When building a new church or updating an existing one, make sure your furniture choices put your church’s needs first. With your church’s requirements in mind, look at what is trending to help make a wise decision with your décor. According to data supplied from sales statistics from top church furniture manufacturer, Church Furniture Store, trends have changed in recent years in what churches are choosing for their sanctuaries.

Wood Stain

Wood pulpits have been far more popular for several decades than acrylic and metal podiums. The interest in hand-crafted, American podiums has skyrocketed even more in recent years. Several years ago, acrylics and metal podiums had the spotlight, but just like most trends, they are sure to make a comeback in years to come.

Although the overall stain color preference has not changed drastically since 2014, there are some new favorites that have emerged. Light and medium stains are still very popular, but darker stains that resemble a walnut color are suddenly more popular than they were just four years ago. Reds are also gaining a lot of popularity for wood staining.

Fabric Color

Something as simple as fabric color can have drastic changes in popularity over a short period. From just 2015 to 2018, one of the most popular fabric colors for CFS customers, burgundy, fell from most popular to moderately popular. But in 2018, the most widely chosen fabric color is a charcoal gray, which was one of the least popular colors just three years earlier in 2015.

Purple fabrics that were very popular in 2015 have not been as popular in 2018. However, fabrics that contain one single shade of purple are better liked than colors with various shades of purple woven throughout. But only a few years earlier, that multi-color purple fabric was one of the most popular colors chosen by CFS customers.

2015’s second most trendy fabric color was espresso, which is a combination of dark brown, black and light brown threads that combine to form a dark brown from a distance. Often, consumers like fabrics that have multiple colors woven into a pattern so that it is easier to coordinate other colors in the room, such as carpet.

When it comes to choosing colors of fabric and furniture for the church, one wrong color choice can mean having to revisit the project. Making sure you have it right the first time can help you to be a good steward of the money that God has given to the church.

Pulpits and podiums can be found in a variety of styles and materials, but wood and acrylic seem to be the most popular options today. Both materials can make very stylish pieces, but they both also have their own unique set of benefits and disadvantages. Keep reading to see which type of podium might best suit the needs of your church.

Acrylic podiums give a more contemporary feel to the sanctuary with its glass-like look. Acrylic is a great alternative to glass products, which aren’t nearly as durable and tough. But don’t let its strength fool you – acrylics can be easy to scratch. Fortunately, more shallow scratches can be easily removed with many common products on the market. Just make sure not to use ammonia or acetone on acrylic, which can damage the surface.

As opposed to many other materials that are similar in looks, acrylics will not yellow in sunlight. Some plastics and even glass will change color when overly exposed to UV radiation. Acrylic is a thermoplastic made from natural gas.

Wood furniture also has its own unique advantages and disadvantages. Wood has an unmistakable beauty and individuality that other furniture materials just don’t possess. Different species of wood vary in wood grain, color, and texture.

The type of wood used for creating furniture can also vary in its ability to hold stain. Certain species of porous woods, such as oak, tend to hold stain better while woods that aren’t as porous typically do not hold stain as well. If you would like to have a painted product, the type of wood you use can affect that as well. Maple is a favorite when it comes to painted wood furniture.

Because wood is a living thing, it can react to its environment, and precautions should be taken. Any drop or rise in temperature can cause wood to expand or contract. Additionally, moisture or humidity can take a toll on wood furniture. Wood can take on moisture and swell if not produced properly. Although wood stain can enhance the beauty of your product, it’s unlikely that it will offer long-term protection. Choosing a piece of wood furniture that has been sealed with a protective layer of lacquer or polyurethane is your best bet to keep your furniture protected against moisture.

However, it’s also wise to take measures to prevent damage to your wood furniture. Try to keep the piece in a room that maintains a consistent, comfortable temperature in a low-humidity environment. Also try to keep your wood furniture away from direct sunlight to help prevent fading.

Just like acrylic pieces, wood furniture can scratch. Scratches in wood can lead to water damage if moisture is allowed to settle in.                                                                                                                                                                              

Both acrylic and wood pulpits can be a beautiful addition to a church sanctuary, as long as the owner takes proper care of the piece. If both of these materials interest you, perhaps a combination of wood and acrylic would better suit your style. Wood pulpits are available with acrylic centers that can sometimes feature a church logo, crosses, or anything else you would like to display on your pulpit.

There is a lot of chatter about whether carpet is more beneficial than other types of flooring in the church, especially since hardwood floors have made such a comeback in residential design. But for many pastors and church planters, carpet is still a favorite, especially when it comes to sanctuary flooring, and for good reason.

One of the primary reasons to choose carpeting for your sanctuary is acoustics. Sanctuaries are usually large, open spaces in which the congregation faces a staging area, where the preacher speaks and where the choir or worship band performs. Carpet enhances the acoustics in large rooms. If you have ever been in a gymnasium, you have most likely noticed the issue with echoing. Carpet helps to eliminate that hollow, reverberating sound in sanctuaries. Sound waves from the source reflect off of surfaces, causing what we perceive as a repeating sound. Carpet helps to absorb that sound and prevents the sound waves from reflecting off of the floor’s surface.

Not only does carpet help to absorb sound, it also helps to absorb shock when you walk across it and stand on it. Even if the carpet does not have much padding or any padding at all, it is still softer than a hardwood floor – and your body can tell the difference.

Carpet can be aesthetically pleasing when cared for properly. Carpet is available in a multitude of colors, designs and styles and can even be made to match existing chair or pew fabric. When cleaned regularly and properly, carpet can look new for years.

When it comes to preventing falls, carpet can be crucial. On rainy days or during the winter months when snow or sleet might be on the ground, non-carpeted floors can quickly become a disaster. Even a small amount of moisture on a slick floor can be a fall risk for those walking into the church.

Talk to your church furniture resource about whether they offer carpet for your church in addition to church furniture. Be sure to ask about what options they have available to match existing furnishings, or find out what they offer that matches new items your church might be interested in.