Although the main function of a TV is to show videos, the appliance has long stopped being a utilitarian device in people’s homes. It became a focal point of many social interactions between families and friends, especially because of its imposing presence in the living area. Recently, however, TVs have taken on a different role, trying to disappear into the background or, conversely, proudly stand as an art object to complement the rest of the room’s decor. Some homeowners have even completely thrown out the TV, preferring the frame-less freedom of home projectors but at the cost of convenience and clarity. At CES 2024, LG is unveiling a different take on this problem by presenting a TV that almost literally disappears into the background when you don’t want to see it.
Designer: LG
Transparent displays have long been a hot topic in the tech industry, giving sci-fi vibes that could only be accomplished in Hollywood. Of course, that’s a thing of the past now, with plenty of transparent panels coming out of the woodwork, some still with imperfections that don’t meet expectations, at least expectations based on imagination and fiction. LG, however, believes it’s finally time for those fantasies to become reality and has unveiled the rather ambitious SIGNATURE OLED T, the world’s first wireless transparent 4K OLED TV.
It’s easy enough to make a panel transparent. After, we have transparent glass and plastic for that. Making only specific parts completely opaque to show images, however, is the challenge that transparent TVs face. That’s why it’s mind-blowing to see the LG SIGNATURE OLED T in action, watching the transparent surface get covered up in places with vibrant pictures and fluid animations, completely obscuring what’s behind those parts while still retaining the transparency in areas where there’s no image being displayed.
This isn’t just an incredible feat of engineering, because that design has significant implications on how you design your room and where you place the TV. You no longer have to worry about putting a large black rectangle in the middle of your wall, nor are you prevented from putting the TV right in the middle of the room thanks to LG’s cutting-edge wireless transmission technology. Once you’re done watching, the TV can literally blend with the background, showing off your wall’s original design or letting you see the rest of the room’s decor. Alternatively, you can also use the SIGNATURE OLED T to display breathtaking images and act like a magical art canvas or gigantic photo frame.
The LG SIGNATURE OLED T isn’t just for show either, equipped with the brand’s latest and greatest hardware for 4K OLED TVs. That includes a new α (Alpha) 11 AI processor that works faster and better to enhance image quality in real-time. Whether it stands invisibly in the middle of the room or hangs silently on a wall, the LG SIGNATURE OLED T wireless transparent 4K TV gives you the freedom to enjoy life’s pleasures while keeping your beautiful space clean and free of big black screens.
Dubbed the Building Frame of the House, this home in Tokyo is a unique adaptable space for both living and working. It features stepped living areas framed by boardmarked concrete walls. It is designed by IGArchitects to function as “one big room”.
“[The clients] have a vague boundary between their private and work life, they were imagining a house where they can work anywhere and where they can sense the presence of each other wherever in the house,” said founder Masato Igarashi. “With such lifestyle, rather than have small spaces for compact living, the house was designed to have a large volume and scale that makes various interactions between inside and outside space,” he added.
Designer: IGArchitects
The home’s central space is designed to be as open as possible, with the studio organizing the home’s floors as irregularly stepped mezzanine layers. The various floors are connected via a black-metal staircase and a ladder. At the rear of the home, there is a ground-floor kitchen and first-floor bathroom. The bedrooms and the living spaces are located at the front. A massive bookcase is nestled against the southern wall.
The side walls of the home have been left quite blank, with sections of full-height glazing located at the front of the home, which offer a generous amount of natural light. “The floors are divided to make it difficult to see the interior from the outside, which is treated like a wall,” said Igarashi. “The way the space is used overlaps, responding to the residents’ lifestyle,” he continued. “The floors can turn into a seat, table, shelf, ceiling, or bed.”
The boardmarked concrete structures within the home are exposed, which are teamed up with wooden floors and shelving, and metal countertops in the kitchen, creating an interesting contrast. “We selected materials that would develop their own flavor as they age, and we wanted to bring out the texture and strength of the materials and their shades in the space,” said Igarashi. “Since the site is too small to create a garden, the interior and exterior are treated equally, and the materials are unified inside and out.”
