Decorating Your Office With Sports Memorabilia

By Dee Dee Smith

Some of the greatest sports rivalries are born in corporate offices and executive boardrooms  Consequently, what better place could there be to display your sports collection than in your office.  Favorite themes for office décor include an NCAA team, a favorite athlete or a special event. 

Assuming you’ve already starting building your collection, you’ll want to build around one or two of your favorite pieces.  A collectible from your attendance at March Madness, a favorite autographed baseball or an autographed jersey can be the beginning of your design plan. 

First, decide how you will display your collection.  If it’s a hockey puck or other small item, do you want to display it on your desk, a shelf, atop a cabinet or hung on the wall?  Whether you display your memorabilia on the wall or desk, you’ll want to choose cases that work well with one another and are complimentary to the rest of your décor.  Display cases come standard with a removable glass top, mirrored back or bottom and wooden base.  These bases come in either black, cherry, walnut or mahogany wood. 

Display collectibles together for an attractive and interesting look.  Three baseballs and a photo can be wall-mounted in a home plate shaped display; multiple pucks or mini-helmets can be displayed together in one case.   An autographed bat can be displayed with an autographed baseball, or a football with a helmet on the top of a cabinet or bookshelf. 

Building your collection around a favorite jersey or photograph is also a good way to begin. As with displaying other items, you’ll want to choose framing that is complimentary with the rest of your office.  Frames come standard in black, mahogany, walnut or cherry wood.  Whatever frame you choose, you’ll want to be consistent in your style if you have multiple items to hang. 

Because the photo or jersey will be the centerpiece in the room, you’ll want to hang it in just the right place.  Ideally, you’ll want to choose a wall that allows your photo to be noticed immediately upon entering in the room.  This might be behind your desk, around a window, or above a bookcase.  As with displaying multiple balls or pucks in groups, photo groupings are also quite appealing.  Various sizes of photos can be hung strategically along the length of an entire wall for a dramatic look.  Related photos can be hung in pairs or groups of three i.e., NASCAR fans can hang a photo of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. beside a photo of his father Dale Earhardt Sr., or golf lovers display three autographed photos of Tiger Woods side by side.  To really show off your autographed photo, hang it along with another collectible item.  For instance, a pair of framed Lennox Lewis boxing trunks can be hung beside a framed autographed photo of Lewis wearing the trunks.

Once you‘ve selected your favorite pieces and decided where you will display them, you’ll need to choose other collectibles and accent pieces to complete your design.  Photomints (a framed collectible that includes a combination of photos, mint coins and other memorabilia) can help build your sports office theme.  Choose from photomints that celebrate your favorite team or individual player, or one that commemorates a special sporting event, stadium or arena.   Other accent pieces include team pillows (you can display the pillow on a shelf or chair), wall clocks, team banners and rugs. 

If you don’t have to have a private office to display your memorabilia, a cubicle will do just fine.  Instead of hanging a photo, hang a team blanket or player throw on a wall of your cubicle.  This could be the core piece in your cubicle and you can decorate the rest of your area to compliment this item.  Finish your space with a combination of items such as a team wastebasket and desk clock.  Another idea for decorating your cubicle might be displaying a collection of bobble heads or action figurines on a book shelf or storage cabinet.  Over the years bobble heads and figurines have become quite popular collectibles.  Choose from a combination of football greats like Jerry Rice and Dan Marino, or a collection of basketball greats.

Your office décor is a direct reflection of you.  If you are passionate about sports, why not show it in the workplace?  A sports collection in the office can help to break the ice with potential customers and clients, and lift your spirits on a long and stressful day. 

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