church pew chairs

Traditional church pew chairs are beautiful, but many have an outdated look that can really age your church’s interior. Fortunately, there are many ways to update your pews to give them a more modern look that’s appealing to members of all ages.

Here are five creative ways to give your church pews an updated look.

Adding Comfortable Cushions to Existing Church Pews

One of the biggest complaints about traditional church pews and church pew chairs is that they are uncomfortable. Hard wooden seats can make it difficult to sit for long periods of time, but they can also give a church an outdated look.

Cushions provide comfort for attendees, and they can instantly transform your church into a more modern space.

Pew cushions come in a wide range of sizes, colors, and options, including options for church pew chairs. Brighter colors, such as red or blue, can breathe new life and energy into your sanctuary space. You can also find patterned fabrics to show off your church’s personality.

Along with colors and sizes, you also have a variety of options when it comes to:

  • The number of cushions. You can choose to cushion just the seat of the pew, or you can cushion the backrest as well.
  • Cushion thickness. The thicker the cushion, the more comfortable the seating.

When installed properly, cushions can also help preserve the pew’s lifespan by protecting it from sun exposure, dust, dirt, and moisture.

Updating the Look of Old Wooden Pews with a Fresh Coat of Paint

Wooden pews can add timeless beauty to a church, but over time, wood will begin to fade and wear – even with the best of care.

A fresh coat of paint or stain can help bring wooden pews back to life. Choose colors that will complement the rest of your church’s interior. Selecting a color that is similar to the original wood color will make it much easier to maintain. If the paint starts chipping or wearing, it will be far less noticeable than if you chose a color that was much brighter or darker.

Painting your church’s pews will be a big project, so enlist the help of members and staff to get the job done more efficiently.

Covering Old Pews with New Fabric or Leather for a Sophisticated Look

If you’re not interested in painting your church pew chairs or installing cushions, another option is to cover your pews with leather or fabric. Upholstering your pews will give them a more updated and sophisticated look.

When choosing your fabric, be mindful of your members and the interior environment. For example, leather, while beautiful, can be especially noisy, sticky, and uncomfortable in the heat. In this case, fabric or even vinyl may be the better option.

For this project, you may want to consider hiring a professional with experience upholstering church pews. Their experience and knowledge will ensure that your updated pews last and are easy to maintain. Choose colors and styles that will match your church. If you do decide to use leather, consider whether you want tufted leather or a smooth finish.

Rearranging Existing Pews for a More Modern Seating Arrangement

Church chairs with pew ends are one of the most beneficial investments that you can make in your sanctuary. Why? These chairs can:

  • Connect to create a pew
  • Disconnect to make rearrangement easy

Modern seating is possible thanks to the church pew chairs of today. The right pew can easily be rearranged to accommodate multi-function spaces. If you have wooden pews, it will be more challenging to rearrange the existing pews due to their large size and heavy weight.

After you rearrange the pew, you may want to consider installing new lighting. The right lighting can make a darker space into one that is contemporary, inviting and safer for your guests to traverse.

Installing Lights on Pews for a Contemporary and Inviting Feel

An inviting, contemporary space is possible even if you have church pews for seating. Pews are notoriously old-fashioned, but you can transform them to be contemporary by installing lights on the pews.

You can install lights on the side of the pew or on the floor to enhance visibility. Installing lighting on pews is often something designated for weddings, but the trend has overflowed into the traditional church space, too. If you don’t want to install lights on the pews themselves, you can install overhead lighting.

Final thoughts

Church chairs with pew end connect to create a single row of chairs that are interlinked together. You can make your own pew, but with chairs, your seating is more functional than ever before.

Have you ever updated your church’s seating before? If so, what was your new seating able to offer you that your old seating could not?