Gone are the days when you will have to book studio time and spend a lot of money to be able to produce, mix, and create your own music. One tool that artists and producers need to be able to create music is to have great studio monitors so they will be able to fine tune the music they’re creating. We’re now seeing these monitors become more portable and lighter to cater to those who want to produce music from the comfort of their own homes.
Designer: AIAIAI
The Unit-4 monitors by Danish audio makers AIAIAI is one such tool that these indie music creators can use to produce their works of art. These studio monitors portable (weighing at just 2.5kg), battery-powered, and completely wireless. This means you can lug it around to wherever you are working in your house and you will not be bogged down by cables and power cords. Well, at least until the battery runs out after around 20 hours.
When it comes to quality, it can be comparable to the boxy, bigger sound monitors that studios use. It has Flat +/-2dB frequency response from 50Hz to 20kHz and can give a bass extension down to 40Hz with its 2-way active sound monitors. It has a 4-inch woofer and 1-inch silk-dome tweeter with crossover at 3kHz. It is also eco-friendly as the bass reflex enclosure is made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic which also contributes to the sound quality since it minimizes resonance.
If you want to use the speakers the old school way, there is a 3.5mm mini-jack and 6.3mm balanced TRS inputs. It comes with a magnetic steel grill to protect the woofer and tweeter but you also have the option to not use it if you feel it interferes with the sound. You can get a pair of the AIAIAI UNIT-4 for $800.
Owning a second fridge has become a pretty popular and common trend, that has slowly made its way to homes in the past few years. However, fridges tend to be pretty large and occupy a substantial amount of space wherever they’re placed, hence accommodating them in smaller homes and apartments ends up being an issue. But this is where the Super Smart Fridge comes in. Designed by Rocco co-founders Alyse Borkan and Sam Naparstek, the Super Smart Fridge is a compact and stylish refrigerator that looks more like a piece of furniture than a kitchen appliance.
Designer: Rocco
The Super Smart Fridge is a mix between a small fridge and a dedicated wine fridge. The good-looking fridge features a modern and contemporary design, which includes a smart exterior paired with a fluted glass door. The modern exterior is further accentuated by the compact and small size of the fridge which allows it to seamlessly merge with the rest of the home decor and furniture in the room. This makes the Super Smart Fridge an ideal fit for not only your kitchen but also your living room or bedroom.
Measuring 16 inches in depth, the compact fridge is designed to be subtly pushed against a wall, allowing the fridge to further blend in with the furniture and the space surrounding it. If you look at the Super Smart Fridge, it looks more like a bar cart than a kitchen appliance! It is built using a powder-coated steel frame which is available in a wide range of colors, so you can pick the color that perfectly suits your aesthetic and home. The fridge features walls that are 3x thicker than anything available on the market today and boasts the same compressor as the Sub-Zero.
The Super Smart Fridge functions efficiently and smoothly in any living space, without causing any kind of excessive noise. It is covered by a 10-year warranty and has a unique technological feature that enables you to connect the fridge to your phone, via an internal camera system called Sight System. This allows users to glance into their fridge to see if anything needs to be restocked or purchased – pretty cool, eh?!
The Nintendo Switch continues to be one of the most versatile gaming consoles around, with a massive catalog of great games to play and the ability to switch between TV, tabletop, and handheld mode on a whim – meaning you never have to put down your game for long. It’s an easy sell to anyone with even a casual interest in gaming (though it features plenty of 100+ hour, high-concept single-player games in its roster) which is likely why it’s sold over 129.53 million units since releasing in March 2017.
One of the coolest parts of setting up a Nintendo Switch in your room is playing it with retro-style controllers that feel better and often work better than the default Joy-Cons the console ships with. The Nintendo Switch Pro controller is a highly popular option thanks to its wealth of features and high build quality, but what if you want a more specialized look for your gaming room? I created this list to showcase a few of my top picks for Nintendo Switch controllers that feature a unique style. Whether you’re shooting for a retro look or adding more RGB to the space, there’s almost assuredly something here for you:
1. 8BitDo SN30 Pro Controller
The premiere retro controller of the bunch, the 8BitDo SN30 Pro looks just like an old SNES controller, and if you go for the crystal purple or jade green colors, it comes in a see-through case that exposes its internals and makes it look similar to an old GameBoy color. It’s completely unlike an actual SNES controller, however, thanks to its complete range of modern buttons and thumbsticks, rumble vibration, Bluetooth support, motion controls, and plug-and-play compatibility with your Nintendo Switch. It’s also rechargeable via USB-C.
