Competing in this year’s SuperBowl will be the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons. On Sunday, Feb. 5, this NFL tournament will be held in the NRG Stadium in Houston.

If you weren’t able to snag tickets to see the game live, that is not a problem. This football game is the perfect opportunity to host a party with friends and family, from the comfort of your couch, instead of on crowded bleachers. A SuperBowl party doesn’t have to be overly elaborate; it should be an easy going event. Here are 5 tips to throwing the best Super Bowl party ever:

1. Food > Football

Delicious snacks and drinks are a crucial portion of a party. You’ll always have time to refill the chip bowl during halftime, so you won’t miss out on any field action. If the game is at a boring part of the quarter, guests can make their rounds at the food table. You can’t effectively cheer on the Patriots if you’re running on an empty stomach, now can you?

Here are some snack ideas that are certain to be crowd pleasers:

• Chicken Wings
• Popcorn
• Chips with Guacamole or Salsa
• Cookies
• Soda
• Burgers
• Hotdogs
• Veggie/ Fruit Platters
• Cheese/Ham Platters
• Pretzels and Crackers
• Sandwiches
• Pizza
• Pigs-in-a-Blanket
• Rice Krispie Treats

2. Invite Your Friends and Family

It’s tempting to call everyone you know over to watch the game.This laid back weekend is a great opportunity to bond with friends and family. Invite a variety of guests, whether they be Patriots fans, Falcons loyals or even non-football watchers. This mix of attendees will create friendly competition and team spirit, while keeping conversation diverse and interesting. Making bets on the outcome is a good way to enliven the mood and boost the Super Bowl spirit among your guests.

3. Decorate, Decorate, Decorate

Flaunt your favorite team’s colors or even a player’s jersey. You can decorate your home with pictures, posters, football gear, flags and anything else you may have available. Just remember that some of your guests may not support your team, so don’t go overboard – it will make them feel uncomfortable and as if they are outsiders. With that in mind, be cautious with the team decorations, as your lively allegiance could hurt someone else’s feelings. Cater to everyone’s wishes by adorning the TV room with only football themed furnishings, instead of leaning toward one specific team.

4. Comfort is Key

Super Bowl Sunday is meant to be carefree and fairly mellow. If needed, move furniture around, so your fellow football fanatics will be relaxed and can easily view the players on the TV. Plush blankets and throw pillows will allow your guests to call out fouls in comfort. When rearranging sofas and tables, leave accessible paths to the snack table and restrooms, to enable minimal disruption from the game.

5. It’s Not a Party Without a Mess…

After the last of your guests leave, you will most likely be left with a mountain of plates, empty cups, and greasy napkins. To minimize the clutter, station trash cans all around the room; guests will be more inclined to throw away their garbage if the trash cans are nearby. Use paper plates, plastic cups and disposable utensils to cut back the amount of dishes to wash. Leave rolls of paper towels all around, in the event that someone were to drop their hot dog on the carpet. Encourage guests to wipe up their own crumbs and sticky stains. Set out small coasters to prevent unwanted rings on the coffee tables from cold beverages.