With the FIFA World Cup now in the knockout stage, watch parties are only getting bigger. It's the perfect time for new-build homeowners to take advantage of home designs that are ideal for gathering friends and family to watch the game.
Open floor plans, kitchens built with guests in mind, zoned outdoor living spaces, and dedicated hobby rooms are among the most popular features in today's new homes, and they make entertaining easy.
Here is how to host the ultimate World Cup watch party in your new home.
1. Kickoff: Open-Concept Floor Plans
The open-concept floor plan, where the kitchen, living, and dining areas are combined, continues to be one of the most popular layouts in new-home design, and it is perfect for entertaining guests.
Open floor plans benefit from lots of natural light and ample space for guests to move about freely. They also let the host remain connected to guests, allowing them to prepare food, refill drinks, and socialize without missing the action.
World Cup matches can turn an ordinary gathering into a house full of fans, making sightlines especially important. An open layout allows guests to follow every save, penalty kick, and last-minute goal from almost anywhere in the home, helping everyone stay part of the excitement.
2. The Midfield Hub: Oversized Kitchen Islands and Beverage Stations
Increasingly, kitchens aren’t just for food prep, but are becoming comfortable living spaces that encourage people to linger longer.
As a result, kitchen islands are getting larger, and are now multipurpose hubs that offer seating, prep areas, and serving space, all in one.
Many new homes also pair oversized islands with beverage stations, creating a dedicated area for drinks and helping keep traffic out of the kitchen work zone. Depending on the home, beverage stations may be integrated in the island, or be a separate coffee bar, wine storage, or wet bar.
3. Game Changer: Outdoor Space Built for Entertaining
Outdoor living space has become one of the biggest priorities in new-home design. Many new-build homes now feature decks, covered patios, shade structures, and outdoor rooms that make it easier to host beyond the main living area.
For World Cup watch parties, outdoor spaces can become an extension of the viewing area. Homeowners can bring the screen outside with a portable setup or create a more permanent entertainment zone with an outdoor wall-mounted TV and audio system. Long after the tournament is over, the same space can be used for movies, games, and summer entertaining.
Well-designed backyards often follow the same design principles applied to indoor, open-concept areas, where zones are designated within a larger area for different tasks.
In your yard, for a watch party, create a viewing zone, a dining or snack area, and an active space where kids can play, or guests can pass a soccer ball around between matches.
4. The Knockout Round: Media Rooms and Viewing Spaces
Media rooms have become a popular feature in many new homes, offering a dedicated space for everything from family movie nights to World Cup watch parties. Unlike a traditional living room, these spaces are designed around the viewing experience, often featuring large screens, integrated audio systems, blackout shades, and comfortable seating.
For sports fans, that means every save, penalty kick, and stoppage-time goal can be enjoyed without competing with kitchen conversations or halftime snack runs.
5. Extra Time: Multi-Sport Simulators
Golf simulators have seen a surge in popularity in new homes. They are particularly well-suited for new builds, the necessary structural features are more easily done during the construction phase, including window placement and ceiling height.
But golf simulators aren’t just for golf, and are a great add for soccer-themed watch parties, if you have multi-sport software as part of your simulator package.
For an authentic soccer experience, lay artificial turf in and around the simulator, so you feel like you are on the pitch. Include stadium-style seating, or soccer-ball themed bean bag chairs for spectators (guests).
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