For much of America, the onset of fall signals an important season start – football! With kick-off in full gear, it’s time to get game-watching ready at home, making the most of America’s favorite pastime. Creating a next-level at-home sports bar is possible with the help of the latest tech, and we’re sharing professional tips for the best sports room design. From the perfect lighting to heart-pounding audio to soundproofing tips, get ready to be inspired, sports lovers.
The Ultimate Sports Room Design Ideas
Whether you are setting up a dedicated sports TV entertainment room or just want to upgrade your living room audio and video equipment to amplify game enjoyment, anything is possible with the right planning and equipment. And who better to advise than Southern California’s residential and commercial AV experts at MIR Audio Video? As home theater design and installation experts, we know just what it takes to recreate stadium excitement at home.
Setting Up a Home Theater for Watching Sports
Thanks to modern AV technology, transforming an ordinary room, garage, or any other space into the home theater of your dreams is not only possible but transformative. Imagine immersing yourself in the game’s action, feeling the intensity of every play, and hearing the roar of the crowd surrounding you with stadium-like quality. It’s all possible with some thoughtful planning and design.
When considering the space, think about the experience first. What kind of seating will you incorporate? Will there be an area to store snacks and drinks? Do you want a bar? What type of screen will work – a projector or LCD, LED, OLED, or QLED TV screen? If there are windows, what kind of treatment will you use? There are many components and aesthetics to consider, which will help shape the overall room design.
In the following sections, we’ll share professional sports room design ideas and tips on sound, lighting, screen/TV selection, and more to help you realize your sports TV room dreams at home.
Sound Systems for Watching Sports
Although many may think of TVs first when envisioning the perfect sports room design, sound is critical to creating an immersive experience. Today’s sound systems are more versatile than ever, offering wireless options that are easy to set up and even easier to control. For example, SONOS is a top choice for a sports room design due to its wireless versatility, ease of setup, and high-quality, immersive audio that can be customized for any size room or budget.
Working with a smaller space for your home sports bar? Soundbars are an excellent sound option, offering an all-in-one solution with multiple speakers integrated into one sleek unit. Many soundbars also offer full surround sound capabilities via additional wireless subwoofers or satellite speakers. The beauty of wireless home audio components is that they are easy to move around and scale with new speaker additions.
Professional tip: Be sure you have a robust WiFi network to carry the system to avoid listening interruptions due to inadequate network capabilities.
Lighting Systems for Home Sports Room
Don’t let lighting go unnoticed in your sports room design. Today’s smart lighting systems are versatile, placing instant control of the room’s ambiance at your fingertips. Imagine dimming or brightening lights, setting a mood with colors, or even syncing lighting to the game action, making every touchdown or big play more immersive.
Another option is LED light strips, which are affordable and easy to install. LED light strips can be placed behind your TV or along the walls, offering customizable colors and brightness. Many popular brands, like Govee, offer control via an app, adding to the convenience.
Ideal TV Size for Your Sports Room
It’s possible to bring any game to life, making every tackle and touchdown feel more exhilarating, with 4K laser projectors or custom-sized screens to maximize the game’s intensity – just imagine watching your team on a 200” screen. When deciding how to make a sports room, determining the TV or screen size is critical, as it will be the focal point of the entertainment.
- Try this easy method for estimating the right-sized screen for your sports room design.
- Begin by marking where you would like to place the TV or projector screen.
- Next, determine the viewing distance by measuring the space between the screen and your seating. If you don’t have any seating installed, then simply measure the distance between the screen placement and the desired seating location.
- Divide the approximate viewing distance by two to get an ideal screen size relative to where you plan to sit.
Case in point, let’s say your viewing distance is For example, let’s say your viewing distance is 72 inches (6 feet), then the ideal screen size is a 36” screen, at a minimum, to avoid squinting at the screen from the seating area.
Soundproofing the Sports TV Room
Soundproofing home theaters or a sports TV room is a good idea so you don’t disturb others with the heart-thumping sounds of the game. Acoustic panels are excellent for absorbing sound and reducing the amount of reflected noise bouncing around the room. These panels consist of sound-absorbing materials like foam, fiberglass, or mineral wool and come in various shapes, sizes, and colors, offering a decorative solution for reducing reflected noise and echo from the screen action.
Seating Arrangement
It’s important to consider seating when considering how to make a sports room designed for maximum comfort. Whether it’s a couch, sectional, theater seating, or something more customized, providing plenty of space to relax and enjoy the game is essential. It’s also a good idea to have extra seating accessible should extras show up to cheer on the home team, which is easy to accomplish with a stash of collapsible chairs.
Halftime Fun and Games
When setting up a sports TV entertainment room, consider adding some entertainment extras – space providing. From pool tables to video games, infusing the room with fun options to enjoy during halftime is a great bonus.
Benefits of Watching Sports at Home
There’s no question that actually attending sports events in person is the ultimate thrill. However, that’s not always an option, which is why having a fantastic sports TV room setup at home is ideal for sports fans. Not only is it convenient, but it can make the experience highly personalized and customizable, offering a perfect option for sharing great sports moments with friends and family. And the best part? Your at home sports bar can accommodate any viewing or gaming adventures, from movie nights to gaming competitions.
There are many home sports bar ideas to consider before creating the perfect game-watching space. From painting an accent wall in your team’s color to installing custom cabinets for prized sports memorabilia and extra storage, the options are endless. However, if doing it yourself becomes overwhelming, the experts at MIR Audio Video in Los Angeles can help. With esteemed sports clients like the LA Lakers and Clippers, we know a thing or two about sports AV design and installation.
FAQs
Should I choose a projector or a large-screen TV for a sports room?
Both options provide excellent game viewing experiences, so your space size and personal preference can guide the choice.
What sound system should I install for the best sports-watching experience?
Consider a sound system with subwoofers to dramatically increase the bass sounds during the game for ultimate sound effects.
Can I watch multiple games at once in a sports TV room? If so, how?
Yes, and there are a few ways to accomplish multi-viewing. You can mount two or more flat-screen TVs side-by-side or in a grid formation to watch different games at once, offering full control over what’s displayed on each screen. Many modern, high-end TVs also offer multi-viewing through PIP (Picture in Picture) mode or screen-splitting capabilities.
