming with your friends. As much as aesthetics is important, you can’t lose sight of the purpose of the room. That means you have to have a decent-size table, appropriate for whatever games you will be hosting. You also need enough chairs to accommodate all the players, but more on that later. As for the general look of the cave, it needs to be comfortable above all, as you will be spending a lot of time here and you want to feel pleasure while doing it.
Decorations
Decorations in your nerd cave should reflect its nature, so you need to be careful when choosing them. For instance, Star Wars-themed decorations may seem out of place if you want to focus on role-playing games. On the other hand, pieces of swords and fantasy motives will fit right in. You can also find some amazing carved skull horns online that add a tone of character to your nerd cave and make a great conversation piece. In fact, it is easy to imagine a dedicated Dungeon and Dragons game room decorated solely with these. People often use a lot of posters to cover their walls, but you don’t really need that many. Sometimes, one or two well-chosen ones can have a great effect on the feel of the room and look a lot better.
Lightning
You will want to use natural light as much as possible. That means appropriate window size and orientation. For those long gaming nights, you will also need quality lighting. It needs to be bright so people can comfortably read with it, but also warm since you don’t want that cold neon atmosphere of an airport. Harsh lighting will only kill the mood, not to mention some people simply can’t stand it for prolonged periods. You will need to shell out for some quality lamps and bulbs to achieve this, but since this is mission-critical equipment, it can’t be avoided. If you have some collectibles, creating lightning for them can achieve a very striking effect.
Table
The best solution would be one of the high-end custom-made gaming tables, but they usually cost an arm and a leg. If you can find a good deal on them, perhaps on a used one, that would be great. Otherwise, go for the most unique table you can find. Remember, this is where all the action will be happening. A gaming table is a centerpiece of any nerd cave, and you need to treat it as such. In a pinch, an old dining table will do or even a cheap plastic one, but for the ultimate nerd cave, you will need something way better. For people with DIY skills, a gaming table could be a great project.
Sitting
You will need chairs that people can sit in for hours at a time and feel comfortable. Perhaps the best choice would be computer gaming chairs, as they are designed for exactly that purpose in mind. Your players will usually be people older than 30, so just throwing some beanbags around simply won’t cut it, no matter how much they remind you of your youth.