Every one of your church clients is looking to connect with local community. So the wish list for enhancing their image may be long. The problem is, most churches are on tight budgets.
With some creative thinking and clever hacks, interior designers and architects can help create environments that welcome people (regular attendees and first-time visitors alike) to come in, hang out, and repeat.
Church.Design reached out to two long-time church designers who weighed in with common-sense, cost-effective ways to achieve tighter community connection through interior design. And by and large, their ideas won't break church clients' budgets.
Update fixtures & hardware. Repurpose the existing space with small but creative details, says Sharon Exley, MAAE and co-founder of Chicago's Architecture Is Fun. “Head into the bathroom, kitchen or public spaces that have a lot of millwork. Simple, relatively inexpensive upgrades on sink faucets, towel racks, knobs and pulls amazingly have a huge impact on spaces. These changes may seem relatively insignificant, yet they create a clean aesthetic; one which demonstrates value."
Many new hardware products improve accessibility, using sensors and tactile surfaces, she adds. “For example, specifying all black matte faucets, handles and accessories made a previously dated space seem new and novel. So add some visual intrigue, whether sleek and modern or recycled and industrial.”
Repurpose the existing space with small but creative details.
Create areas that connect. “Large spaces can be overwhelming, and our goal is to create intimacy with cluster areas featuring furniture which offers a unified look and a welcoming atmosphere,” says Brad Oaster of Oaster Development in Monument, Colo. “They can serve as a ‘family room’ type space designed for in-depth conversations. The goal is enticing people to interact before and after services by creating conversation away from the main traffic area.”
Signage with a statement. Signage indoors and out that points the way to key spaces is essential, notes Oaster. “Specialty marked signage that promotes your church’s brand, with messaging for returning guests, expectant mothers, children’s ministry and senior parking provides visitors with a sense of warmth and comfort. Our designs feature [digital] signage that enables easy changing of messages and points to spaces important to congregants.”
Signage indoors and out that points the way to key spaces is essential.
Hi-tech hospitality. “How to transform a routine visit by a first-time guest into a memorable experience is the essential question,” Oaster notes. “At Hope Community Church, a space with 100,000 square feet which hosts 5,000 people on Sunday, we replaced the informational counter which creates more personalized interaction and easy access to key answers. Volunteers and staff wear t-shirts with messaging, such as ‘Can I help you’ or ‘Ask Me.’ They are equipped with iPads offering immediate responses to visitors’ questions on small groups, upcoming events, maps of the campus and questions people might need help with. This ... efficient approach makes people feel comfortable because of helpful congregants available to point people in the right direction, right away.”
Paint a statement wall. Paint is what our studio calls a heroic material, says Exley. “It is relatively inexpensive and not a big commitment, so why not have fun with it? For a quick refresh that’s affordable, create a statement wall that is bold and bright. Look around and find a wall that could use defining and do it. On a recent all-white space, we went neon orange, which looks pretty fresh and actually elegant and artsy.”
Paint is what our studio calls a heroic material, says Exley.
Dress up sofas. Over the past few years, church public spaces have become propagated with black leather sofas, Exley says. “Do a review of your seating. Does it appear worn? Has it faded? Does it seem inviting? Whenever the budget allows, change it up. Reupholstering existing furniture can cast an entirely new welcoming attitude for the space by adding softness or pattern. A less expensive option is adding new throw pillows or swapping out pillow covers. Pop in an entirely new bold color of the moment for an uplifting vibe. Or shift to a ‘Boho’ aesthetic, featuring organic hues and textures for soothing social spaces.”
Pop in an entirely new bold color of the moment for an uplifting vibe.
Offer designated coffee spots. “Nothing says ‘welcome’ like a space offering coffee," notes Oaster. “We create self-serve beverage stations and café-like spaces that encourage people to stay after the service.”
Create opportunities to engage. “If the budget allows, we integrate sound-absorbing materials, enabling attendees to communicate clearly and more intimately," says Oaster.
Architecture is Fun-Sharon Exley makes play an art. Architecture Is Fun is a collaborative practice that explores the nexus of architecture, education and experience. The company’s goal is to make everyday life FUN.
Oaster Development-Starting in 1980, Brad Oaster has worked with more than 250 Christian churches in 35 states by developing functional and affordable facilities that unite mission and ministry with buildings and property.
[Editor's note: This piece was originally published in January 2020.]
