Gaming Setup Ideas: LED Lighting and Gadgets for Your Desk

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A great gaming setup does not depend on spending a lot. It comes down to solving four things in order: good lighting, a comfortable posture, cables under control and a few accessories you will actually use.

This guide covers gaming setup ideas for each of them, with products from our own store and Amazon alternatives for the things we do not carry. Our store ships internationally, with the plug adapted to each country.

Quick answer: if you make only one change, start with lighting: a monitor light bar to see your keyboard without glare and RGB bias lights behind the screen to reduce contrast with the room. Then raise your monitor to the right height, tidy your cables and add an XXL desk mat. Gadgets come last.

What each gaming setup gadget improves

How to build a gaming setup step by step

The order matters more than the budget. Follow this sequence and each step makes the next one easier:

1. Lighting: add a monitor light bar so you can see the desk without glare, then soft bias lights behind the screen.
2. Monitor position: bring the top of the screen to eye level and sit at a comfortable distance, using a monitor arm if the stand falls short.
3. Desk surface: add an XXL mat so keyboard and mouse share one even surface.
4. Cables: hide the power strip, group the cables and secure the ones on the desk.
5. Accessories: only then add a headset or controller, based on what you actually play.

Most of the visible improvement and nearly all of the comfort comes from the first four steps.

LED lighting for your gaming setup

Lighting is the upgrade with the most impact for the money. It helps to separate two jobs: task lighting, which lights the desk, and ambient lighting, which surrounds the screen. A good gaming setup combines both.

Task lighting: a monitor light bar

Gaming in a dark room forces your eyes to keep adjusting between a bright screen and a black background. A light bar mounted on top of the monitor solves this without taking up desk space: it aims light at the keyboard and away from the screen, so there is no glare.

The monitor LED light bar in our store works exactly this way. It is the pick for anyone who games or works at night and wants to see the keyboard without a desk lamp reflecting on the screen.

Monitor light bar: key specs

• Two lengths: 41 cm for 22 to 27-inch monitors, 51 cm for 32-inch or ultrawide screens
• Three color temperatures (warm, neutral, white) and stepless brightness
• USB powered, with tool-free mounting on flat and curved monitors about 0.5 to 8 cm thick
• The 51 cm version adds a 2.4 GHz wireless remote so you can adjust the light without touching it

See it in our store.

Ambient lighting: RGB bias lights behind the screen

Bias lighting (soft light placed behind the screen) raises the room’s light level slightly, reduces contrast with the display and makes blacks look deeper. For color-accurate viewing, the usual advice is white light of about 6500 K at roughly 10 to 15% of the screen’s brightness. For gaming you can afford more color.

Our RGB lights for gaming setups are a kit of two vertical bars that go on either side of the monitor or behind it. They also give your desk depth and a livelier background if you stream.

RGB lights: key specs

• App control plus a remote in the box; the main functions work without the app
• Music sync, millions of colors, adjustable brightness and dynamic modes
• Timer to schedule switching on and off
• USB powered, with stands and hardware included
• The two bars work in sync (they are not controlled separately)

See them in our store.

Light bar or RGB bars: which one do you need?

They do different jobs, so they are not rivals. The light bar on top of the monitor is functional: it lights the keyboard and desk. The RGB bars behind or beside the screen are atmospheric: they reduce contrast and add color. If you play at night, the best result comes from using both, with the RGB at low brightness.

Tips so your setup lights do not get in the way

• Never aim a light directly at your eyes or let it reflect on the screen.
• At night, use warm tones and low brightness; save fast effects for gaming.
• Stick to a palette of one or two colors for a clean look.
• If you stream, light your face from the front with white light and keep the RGB for the background.

Ergonomics: a gaming setup that is kind to your body

A beautiful setup that leaves you with a stiff neck is not a good setup. OSHA’s computer workstation guidance is a useful reference: it is written for office work, but it helps anyone who spends hours in front of a screen.

Monitor height and distance

OSHA recommends placing the top line of the screen at or slightly below eye level, so you look slightly down at the center of the screen, at a viewing distance of about 20 to 40 inches (50 to 100 cm). With large or ultrawide monitors, sit toward the far end of that range.

If your monitor stand does not go high enough, a desk-clamped monitor arm is the most flexible fix. It adjusts height, depth and tilt and frees up space under the screen.

Desk surface: an XXL mat

An XXL desk mat covers the keyboard and mouse area with one surface, stops the mouse from catching an edge and protects the desk. A common size is around 90 x 40 cm. Look for a non-slip rubber base, stitched edges and enough room for a full-size keyboard.

Breaks and posture

In a long session it is easy to forget, but regular short breaks help a lot. Use loading screens and the end of each match to stand up, stretch and look at something far away for a few seconds. A beautiful desk is only worth it if you can use it comfortably for hours.

Cable management: what separates a normal setup from a clean one

Cable management changes how a gaming setup looks more than anything else, and it also makes cleaning easier and prevents accidental yanks. A simple four-step method:

1. Unplug and group: separate power cables from data cables (USB, HDMI, DisplayPort) to reduce tangles.
2. Lift the power strip: an under-desk tray holds the strip and adapters so nothing sits on the floor.
3. Run cables together: use reusable Velcro ties or a mesh sleeve to route them to the tower or outlet.
4. Secure desk cables: adhesive clips on the desk edge for the mouse, keyboard or controller charging cable.

The light bar and RGB lights are both USB powered: plug them into a powered USB hub or your monitor’s ports to save two outlets. And if you can, switch to wireless peripherals: fewer cables, less to hide.

Gaming accessories to complete your desk

With lighting, ergonomics and cables sorted, the fun part begins. These are the accessories that get the most use, without piling up things that end up in a drawer.

Gaming headset

A good headset improves the experience more than many visual gadgets: you hear footsteps and shots more precisely and your team hears you clearly. Prioritize comfort for long sessions (padding and weight), a detachable or flip-up mic and, if you play on several platforms, a 2.4 GHz wireless receiver with Bluetooth as a bonus.

Wireless controller for PC

Many racing, sports, platformer and third-person action games are more fun with a controller than with keyboard and mouse. A wireless PC controller lets you play leaning back or connect your PC to the TV without switching peripherals. Look for Windows (XInput) compatibility, a rechargeable or long-lasting battery and a 2.4 GHz receiver or Bluetooth connection.

Mobile gaming controller (from our store)

If you also play shooters on your phone, the metal mobile gaming controller for PUBG Mobile combines a gamepad, triggers and a holder for phones from 4 to 6.5 inches, according to its product page. It is a niche accessory, but it fits if you switch between the desk and your phone. See it in our store.

You can browse everything in the gaming gadgets category of our store.

Budget: a gaming setup by levels

You do not need to buy everything at once. This plan sorts gaming setup accessories into three levels, from essential to optional. If money is tight, spend first on what you use every day (light and posture) and leave the decoration for later.

What to choose for your situation

• You mostly play at night: start with the monitor light bar and add low-brightness RGB lights behind the screen.
• You stream or record video: the RGB gaming setup lights give you a background and the music sync adds energy; light your face separately with white light.
• Your neck or back hurts: prioritize the monitor arm and breaks over any aesthetic gadget.
• Your desk is small: a light bar on the monitor (no desk space), a monitor arm and wireless peripherals.
• You want a gift for a gamer: the RGB light kit or the monitor light bar work without knowing their exact setup.

Gaming setup FAQ

Official source: OSHA Computer Workstations eTool: monitors

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