This Sunday, February 11, marks America’s unofficial chip and dip holiday: the Super Bowl. Whether you’re excited to cheer on your favorite team, are more a fan of the snacks, commercials and halftime show or are just watching to see if Taylor Swift can make it from Japan to Las Vegas in time to catch the game, the Super Bowl offers something for everyone.
If you’ve volunteered to host a Super Bowl party this year, you may be wondering how best to optimize your space for such an event. Here’s everything you need to know to prepare your home for the Super Bowl.
1. Properly Distance Your Couch From Your TV
How far your couch and other seating are from your TV makes a huge difference when it comes to watching the big game. Determining the proper distance between your couch and TV not only ensures your guests can see the full screen but also that they’re comfortable while doing so, as proper TV to seating distance will help prevent eye and neck strain.
That said, the distance your seating should be from your TV will largely depend on the size of your TV. Generally speaking, the bigger your TV is, the further away it should be from your couch. Use the following chart to help you plan:
| TV Screen Size (in inches) | Optimal Distance from TV to Couch (in feet)* |
|---|---|
| 32 | 4.5 |
| 36 | 5 |
| 42 | 6 |
| 50 | 7 |
| 60 | 9 |
| 70 | 10 |
Data from Infinger Furniture & Mattress
*Distances are for HD TVs
2. Consider Temperature and Airflow
If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party, you can expect to have more people than usual in your home, and more specifically in one room. Between the extra people and game-day tension, things are bound to heat up. To ensure your guests are comfortable, consider dropping your thermostat down a few degrees from where you normally have it.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, assuming you have a correctly sized air conditioner for your home, the most energy-efficient temperature to keep your home at during the winter months is between 68 degrees Fahrenheit and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. That said, don’t be afraid to lower it further if you’re hosting. To make things even more comfortable, turn on any ceiling fans to keep air circulating, and if it’s not too cold out, crack a window to prevent things from getting too stuffy.
3. Ensure Ample Seating
With so many people over at your place, you want to be sure there’s enough room for everyone to sit down and enjoy the game. And while this can sometimes be difficult, especially if you’re hosting in a particularly small space, planning can make things a lot easier. Having at least a general idea of the number of guests you’re going to be hosting can make planning enough seating easier.
And remember: This isn’t a formal dinner party. When it comes to seating, consider comfort and functionality over aesthetics. If you’re short on seating, bring in options from other rooms or even bring your outdoor furniture inside for the day and arrange it all in a semi-circle in front of your TV to ensure everyone has the best view.
As long as there are seating options, people will be happy. And if need be, don’t be afraid to ask your guests to bring an extra seat or two, be that lawn chairs, beach chairs, floor cushions, etc.
4. Declutter and Rearrange Your Space
While we want our homes to look their best for an event like a Super Bowl party, it’s important to find the balance between arranging your space in a way that looks good, while also functioning at its best. Your guests are there to watch the game, but they’re going to get up for food, drinks, mingling, etc. You want to make sure there’s a flow to the room and surrounding rooms without blocking the view of the TV.
Remove any non-essential items like baskets of blankets, stacks of books, large plants, floor statues, etc. from the room and tidy up any cords and wires to make your space feel less cluttered and more open. If removing the vase of flowers from your table makes more sense to make room for more snacks, go that route.
5. Reduce TV Glare
Besides having your team lose, there’s nothing worse on game day than an annoying TV glare. While you want your space to feel light and open, you don’t want the light to reflect onto the TV and obstruct the view, but you also don’t want your space to be so dark that it causes eye strain. Being strategic about the lighting in the room is imperative on game day.
If your room has many windows or a ton of light, TV glare is almost a guarantee. Ahead of hosting, take some time to find the right window treatment to help reduce it. Being mindful of your lighting intensity and placement is the key to reducing TV glare. If your overhead lights are on a dimmer, this can be helpful in controlling brightness. If not, consider moving around floor lamps and backlighting your TV.
Lamps placed directly in front of or to the side of the TV are sure to cause glare, but moving them behind the TV eliminates this and still lights up the room. And don’t forget to clean your TV ahead of time with a microfiber cloth to remove any dust or fingerprints.
Bottom Line
Hosting can be overwhelming, but when you plan it out, you can relieve a lot of work for your later self (which will help you enjoy the game). For a few last-minute tips, make cleanup a breeze by serving your snacks with disposable plates, and don’t forget to put out several different garbage cans and recycling bins so people can easily throw things away. No matter who you’re cheering for this Sunday, feel confident knowing you created a space for memories to be made.