Like many of the controllers on this list, it also connects to most other devices that take a Bluetooth controller, including: iPhone, iPad, Macintosh, Apple TV, Windows PC, Android, Steam Deck, and Raspberry Pi. This means you can buy this one controller and comfortably use it as your main controller for several systems.
Buy it now on Amazon
2. 8BitDo Pro 2
The 8BitDo Pro 2 wireless controller is a step up from the SN30 albeit with a slightly less retro look. In exchange for that, it adds a few more bells and whistles like customizable back paddle buttons, a button that switches between input presets, a button that switches between custom profiles, a larger 1000 mAh battery (vs. the SN30’s 400 mAh battery), and access to 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software on PC and mobile where you can adjust button mappings and get granular with sensitivity.
Like the SN30, the 8BitDo Pro 2 is compatible with Windows, Apple, Android, SteamOS, and Raspberry Pi devices via Bluetooth 4.
Buy it now on Amazon
3. PowerA Spectra Enhanced Wired Controller
PowerA Spectra Enhanced Wired Controller for Nintendo Switch is a quick way to connect an extra player or two to a docked Switch connected to a TV, but that’s not why I’d personally buy one. I haven’t found too many RGB-lit controllers for the Switch, but this is the perfect storm: PowerA is a respectable Switch controller manufacturer, and this happens to be one of the prettiest Switch controllers you can buy.
The RGB LEDs can cycle between eight different colors with a built-in Rainbow Phase or sync to the visuals of the game. Mappable buttons on the back of the PowerA Spectra controller can also make it easier to do certain actions. To be clear: there’s no vibration or motion control support, which may not make it the best first choice, but at least there’s no need to recharge a battery – for whatever that’s worth. And it has a 3.5mm AUX jack for an external headset, enabling voice chat within certain Switch games.
Buy it now on Amazon
4. NYXI Wizard Wireless Joy-pad
We really liked the NYXI Wizard wireless Switch controller when it first appeared in January. It’s not just a stylish competitor to the official Switch Pro Controller, clocking in at roughly the same price albeit with a stunning purple GameCube controller-esque design. Utilizing the magnetic NYXI Hall Joystick, it actively fights against the entropic forces that eventually bring every Joy-Con to its knees… figuratively speaking. In plain English, the NYXI Wizard is designed to be especially good at preventing Joy-Con drift, and that alone is why the controller is a perfect long-term option if you regularly play twitchy, action-heavy games like Super Smash Bros.
Buy it now from NYXI
5. Nintendo Switch REALMz Controller (Wired or Wireless)
If you really love showing off character art in your room – especially if your room is themed around Sonic, which seems to be the flagship REALMz controller theme – you’d probably really appreciate these bespoke see-through PDP REALMz controller designs. REALMz offers both wired and wireless controllers, but no matter your preference, you’re getting a LED-backlit piece of artwork designed to boost the ambience of your gaming room. Every controller is layered with graphics and imagery from the IP it’s themed off of, and there’s at least one figurine inside of the bottom left grip to bring the entire design to life.
The wireless version of the REALMz Nintendo Switch controller is rated to last for 40 hours, and uses a rechargeable battery.
As we near the final days of 2023 (known in some circles as either one of the best years in gaming history or one of the worst) the massively popular gaming hobby shows no sign of slowing down in terms of public reception. In fact, Statista predicts that 3.1 billion humans (a little less than half of the current global population) will regularly play games as a hobby by 2027.
But can you truly call yourself a “gamer” if you don’t spend at least a little time and money decking out the room you play games in? I’m half-joking; of course there is no specific “correct” way to play video games in your own house. But there are quite a few gadgets and cool decorative items you can use to make any gaming room more impressive.
Whether you’re a PC gamer who wants an extra edge, a racing game enthusiast who wants maximum immersion, or if you simply want to make your entertainment center a little more comfortable, you’ve got a number of options at your fingertips to trick out your gaming room to match your style. To help you out, I’ve come up with a list of gaming room accessories that immediately come to mind, including a few mainstays I’ve used in my personal gaming setup for years.
