How to Make Your Church Lobby More Welcoming

Are you looking to create a warm and inviting atmosphere in your church? The lobby is the first place people will see inside your building, and it sets the tone for the entire worship experience. A church lobby is also known as a foyer, vestibule, or narthex, depending on the denomination.

Making your church lobby more welcoming can have a big impact on how visitors and members feel when they enter your church. From arranging furniture to providing comfortable seating options, there are several simple steps you can take to enhance the welcoming feel of your church lobby.

The Correct Way to Arrange Furniture in a Lobby

Furnishing a lobby is a lot different than designing other rooms in a church. A lobby serves many purposes in different churches, from a social gathering spot before and after services, to a room where people put on head coverings or pick up hymnals, to a cry room for families with small children.

How to Furnish a Church Lobby

Here are five rules for furnishing a welcoming lobby.

1. Resist Over Furnishing. One of the first things you can do to make your church lobby more welcoming is to purchase and arrange lobby furniture with traffic flow in mind. It’s easy to over furnish a lobby or foyer with so much oversized furniture that it impedes traffic flow and creates bottlenecks during busy times. The lobby is one place where it’s better to have slightly too little furniture than too much.
2. Keep Pathways Clear. Since the function of a lobby or foyer includes shepherding people through the building and into the sanctuary or other rooms in a church, it’s important to allow clear, open pathways through the lobby that are furniture-free. Ideally, pathways should not cross through the middle of conversation areas (although in small lobbies, this usually can’t be avoided).
3. Be Inclusive. Keep accessibility needs in mind as you and your designers create your church lobby. Build ramps in places with stairs, if possible, and add handrails if needed. Make sure there is plenty of open space for people in wheelchairs or with walkers to move around comfortably. The ABA Accessibility Standards gives exact requirements on how much clear floor space and turning space lobbies are required to have according to the ADA. The Accessibility Standards of Canada outline similar requirements for open space in lobbies and gives related guidelines.
4. Design Conversation Areas. If you have a spacious lobby area, consider creating different seating areas with a mix of cozy chairs, side tables, and larger sofas. This can be an excellent place for churchgoers to gather before and after services.
5. Extend the Lobby Outside. Outdoor pavilions can serve as an extension of the indoor church lobby (weather permitting). Installing a patio and outdoor furniture creates a pleasant social gathering area, and for churches with cramped lobbies it’s the ideal solution to creating a place for congregations to socialize before or after services.

Provide Comfortable Lobby Seating

When it comes to providing seating options in your church lobby, comfort is key. Stacking church chairs from Bertolini Church Chairs are a great option for a welcoming and comfortable seating solution. Stylish and comfortable, Bertolini Church Chairs are available in over 800 fabrics and finishes.

Bertolini Church Chairs are durable, maintenance-free, and easy to stack and store when not in use. Getting stackable church chairs allows you to clear out the lobby for a standing-only event, such as a church social, and then easily replace chairs for regular services and events.

Decor & Ambiance

In addition to comfortable seating, decor plays a significant role in creating a welcoming atmosphere in your church lobby. Wall color is one of the least expensive things to change about a room, but it’s often overlooked. Fresh paint goes a long way to making a lobby look clean and inviting.

Consider adding some decorative elements such as fresh flowers, artwork, or soothing colors to help make visitors feel at ease. Lighting also plays a crucial role in creating a warm and inviting ambiance. Make sure your lobby is well-lit; ideally, it should have a mix of natural and artificial light. If your lobby has few windows, install ample light fixtures and use lamps to create a welcoming environment.

Volunteer Greeters

Having volunteers greet people as they enter your church lobby can make a significant difference in how welcoming your church feels. A friendly face and a warm greeting can go a long way in making visitors feel welcome and accepted. Encourage your volunteers to engage with visitors, answer any questions they may have, and offer assistance if needed.

Tidiness Is Key

Another crucial aspect of making your church lobby more welcoming is ensuring that the lobby and entry areas are always clean and tidy. Keep decorative touches light, so the space doesn’t feel cluttered. Make sure to have the cleaning staff regularly clean the lobby, including the floors, furniture, and any other surfaces. If there is a TV or a bulletin board for activities in this room, keep these busy items away from the line of sight from the front doors. A tidy and well-maintained lobby will not only create a positive first impression but will also make visitors feel more comfortable and interested in coming back to your house of worship.

Coat Room or Rack

A thoughtful addition to your lobby or foyer is to retrofit an adjacent room or closet into a coat room for outerwear, which is especially helpful during the winter months. This simple gesture shows that you care about the comfort and well-being of your congregation. If you don’t have the space for a coat room, consider adding coat racks to a nearby hallway. Make sure the coat room or rack is easily accessible and clearly labeled so that people know where to place muddy boots and hang coats, umbrellas, and jackets. Creating a designated spot for outerwear will not only make your congregation more comfortable, but it will also protect your floors and furniture from damage due to dripping water and mud.

The Final Take

By implementing these key tips, you can transform your church lobby into a warm and inviting space where visitors and members feel welcomed and valued. Remember, creating a welcoming lobby is not just about the physical space but also about the people, your church culture, and the atmosphere you create. With a little effort and creativity, you can make your church lobby a place where everyone feels at home.