Ikea’s strategy is a little bit totally different. The castors on the Gaming Lounge Chair are designed to let you drag the chair nearer to the TV if you wish to get extra into the motion, and additional again when it’s time to calm down. And lots of the items within the new assortment have an identical design philosophy.
The facet desk caught my eye essentially the most. On the underside, it has two typical legs, and two on castors. Once more, the desk is designed to be moved across the house, so it’s simple to get into the sport, but in addition simple to maneuver to a extra handy place when the sport is completed.
Nevertheless, international design supervisor for Ikea Johan Ejdemo highlights how designing furnishings that may be moved across the house presents new challenges—and new alternatives for options. “The staff has completed some fairly intelligent and distinctive issues as nicely… [such as] the holder stand for the popcorn bowl, so it would not tip over.”
He’s referring to the steel rim on the facet desk, elevated barely above the floor. It not solely retains every little thing from sliding off when shifting the desk round, however it may possibly additionally assist forestall gamers from knocking over drinks when flailing round after that Darkish Souls boss drops them for the fiftieth time.
For PC players, the Gaming Station takes a unique strategy. Inside, there’s house for a monitor, a keyboard tray, a spot to mount a desktop tower, and even house to tuck away a chair. It’s a whole gaming station that may disappear as quickly as you shut the doorways. And after they’re open, they even present a little bit of privateness.
The Gaming Room
After I first moved into my present condominium, the ground plan on the positioning didn’t have typical labels like lounge, bed room, or kitchen. As a substitute, it was labeled based mostly on actions like reside, relaxation, and… um… nourish. It felt a little bit foolish, but it surely additionally mirrored a extra task-focused strategy to serious about the rooms in my residence.
Ikea’s strategy to gaming furnishings feels extra considerate about how a room is definitely used than I’ve seen shortly. I’m nonetheless not completely certain all of it would catch on. Ikea is probably not using the Gamer Aesthetic™, however the firm nonetheless has its personal distinct type that you simply would possibly love or hate, however you possibly can’t ignore.
The thought of gaming furnishings that’s designed to accommodate lengthy gaming periods, that anticipates messes earlier than they occur, and that’s versatile sufficient to morph into “regular” furnishings when it’s not wanted? These are design rules that would stick round. On the very least, I do know the model of me again in school would’ve cherished that facet desk with a guardrail.
