Fall and Football: Creating Custom Entertaining Spaces in Your New Home

When you step outside in the early morning hours to head to work, walk to dog or water your garden, you’ve likely noticed a reduction in humidity and a chill in the air. That means fall is coming and football season is near!

Along with fall and football season comes the desire to spend more time outdoors socializing and relaxing – from cookouts and tailgates to coffee on the porch and evening bonfires, it’s nice to be able to sit outside in the south without the humidity (or the bugs!)

When you build a new custom home in Birmingham with J. Wright Building Company, one of the many perks is being able to add truly personalized spaces to your home. If you’re the grill master that prefers to host the tailgate and game watching party that focusing more on the socializing and food and beverages than the actual game, then we can help you design the outdoor kitchen and entertaining space of your dreams. Would you rather cozy up in your private media room watching the game with only a select few people that are as serious about your team as you are? Then it sounds like you could benefit from the ultimate man cave!

No matter how you prefer to enjoy your fall weekends, building a custom home allows you to create a space that is perfectly your own. Ready to get started? Here are a few of our top tips:

Comfort is Key

When creating a space to entertain, having comfortable places to relax is a major component in making your guests feel at home. When you design your custom home, think about the type of furniture you want and how it’ll be placed in any room that will be used frequently by company.

In a mancave or media room, comfortable furniture should take center stage. All sofas and chairs should be designed for hours of television watching – meaning it’ll probably be oversized and take up lots of space – and seating should be oriented so everyone has a clear view of the screen.

If you prefer to host larger parties, ensure there are a variety of types of seating available for your company. Have plenty of seating around tables for those that want to be comfortable while they eat, and create cozy conversation spaces that encourage guests to chat while feeling relaxed. This can be a seating area in front of the television, Adirondack chairs that face a beautiful view, rocking chairs on the porch or even seats around a fireplace or firepit.

Keep the Essentials Nearby

Being a good host comes with responsibilities like ensuring drinks are always filled, food is available, someone is answering the door when new people arrive, and making sure everyone is having a good time. If you’re ready to sit down and watch the big game or really want to mix and mingle with your guests, then it’s imperative you’re prepared so you can spend minimal time playing ‘host’ during the party.

If you plan to provide food and beverages to your guests, consider adding smaller refrigerators outside or in your basement or upstairs media room. Consider incorporating prep space nearby, like counterspace in an outdoor kitchen or a bar area. This is great for prepping any food while still be near your guests, and you can use it as a space to display the food once it’s ready.

Storage space such as built-in cabinets is also key so that you can have extra supplies on hand, like utensils, cups, bottle openers and storage containers. No matter how you plan to use the space, making sure your entertaining essentials are nearby so you’re not running back and forth to the kitchen is key.

Star of the Show

If you’re hosting a party or tailgate around a football game or other sporting event, then you’ll of course need to give the game the spotlight. While you may have everyone from the most avid sports fan to those just there for the fun at your event, it’s important that you accommodate them all. Having the game on for everyone’s viewing pleasure in the central area your guests will hang out is perfect, so be sure you’ve thought about the right spot to hang the television in your great room or on your outdoor patio.

If your social gathering is more casual, but you know you’ll have a few big sports fans in attendance, consider a space in your home that’s near the action but provides a little more peace and quiet for a second game-watching spot. This way, those most loyal fans can still watch and hear the game as it’s announced, while not being totally secluded from the fun.

For those designing a true man cave or sports room, the sky is the limit with a custom home! You can truly dream up anything you want, from a projection screen television that takes up an entire wall, to creating a literal collage of televisions that allow you to watch multiple sporting events all at the same time.

No matter what type of entertainer or sports fan you are, having a comfortable yet functional setting for hosting parties, get-togethers or tailgates is essential. When you build your new custom home in Birmingham with J. Wright Building Company, we can design the space of your dreams! Contact us today to learn more about designing and building your new home.