10 Sports-Themed Designer Spaces for True Fans -

In addition to an insanely successful career in the NBA, Kobe Bryant’s show-stopping 60-point final game with the Lakers, means we’ve got sports on the brain. And while a love of sports is pretty common, it’s not exactly obvious how you might be able to incorporate that obsession into your home’s decorating scheme…at least in a non-cheesy way.

So we’ve rounded up some sports-inspired decorating tips that will help showcase your fanfare (minus the foam fingers).

Displaying a Collection

Home Theater: Duane and Devi Brown’s Home in Bellaire, Texas

Jill Hunter

You might already have an existing sports-themed collection on hand. If so, there are lots of chic, fun ways to display your items, such as using built-in cabinets. However, any shelf or bookcase would work just as well.

You can also get creative with your collections and make use of things like cake stands, flute vases, hooks or a coat rack to display medals. These choices will really help your sports-themed collections blend into your space with ease.

Using Team Colors

A more undercover approach to honoring your favorite team might be to simply make use of the team’s colors in a particular spot in your home. While this approach is a bit more subtle, it’s still a great way to give a shoutout to your favorite team.

Keeping a Game Night Kit

Flynnside Out Productions

If you’re someone who prefers to only break out the sports-related decor on game nights, you can put together an accessory kit to have on hand. Include sports-related throws, hats and throw pillows in your team’s colors.

Store it all in a basket in your closet, and it will be easily accessible the next time you have friends over to watch the big game. Afterwards, you can pack it up and put it away until next time.

Adding Vintage Touches

Sports Writer's Loft With Antique Sports Prints

Frank Slesinski

Going the vintage route with your sports memoribilia is another great way to add a bit more interest and sophistication to your sports-themed decor plan.

Ebay is a fantastic resource for sports-themed items, as well as local antique or thrift shops in your area. Think about special dates or events when you’re deciding what to collect or display. For example, if you want to remember a special baseball game that your dad took you to when you were a kid, try to find something from the teams you saw play or the year the game happened.

Creating an Athletic Rec Room

A. Clore Interiors

If you’re lucky enough to have the space and really want to showcase your love of sports, consider creating a bold, sports-themed rec room. You can build the entire room around your sports watching or playing, and use unusual decor elements like this football-field chair rail to jazz up the space.

Create a movie theater feel with a large projection screen to watch games, and incorporate stadium-type snacks like a popcorn machine to really bring the look home.

Using Sports-Themed Art

Framed Boxing Gloves Artwork in Red Living Room

Another great way to honor your love of sports is through sports-themed artwork. Look for vintage posters or modern black and white photography. Players will often be photographed by fashion photographers for different magazines or events, and those photos are great for hanging around your home.

Decorating With Quotes

GordonDunning

Choose a favorite player and Google their name along with “quotes” to see if you can track down anything they’ve said that’s inspiring or motivating. You can then create a simple design on your computer to print out and frame. Or if you’re looking for a bolder approach, you could even paint the quote on a wall with some letter stencils.

Creating a Chic Sports Display

Melanie Millner

You can choose one particular corner or area of a room to create a sports-themed display. Again, this type of display usually works best in a more casual attic, basement or rec room, but you could really make it work anywhere in your home. If you prefer a display like this to be a bit more out of the way, you could create one in a bedroom or even in the back of a closet.

Mixing in Sports Decor

Bruce Bennett

You can easily mix in sports decor with your existing accessories fairly seamlessly. If you happen to have a few pieces of sports-themed pieces and don’t feel the need to create a dedicated space, simply mix them in with the existing decor on your shelves.

Decorating With Lockers

John Bessler

Using lockers in your home can be a fun way to add a sporty vibe to your space. They, of course, work great in a kids’ room, but would also look fab in a mudroom, guest bedroom or even in an entryway for storing your family’s basics. If you happen to find some vintage lockers, consider spray-painting them a fun color to really jazz up your space.