1. Playseat Trophy – Logitech G Edition
Playseat is one of the best racing chair brands you can buy from, and this collaboration between Playseat and Logitech (called the Playseat Trophy – Logitech G Edition) is probably the best option for an all-rounder racing chair with direct drive wheel support plus all the other bells and whistles you’ll need for maximum immersion. It’s also advertised to naturally conform to the shape of your body thanks to Playseat’s patented ActiFit material, so you can theoretically sit inside of it and race for hours without developing aches and cramps. It’s a little expensive at an MSRP of $599.00, but it’s hard to find a decent racing chair below that price range, and critics love the mix of features and high build quality.
2. Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel and Pro Racing Pedals
If you’re going to invest in a high-quality direct drive racing wheel and accompanying racing pedals, you’re going to want to go straight to the best one on the market. That’s the Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel and Pro Racing Pedals bundled together for around $1348.99 – which, yes, is expensive, but if you’re in the market for a high-end racing setup anyway, is money even an object? GamesRadar+ had some especially kind words for the Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel, highlighting the powerful force feedback, robust customization options, and advanced features throughout the design. It’s also widely known as one of the sturdiest racing wheels around, with IGN’s slightly less enthusiastic review still giving credit to Logitech for delivering on its commitment to quality.
3. Cololight Smart RGB LED Gaming Lights
Hexagonal LED wall lights are a popular and stylish way to decorate any gaming area or entertainment center, and I find the Cololight COLO PLAY Ultimate Fusion Set offers the best price balance for the widest range of features as it’s designed around PC gaming setups – letting you sync a wide range of lighting systems (like Razer Chroma) with Cololight’s hex lighting pieces. The included COLO PLAY light switch sits comfortably on your desk and is especially useful to quickly cycle your hex lights and PC lights by simply twisting a knob. Not only that, but the company pledges to plant a tree with every purchase made on its online store, which is a nice gesture on its own.
4. Secretlab MAGNUS Pro
Sit-stand desks are an excellent centerpiece for any modern PC gaming setup, and one of the best-rated desks in 2023 is the Secretlab MAGNUS Pro. It’s spacious, sturdy, and has a number of quality-of-life features like electric height control, a cable management system, and even a little headphone hook for added convenience. It also contains a rather impressive integrated RGB lighting system, making for a unique and stylish design. Its height is configurable via an array of buttons conveniently accessible on its front panel. It’s expensive, but the reviews are unanimously (overwhelmingly) positive, with GamesRadar+ calling it the best sit-stand desk they’ve ever tested when they reviewed it in February 2023.
5. NEWTRAL MagicH Ultra Adaptive Support Home Office Chair
I personally dislike most gaming chairs I’ve ever sat in. I’m a firm believer that the secret to buying a proper gaming chair is avoiding them altogether, and instead investing in a really nice office chair. After all, office chairs are designed to be sat in for at least eight hours a day by office workers of all builds and ages. Their most critical function is comfort, and the NEWTRAL MagicH seems to push the boundaries on just how comfortable an office chair can be. This Kickstarter-backed office chair is advertised to provide full support in any sitting position, whether you’re sitting upright or reclining back. As someone who spends a lot of time sitting down in the same computer chair all day for both work and gaming, I’ve been looking for something that adapts to my needs throughout the day, and the NEWTRAL MagicH is on the tippy top of my wish list.
6. Logitech G560 LIGHTSYNC PC Gaming Speakers
I’ve been using these Logitech G560 2.1 PC speakers for years now, and I still recommend them as a compulsory purchase for any modern PC gaming setup. Their sound quality is decent enough – these aren’t going to compete against a proper 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound system, or even a nice pair of monitors. However, for the $200 MSRP, you’re getting a powerful 2.1 PC speaker system that also provides a ton of visual ambiance. These speakers double as LED lights that beam colors onto the surface behind your monitor. They can be configured via Logitech G HUB software to mimic the visuals on your monitor itself, creating a dynamic backlighting experience that heightens immersion when playing games and watching movies. Just remember to turn up the brightness to max and boost the subwoofer in the acoustics menu, otherwise these will be a lot darker and a lot quieter than advertised.
