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This year, Super Bowl Sunday will look different than usual. But whether you’re hosting friends on Zoom or gathering with your pandemic pod, it is an opportunity to get a little festive (and eat some great food).
Even in its pandemic-era version, pulling off a successful Super Bowl Sunday requires a delicate balance. Not only should it be a high-energy evening, but its components must also appeal to both die-hard sports fans and football dilettantes alike—which, as we all know, can be two very different types.
So, how best to make the at-home festivities most memorable? We’ve tapped eight design, entertaining, and culinary pros to share their pointers for setting up the best Super Bowl decorations—regardless of which team snags the Lombardi Trophy (which, by the way, is a Tiffany Co. creation).
Get Literal
“Serve all your party food and snacks in a collection of “super” bowls—everything from your kale chips, organic chicken, veggie chili, and cornbread presented in fabulous, unexpectedly chic bowls of different scales. They make for a playful, yet sophisticated, table.”
—Kelly Wearstler, interior designer
Work the Theme
“Just because this football lover’s ‘holiday’ has come to be known as a casual, laid-back occasion doesn’t mean you have to compromise your taste in decor or ability to be the chic host or hostess with the most-est who we all know you are! Set a tasteful tone with your decor by adding touches of each team’s colors throughout your party. This could include anything from your table linens and napkins right down to your serveware and throw pillows. And don’t be afraid to split the room by team color. Add a pop of ‘turf green’ with wood or silver tin vessels filled with wheatgrass scattered throughout your food displays and dining table. This is the perfect way to play on the theme of the day, without coming across too literal or tacky.”
—David Tutera, celebrity party planner and designer
Add a Delicate Touch
“I always tailor the menu to the teams in the game, and a buffet is set up with beautiful warming trays in combinations of sterling silver and patterned serving bowls. Rooms are bathed in warm candlelight and fragrant flowers so your guests feel special. Classic mellow jazz and coffeehouse favorites mix in the background. As the game begins, the girls often find themselves in the dining room. For this, I keep a wicked game of Cards Against Humanity going partnered with many, many bottles of Nicolas Feuillatte Cuvee. For added fun, I often buy white football helmets and raid the arts and crafts store for embellishments to decorate them. At the end of the evening, the helmets are donated to a local hospital to make children happy. I say, that’s the best score yet!”
—Joy Moyler, interior designer
Imbibe Elegantly
“I love to use a serving tray to create an instant party. It quickly becomes a portable bar space that can move with your guests from the kitchen to an entertaining space. I usually include a small flower display on the table and a beautiful carafe with glasses along with my favorite spirits. It’s elegant and relaxed.”
—Aerin Lauder, founder of Aerin
Create Comfort
“Embrace a Super Bowl party for what it is: a relaxed gathering to watch the biggest American sporting event (or just the best commercials) all year. Even for a casual affair, think about the space and make sure there’s an easy path from seats to refreshments. Traffic jams are not so chic. Lastly, for those in cozy spaces, take extra throw pillows and arrange them on the floor around your coffee table for more seating. You want your guests to feel welcome.”
—Sarah Bartholomew, interior designer
Get Personal
“The Super Bowl should always be stylish. I like to dress the table with bright and colorful African fabrics, Duro-style, and set out big decorative bowls that I have collected over the years filled with flavored popcorns, guacamole and tortilla chips, and yummy snacks. Pre-batch your favorite cocktail and serve it in an oversize punch bowl with big cubes.”
—Marcus Samuelsson, chef/owner of Red Rooster Harlem and Streetbird Rotisserie, author of The Red Rooster Cookbook
Simplify
“Let the food be the real color in the room. Everything looks best on a simple, solid plate and servingware. Choose one color (from your favorite team) and make it the single signature for the night’s palette. It can vary by shade, if you desire (midnight and eggshell blue, perhaps), but it’s always best to keep things monochromatic so as not to distract from the game or the food.”
—Gail Simmons, culinary expert and Top Chef judge
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