Ikea’s new Brännboll collection is a welcome addition to my messy gaming setup

Earlier this month, Ikea launched a new ‘Brännboll’ collection of 18 products intended for gamers.

While I was initially skeptical, I’ve come to really enjoy a lot about the collection after the furniture retail giant sent me 10 items from it. The best thing about it, right off the bat, is the variety. See below for the full collection in a fancy official company still:

But here are some specific use cases. If you want a little cylindrical cushion for support when you lean forward in a heated Call of Duty match, there’s this handy $32 bolster. (This would be most useful for me with my bad posture, but I unfortunately didn’t get one.) Those who want a full-on seat, meanwhile, can go for the $79 inflatable chair. (It should be noted, though, that adults — especially larger ones like myself — aren’t best for this, based on my testing, and even Ikea’s official images show only kids in it.) And the people seeking more gamer décor can go for the over six-foot-long $119 Tetris block-like rug. (This, unfortunately, proved just a bit too big for my setup and I’m therefore planning to give it to a MobileSyrup colleague if possible.)

But that’s the beauty of a diverse product catalogue like the Brännboll; you, the regular customer, can pick and choose. On the flip side, what’s worked absolutely best for me is the $49 side table on casters. I do most of my gaming in a relatively small and cluttered nook of a spare bedroom, so having this mini table that I can wheel beside my chair to put my phone, the TV remote, snacks and drinks and/or any other small items is really quite helpful.

They also sent me this bonus non-Brännboll articulating hand that I’ve had more fun with than I’d care to admit.

Then there are other Brännboll accoutrements I’ve come to like. For one, the $29.99 sleek pixellated mouse pad goes brilliantly with the HP Victus Gaming Laptop and Flexispot E7 Plus Standing Desk I’ve slowly been toying around with. Elsewhere, the $29.99 wall-mounted display cabinet (which is admittedly the biggest time commitment due to the power tools required to assemble it) is a nice addition in which I can store gaming figures, like Amiibo. (I’ve otherwise been using and loving Ikea’s Detolf display cabinet, but it sadly appears that that has been discontinued.)

All in all, I really Ikea’s new Brännboll collection. What could have been something out of touch and pandering to gamers actually is quite practical, and the sheer variety of products in the collection means you’ll likely find something that works for you.

You can view the full Brännboll collection here.