7. Samsung Odyssey OLED G9
The most stylish gaming PC monitor you can currently buy is the 49-inch Samsung Odyssey OLED G9, which looks incredible at 5120×1440 resolution with 1800R curvature …and all the additional bells and whistles you could possibly want. The Odyssey OLED G9’s integrated HDR 400 support should look produce crisp and rich colors thanks to its OLED display, which doesn’t rely on a backlight and therefore negates the need for local dimming to generate deep blacks and bright whites. It’s designed for gamers first and foremost, running at up to 240Hz refresh rates with Freesync. It’s also rated for 0.03ms response times, meaning almost no perceptible input lag. From a purely aesthetic perspective, the minimalistic design of its stand and the integrated RBG backlights make the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 a centerpiece rather than an eyesore.
8. Xbox Mini Fridge
The Xbox Mini Fridge is admittedly a bit goofy, but then again, it’s not a “real” fridge. What was originally a meme product designed to build up hype for the then-new Xbox Series X in 2020, is still a genuinely cool item to have sitting around in any gaming room. It’s small, with a sleek black chassis and bright green inlay that mimics the design of a proper Xbox Series X. But its best feature is the integrated green LED that gives it its visual flair. Besides, it’s perfect to store a few cans of soda in since it is, after all, classified as a mini fridge.
9. Govee DreamView T1 Pro TV Backlights
Console gaming is way more immersive with a dynamic TV backlight that beams colors onto the surface behind your TV to match the visuals on-screen. Thanks to the Govee DreamView T1 Pro, you can light up your entire entertainment center across three different zones. It’s all controlled by a single camera placed on top of (or below!) your television screen, which can interpret the colors on the screen into information which tells the lighting zones which color to display at any moment. In action, the wide range of lights and colors displaying across the entire entertainment center makes games and movies come to life.
10. PDP REALMz Gaming Controllers for Xbox/PC/Nintendo Switch
Unique gaming controllers are a great way to personalize your gaming room, and thanks to the PDP REALMz diorama controllers for Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch, you can impress your friends with artsy designs that feature popular characters and backdrops. What really stands out here, though, is their transparent design, which makes them look retro. These are a great gift for any gamer in your life, or you can decorate your own gaming room with the wide assortment of styles and colors offered by PDP REALMz.
I am one of those who seeks refuge in the tranquility of the great outdoors. While camping trailers have become my trusty companions on journeys to the untrodden trails, there were a few I have on the list of favorites. But with the release of Freeda camping trailer by Blackcamp that stands out as a small space miracle, I have a different thought now. This self-sufficient and compact caravan defies all my expectations!
Blackcamp’s Freeda, the smallest gem in the brand’s camping trailer lineup, is a marvel of modern design. Meant to tag behind all – small and large towing vehicles – the diminutive wonder with pop-up roof is perfect for weekend getaways and extended holidays at the same time, making it a versatile choice for adventurers of all stripes.
Designer: Blackcamp
At first glance, the cozy home on wheels captivates with its elegant design and aluminum and steel construction. It’s a harmonious blend of style and practicality, where its hard-shell roof tent, perched gracefully on top of the trailer, adds to the space and room inside the camper. This rooftop tent pops up into a scenic upstairs bedroom with a 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape through the generous windows all around.
Blackcamp thoughtfully designed this space to accommodate up to four people, ensuring that no one misses out on the breathtaking views. The Freeda rides on a two-axle trailer with AL-KO suspension, while the trailer’s tailgate area can house two to four bikes securely during transit. Accessing your gear is a breeze with two large doors, one on the side and one at the rear of the trailer.
Just adjacent to the storage area, upfront, the pullout kitchen is a treasure trove for foodies featuring a two-burner gas hob to whip up gourmet meals in the heart of nature. In addition to satisfying your taste buds while you savor the great outdoors, the generous 63-L fridge, a hot and cold-water washbasin, and a pull-out shelf with ample storage adds to the convenience. The camping trailer offers a world of possibilities, and Blackcamp recognizes that adventurers come in all shapes and sizes. For this, the Freeda with 95 Ah gel battery is available in a range of customization options starting at €23,900 (approx. $25,500).
