If you’re a big sports fan, the idea of having a sports-friendly home might appeal to you. Thankfully, even if you only have a small space, there are things you can do to make your home sports-friendly inside and out.
It’s all about creativity! Remember, this is your home, so the only rules are that you feel comfortable with what’s being done. As you and whoever else lives in the home are happy with your sports-themed upgrades, then you can go all out and create the sporting haven of your dreams!
Decide Which Sports Suit You
Everyone is different, so what excites you may bore another sports fan. Your first step to making your home sports-friendly is to choose which sports you’d love to have accessible right at your fingertips every day.
If you have a particular favorite sport, it makes sense to choose that one. But you don’t need to limit yourself to that! If you have the means, you can include multiple sports so you’ll never get bored.
This does depend on the amount of space you have, to a certain extent. But no matter what your favorite sport is, there’s a way to bring it into your home!
Create an Indoor Sports Space
Whether you prefer indoor sports or you live somewhere that rains a lot, creating an indoor sports space could be a lot of fun. It doesn’t matter what the weather is like outside, and you can even get a game or two in if you’re having trouble sleeping at night!
Here are some ideas for an indoor sports room or space that you might want to consider.
- A dart board
- Foosball table
- Table tennis table
- A punching bag
- A Wii sports console
- An indoor putting green
- Pool/snooker table
An alternative to an indoor sporting room, you could create a home gym, with free weights, a squat rack, a bench, and whatever other equipment you want to add to it. A treadmill is always a good idea, or you could create a small yoga studio if that’s what you enjoy.
You’ll be somewhat limited in terms of space and choice indoors. You can keep all your sporting equipment in a single “sports room”, or you can scatter your equipment throughout the house. For example, have a pool table in the bar area, a table tennis table on the patio, and a dart board in the living room.
It depends on your own preference, and, of course, the other people who live in the house with you!
Set Up Your Backyard to Play Sports
If you have some outdoor space, you can really get creative in your sporting choices! You can install more permanent features in your backyard that will give you hours of fun.
Tennis
If you’ve got the space and the inclination, installing a tennis court in your backyard could be a worthwhile endeavor! You’ll need about 130 feet of space of length to fit a proper court in your yard.
We suggest opting for synthetic grass (astroturf), as it’s a low-impact surface and fairly easy to install. Alternatives include real grass (high maintenance), clay (messy), and asphalt (high-impact).
If you’re the type who enjoys doing a good home project, you could actually do this yourself. Make sure you know the exact dimensions of a tennis course if you’re going to be painting lines on it yourself!
Golf
If golf is your sport, why not consider installing a mini-golf course in your backyard? It doesn’t have to be large—just a few holes will do.
You can buy putting greens and simply place them somewhere outdoors, but we advise designing and contouring your own around the landscape of your backyard.
Use artificial grass if you want a sleek playing experience without it being high maintenance. Don’t forget that you’ll need to invest in golf clubs and golf balls too!
Basketball
If you’re a basketball fan, why not install a basketball hoop in your backyard or driveway? It’s one of the easiest things to install—all you need is a wall to mount it on. And of course, a basketball!
In fact, if you really enjoy basketball, you can also add a small indoor basketball hoop to your bedroom or office. It’s a great way to pass the time and have a bit of fun.
Multi-Sports
If you’re going to lay astroturf in your backyard, we highly recommend creating a multi-sports arena. You can lay a piece of artificial grass as big as you need and paint multiple types of lines on it so you can play a variety of sports.
Sports Decor!
Making your home sports-friendly isn’t just about installing surfaces and equipment. If you want a true sports feeling in your home, why not bring in some sports decor throughout your home?
You don’t need to go overboard. One easy way to bring some sporting flavor into your home is to design your color scheme around your team’s colors. Subtle hints of your team colors throughout the house are the least obnoxious way to go about it—think cushions, curtains, and small details like drinks coasters.
Conclusion
The best part of creating a sporting haven at home is that you can cater it to your own specifics. Whether you need sports that suit senior members of the family, something for kids to enjoy as well as adults, or you have limited space, there’s something that will work for you and your home.
It’s easy to make your home sports-friendly! All it takes is a bit of thought and some creativity, and you can have the sporting home of your dreams in no time.
About the Author
Jordan Fuller is a retired golfer and businessman. When he’s not on the course working on his own game or mentoring others, he’s researching and writing value-packed articles for his website, Golf Influence.
