6 Essential Features for Football-Friendly Spaces
Score big with your Super Bowl guests by incorporating these stylish ideas for entertainment zones
Gwendolyn Purdom
January 31, 2019
Lover of architecture, history, dogs, the Chicago Cubs, crowded bookshelves, and homes with a story. Former editor at Preservation mag and Culturess.com.
Lover of architecture, history, dogs, the Chicago Cubs, crowded bookshelves, and... More
NFL coaches aren’t the only ones who should be making a game plan going into Sunday’s Super Bowl. Fans hosting friends and family, settling in to catch the big game at home themselves or just thinking ahead to next year’s showdown are wise to take their own strategic approach when it comes to setting up an optimal space for football-watching. To help homeowners and home design pros tackle the task this year and beyond, we looked to a few of our favorite football-centric stories. Here are six design choices that’ll help carry you to the entertainment end zone.
1. The Perfect Sofa
If you can’t be on the sidelines to follow the action in person, watching every play from a well-chosen sofa can be the next best thing. Finding a couch that fits your space and watching style on game day and beyond is essential. To maximize the room, balance a cushy sectional, or pair of couches, with additional chairs. To keep things cozy, test any sofa before bringing it home, if at all possible, or read online reviews carefully to ensure that its comfort level and support are in line with what you like in a curl-up-and-veg-out kind of piece.
In this Denver basement, for instance, interior designer Kate Bendewald swapped out a dark, oversize sectional for a lighter one whose scale better suits the room. She also chose a piece that was oriented to face the TV since one of the homeowners is an NFL coach who intended to use the space as a game-watching zone.
See more tips on finding the right sofa for you
Shop for sectionals on Houzz
If you can’t be on the sidelines to follow the action in person, watching every play from a well-chosen sofa can be the next best thing. Finding a couch that fits your space and watching style on game day and beyond is essential. To maximize the room, balance a cushy sectional, or pair of couches, with additional chairs. To keep things cozy, test any sofa before bringing it home, if at all possible, or read online reviews carefully to ensure that its comfort level and support are in line with what you like in a curl-up-and-veg-out kind of piece.
In this Denver basement, for instance, interior designer Kate Bendewald swapped out a dark, oversize sectional for a lighter one whose scale better suits the room. She also chose a piece that was oriented to face the TV since one of the homeowners is an NFL coach who intended to use the space as a game-watching zone.
See more tips on finding the right sofa for you
Shop for sectionals on Houzz
2. Seating for Everybody
Depending on the setup you’re going for, a huddle of chairs, ottomans or plush recliners may be a better bet for your particular space and hosting style than just a traditional couch or sectional. A variety of seating options allows for more flexibility and welcomes a wider array of guests (not to mention offers a little more breathing room in case your guests aren’t share-a-couch close). By incorporating ottomans or even just kid-friendly cushions or pillows on the floor, you add aesthetic interest, extra seating and potential serving surfaces.
Depending on the setup you’re going for, a huddle of chairs, ottomans or plush recliners may be a better bet for your particular space and hosting style than just a traditional couch or sectional. A variety of seating options allows for more flexibility and welcomes a wider array of guests (not to mention offers a little more breathing room in case your guests aren’t share-a-couch close). By incorporating ottomans or even just kid-friendly cushions or pillows on the floor, you add aesthetic interest, extra seating and potential serving surfaces.
For those who are committed to the luxe home theater experience, raised or layered stadium-style seating, as shown in this Houston home, can turn your designated watching area into your friends’ and family’s go-to game zone. The owner, a pro football player, worked with designer Laura Umansky of Laura U Interior Design and her team to capture his love of the sport and create this dream personalized game cave.
Find a home theater specialist on Houzz
Browse leather recliners in the Houzz Shop
Find a home theater specialist on Houzz
Browse leather recliners in the Houzz Shop
3. Thoughtful Snack (and Drink) Surfaces
The general rule is that every seat should be within arm’s reach of at least one table or flat surface. So fill your space not only with comfy couches and chairs but also with side tables and tray-topped ottomans to ensure that everyone enjoying your football-watching space can enjoy their beer, wings and nachos too.
See more design tips for superfans
Shop for serving trays
The general rule is that every seat should be within arm’s reach of at least one table or flat surface. So fill your space not only with comfy couches and chairs but also with side tables and tray-topped ottomans to ensure that everyone enjoying your football-watching space can enjoy their beer, wings and nachos too.
See more design tips for superfans
Shop for serving trays
4. Team Spirit
You don’t need a full-size wall mural of your favorite quarterback to incorporate team spirit into your space (though it would certainly make for an interesting conversation piece). Instead, consider adding subtler nods to your team or city through your color palette, art or memorabilia.
You don’t need a full-size wall mural of your favorite quarterback to incorporate team spirit into your space (though it would certainly make for an interesting conversation piece). Instead, consider adding subtler nods to your team or city through your color palette, art or memorabilia.
The Texas Longhorn fans who live in this house, for instance, added Longhorn orange in the window seat pillows — a good option for lower-key fans — as well as on their custom pool table, taking it one step further in that case by also including the team logo.
See stylish ways to add gridiron decor
See stylish ways to add gridiron decor
5. Fresh Air
There’s no reason to limit your game-watching area to the indoors as long as your climate cooperates. An outdoors watch party can be just as festive and may even allow you to get creative with how you’re viewing the game. Have a blank exterior wall and a projector? Set up some lawn chairs, invite over the neighborhood and take in the matchup on an extra big screen.
See how to take your football-watching party outside
Shop for projectors and screens
There’s no reason to limit your game-watching area to the indoors as long as your climate cooperates. An outdoors watch party can be just as festive and may even allow you to get creative with how you’re viewing the game. Have a blank exterior wall and a projector? Set up some lawn chairs, invite over the neighborhood and take in the matchup on an extra big screen.
See how to take your football-watching party outside
Shop for projectors and screens
People in chillier climates can take part in the outdoor experience, too, when thoughtful features like fireplaces are added along with the screen.
See more outdoor fireplace inspiration photos
See more outdoor fireplace inspiration photos
6. Materials Ready to Tackle Anything
When you’re dealing with passionate sports fans, there’s a good chance that drinks, queso or other messy stuff may be spilled from time to time or that other damage risks may pose themselves. It’s smart, then, to make design choices that prioritize easy cleanup, durability and an overall more laid-back atmosphere. Hardwood, vinyl tile or linoleum may be better flooring options than white carpet, for instance, and leather or canvas couches may be easier to maintain than other fabrics.
Shop for vinyl tile
Your turn: How do you get your house game day ready? Tell us in the Comments.
More on Houzz
12 Mega Media Rooms for Super Bowl Sunday
See more football-themed inspiration photos
Find a pro for your home project
When you’re dealing with passionate sports fans, there’s a good chance that drinks, queso or other messy stuff may be spilled from time to time or that other damage risks may pose themselves. It’s smart, then, to make design choices that prioritize easy cleanup, durability and an overall more laid-back atmosphere. Hardwood, vinyl tile or linoleum may be better flooring options than white carpet, for instance, and leather or canvas couches may be easier to maintain than other fabrics.
Shop for vinyl tile
Your turn: How do you get your house game day ready? Tell us in the Comments.
More on Houzz
12 Mega Media Rooms for Super Bowl Sunday
See more football-themed inspiration photos
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I can't see any of these rooms being suitable for playing football.
Blue Wren - I am figuring out if I can give 5 likes :)
We've hosted SB parties the past 4 years. We have a long living room and put a tv on each end, each with a seating group consisting of a sofa and 3-4 more chairs. There is a third tv in the dining area where all the food is laid out.