With Americans now spending around 112.8 minutes a day gaming—up from just 73.8 minutes back in 2019—and about three hours and nine minutes streaming digital media daily, it’s super clear that we’re glued to our screens now more than ever.
As the line between sitting back on your couch to watch a show and actively playing games gets blurrier, having a setup that handles both is now a must.
Whether you’re switching from bingeing your favorite series to smashing out the latest games, a flexible setup is the way to enjoy both.
But how do you make sure your space is suitable for both chilling and gaming without losing out on comfort or performance?
Read on to learn what tweaks you’ll need to effortlessly switch from watching streams to playing games and back again.
We’ll share what it takes to make sure your entertainment setup is as great as it gets, no matter what you’re tuning into.
Getting the Finest of Both Worlds: Watching vs. Playing
To nail the balance between streaming and gaming, you need to know what each one brings to the table. When you’re watching your favorite shows or flicks, you want to do it relaxing back—getting comfy, soaking in the visuals, and letting the story take you away.
But when you’re gaming, it’s a whole different story—it’s hands-on, high-energy, and needs quick reflexes and full-on focus.
For watching content, comfort should be your top priority—you want a spot where you can chill out and let the screen do the work. But when it’s time to game, you need something that gets you fired up and ready to take on the action.
Gaming really draws you in deeper—every sound and flicker on the screen counts, and you have to be sharp enough to react in real time.
The key to enjoying both is to make the switch between them as seamless as possible. You want to go from binge-watching a series to smashing out a game without having to tinker around with your setup.
Think ahead about what each activity needs and how you can make it all work together. That way, when it’s time to trade the remote for the controller, you’re ready to go in without missing a beat.
Here are a few tips you need to keep in mind for a smooth streaming and gaming experience:
Picking the Perfect Screen: TV vs. Monitor
If you’re streaming is more of your thing than gaming, a TV is your go-to. With bigger screens and those rich colours, they’re built for a full-on cinematic experience.
Whether you’re watching the latest blockbuster or catching up on your favorite series, a TV makes you feel more immersed in the action. Plus, with all that screen space, it’s perfect for when you’re on the couch with your mates or the family, and everyone has a good view.
But if gaming is what you’re going to be doing most of the time, a monitor should be your choice. Gaming monitors focus on precision—faster refresh rates and less input lag, which can make all the difference when you’re really honed into your game.
Monitors are great for close-up viewing, too. They get you right in the zone where every little detail counts. If you’re a competitive gamer, a monitor’s responsiveness can give you that extra edge you need to come out on top.
But some setups work great with both—a TV for movie nights and a monitor for when it’s time to get serious with the gaming. If you have the room and the budget, get both and switch between them depending on what you’re ready for.
Just think about how you’ll be using it most. If your entertainment is half Netflix and half gaming, weigh up the pros and cons of each.
And if still not sure what to go for, get a high-end TV that doubles as a gaming monitor.
What About Audio?
You want audio that fills the room but hits all the right notes—the roar of an engine, the crackle of dialogue, or the rustle of leaves—everything needs to sound like you’re right there inside the game or movie.
For streaming, you need depth and clarity. A decent soundbar or home theatre setup turns your lounge into a mini cinema and makes every explosion rumble and every whisper crystal clear.
If you throw in surround sound, it’s even better. If movie nights or binge sessions are your thing, spending money on some quality sound gear really makes sense.
But when you’re switching from watching to gaming, a solid set of gaming headphones or a sound system with a dedicated game mode is what you need for more in-game awareness. That’s because you really need to hear footsteps creeping up behind you or the direction of gunfire in a split second.
A good soundbar with a built-in subwoofer would do the trick if you’re just a casual gamer, don’t really need all that precision, and can’t bother switching sound systems too often. You’ll have deep bass for intense gaming while still keeping things clear and balanced for streaming.
Connectivity Matters
Whether you’re streaming in 4K or tearing it up in online games, there’s one thing you can’t do without—a fast and rock-solid connection. Make sure your Wi-Fi can handle the load, especially if you usually have a few devices hooked up at the same time.
If you’re gaming, use wired Ethernet—it keeps the lag down and your game running uninterrupted.
Also, you’ll need enough HDMI ports to plug in all your gear, so you won’t have to swap cables every time you switch between gaming and streaming.
Input Devices: Controllers, Keyboards, and More
When gaming, a comfy Playstation/Xbox controller or a low input lag keyboard and mouse combo can make all the difference, especially for longer sessions.
Go wireless if you want to keep things tidy and have a bit more freedom to move. If you’re bouncing between gaming and streaming, get gear that’s multi-platform friendly so you can handle everything from one spot.
Use a VPN for a Better Experience
A VPN lets you dodge geo-blocks and gives you access to shows, movies, and games that aren’t on offer in your area.
For example, you can easily watch the NFL using a VPN, even if you’re from overseas, where the broadcast is restricted.
On the gaming side, a VPN gets you a more stable connection, reduces lag, and even protects you from DDoS attacks by hiding your IP address.
Also, some ISPs (Internet Service Providers) might throttle your connection when they spot you streaming or gaming (using too much bandwidth), but with a VPN, you can dodge that too.
It keeps your traffic hidden, so you’re more likely to keep your internet speed high.
Wrapping Up
As our lives revolve more around screens, we need a well-thought-out space that really improves our experience.
We need to feel fully immersed and truly satisfied by perfectly balancing comfort and performance.
Think about the factors and tips mentioned in this article before getting your gaming/streaming setup, and you’ll end up finding that balance.