The ideal room for football viewing

The ideal room for football viewing

With the World Cup rapidly approaching (it starts in June!), we’ve already written about how to create a perfect atmosphere outside. We pointed to some outdoor furnishings and accessories that can essentially allow you to put together a viewing area in your garden, where you can really enjoy the matches in style. In case there’s bad weather however, or you just don’t want to risk that kind of thing, it’s not a bad idea to design a perfect football viewing room in the house as well.

Working on an indoor room is a little bit less about buying new furnishings, assuming you already have some kind of TV room or den. Rather, it’s about putting together an ideal atmosphere for a month’s worth of football. So let’s get started, shall we?

International football scarvescredit

Load up on scarves

As you may well know, a lot of football fanatics express their team allegiance via their scarves. These don’t have to actually be worn, and often aren’t. Rather, they’re held aloft like signs, or used to decorate rooms. Loading up on several of them is a nice way to adorn a TV room for the World Cup season. The official FIFA World Cup scarves are actually surprisingly affordable (about $17 each), which means they’re pretty easy decorations to stock up on and hang around the borders of the room. It might be tacky during other times of the year, but for the World Cup this summer it’ll add a fun, football atmosphere to the room.

Playing football video game

Bring In FIFA

This is less of a design tip, but it’s still a necessity if you or anyone you might be watching matches with enjoys gaming at all. EA Sports’ FIFA franchise has established itself as the king of football gaming, and is all the more enjoyable to play during the World Cup. You may just want to be sure you have an up-to-date console stashed in the TV room so you can play a few rounds of FIFA in between big matches, or to unwind after a day of football viewing.

Football key on a computer keyboard

Devote a screen to in-play markets

If you and your friends aren’t at all interested in betting on the football matches, this might not be necessary. If you are, however, in-play betting can make things a lot more fun. Regarding Champions League activity (which is extremely active in online markets), it’s been said that people can wager on first, last or next goal scorer, as well as other in-match developments. Having a screen devoted to showing the betting options here (just an iPad or laptop open to a suitable platform) can add excitement for you and the friends you watch with. Just remember to be responsible about your activity.

Sonos PLAY:1 speakercredit

Beef up your sound system

We’re operating under the assumption that the fundamentals of the TV room are already in place, but it definitely can’t hurt to beef up the sound system (and the TV itself if necessary, but there isn’t much more to say on that). In particular, surround sound is a great addition for the World Cup, as it can at least somewhat simulate the feeling of being in the crowd with rabid supporters on all sides. Sonos seems to be the biggest name in home speakers these days, and their surround sound set-ups are known for being simple and flexible, which makes this a quick way to upgrade the room. However, if you’re a stickler for sound quality you may want to compare a few options.

These are just a few tips, but they can give your TV room a real boost for a summer of football. And a few of them may even have a lasting impact on the quality of the room. Will you be watching any of the World Cup this summer?

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Create the perfect World Cup atmosphere with Birstall

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yellow football against a blue skyImage credit: Joe McCarthy

The World Cup only comes around once every four years; here we take a look at the top three garden accessories from Birstall Garden and Leisure Centre to help you make the most of the worldwide football celebration while it’s here.

Whether you’re creating a World Cup haven in your garden with the television outside, or watching the games inside and continuing the party in the garden afterwards, these top three products will make sure you enjoy every moment!

Weber Spirit Classic e210 gas bbq

With all of England’s World Cup games kicking off in the evening, the Weber Spirit Classic barbeque will keep all your guests satisfied with some top-notch food flavour; with two stainless steel burners the compact design has a 26,000 BTU per hour input giving a sleek yet powerful grill capable of cooking all your favourite food to perfection.

Camelot hexagonal easy-up gazebo

It’s impossible to guarantee the British weather, but you can be sure that you’ll always be dry when you’re enjoying your World Cup party with the Camelot – hexagonal easy-up gazebo. The pull down mesh nets, weatherproof frame and UV resistant canopy offer complete comfort and guarantee your World Cup celebrations won’t be called off because of the rain.

patio heater

With many of the World Cup games going on into the early hours of the morning, a patio heater is a much-needed garden accessory to keep you cosy all the way through until extra time. A ThermoFilm gas patio heater uses a high-grade stainless steel burner which heats an area of up to six metres while making only a quiet whisper, so you’ll be toasty warm without being distracted by any excess heater noise.

barbeque

Get these World Cup garden must-haves now and enjoy them all summer long!

Established in 1969, Birstall has 45 years’ experience kitting out gardens & outdoor spaces and was the first online garden retailer in the UK, 15 years ago.

In the frame

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rolled up vintage Sunday Express poster

We bought these two vintage posters last week…

vintage 1960s Sunday Express bill poster illustrating 'Soccer'

detail from vintage Sunday Express newspaper stand poster illustrating 'Soccer'

…they’re news stand posters dating from the 1960s – and are quite rare survivors.

vintage Sunday Express news stand poster advertising staff writer & illustrator, Veronica Papworth

detail of vintage Sunday Express news stand poster advertising staff writer & illustrator, Veronica Papworth

The vast majority would be thrown away and replaced the following day without a thought… but someone decided to take these home.

original vintage 'Blackpool' travel poster

detail of original vintage 'Blackpool' travel poster

We’re accumulating lots of vintage posters at the moment.

framed original vintage 'Westworld' film poster

detail of original vintage 'Westworld' film poster

They’re perfect for filling the walls in our antiques centre pitch.

view of the H is for Home pitch showing various framed original vintage posters

view of the H is for Home antiques centre pitch showing various original vintage posters view of the H is for Home pitch in the antiques centre showing a framed vintage original 'Whitby' travel poster

view of the H is for Home pitch in the antiques centre showing various framed original vintage posers

Travel posters, advertising and film memorabilia.

original vintage 'Great Yarmouth' travel poster

detail from original vintage 'Great Yarmouth' travel poster

detail from original vintage 'Great Yarmouth' travel poster

We look out for bright colours and strong graphics & artwork – or favourite subjects.

detail of original vintage 'Carefree by Coach' travel poster

detail of original vintage 'Carefree by Coach' travel poster

detail from original vintage 'Coney Beach' travel poster

detail from original vintage 'Coney Beach' travel poster

Framing is quite expensive (particularly when the item is about 6 feet tall as in the case of this Rollerball film poster!)

Framed original vintage 1970s 'Rollerball' film poster

Framed vintage original 1970s 'Rollerball' film poster

Framed original vintage 1970s 'Rollerball' film poster

It’s well worth it for the end result though.

Framed original vintage 1970s 'Kes' film poster

We’re trying to be strict with ourselves, but the odd one or two have sneaked onto our walls at home – for a while at least!

vintage original 'Thomas Crown Affair' film poster

original vintage 'Barbarella' film poster

The majority will be on display and available to buy from Picture House Antiques in Todmorden.

framed original vintage 'Great Yarmouth' travel poster

detail of original vintage 'Great Yarmouth' travel poster

If any of them really take your fancy, we could look into getting them delivered.

framed original vintage 'Whitby' travel poster

detail of original vintage 'Whitby' travel poster

detail of original vintage 'Whitby' travel poster

We’re adding to the collection all the time – we’ll try to show any new acquisitions on our Flickr pages.