Ideas for Repurposing Old Church Furniture

If you’re getting new church furniture, you may be wondering what to do with the old. Repurposing the furniture offers many benefits, including cost savings, waste minimization, and preservation of the history of the church. Breathe new life into these items with our ideas for church furniture restoration.

Before You Start Your Project

First, ensure the furniture is still in good enough condition to salvage. You should be able to fix small holes or loose joints. But if the piece really is in poor condition, it might be better to scrap a project that could become too time consuming or expensive. For a chair or pew, make sure the frame is still sturdy. If you’re recycling a pulpit or altar, be on the lookout for any large cracks. 

Before you get started, it’s best to decide on the furniture’s new purpose and how frequently it will be used. This can help save you time and resources.

Chair Restoration

You can repurpose old church chairs in many creative ways. For instance, they can be used as a flower planter or connected, making a bench. Use them as seating in an office, library, or church hall. Church chairs also make for the perfect accent chair. They’ll add character and charm to any space.

If you’re looking for new church chairs for sale, shop with ChurchPlaza today. Our selection includes arm chairs as well as stacking and folding chairs.

Church Pew Projects

Pews tend to be a little more stiff than other furniture pieces. But adding cushions will help make repurposed church pews more comfortable. With a little creativity and woodworking skills, you can turn old church pews into unique and functional seating options, like:

• Outdoor pew benches for a church garden or courtyard
• Seating for a dining area (after you cut them down to size)
• Furniture for a waiting room, entranceway, or hallway
• Extra storage in classrooms or offices

The great thing about pews is that the area underneath them can be used as storage space. Pews are usually built well to withstand years of use. But if you’re planning to reuse them outside, make sure to waterproof them with a paint, stain, or sealer first.

Learn how to move church pews.

Pulpits and Lecterns

Even if your pulpit furniture is past its prime, it can still be reused in a variety of ways, including in other spaces of your church aside from your sanctuary. Turn lecterns into podiums for presentations or use them as a decorative element in an office or library.

An old pulpit could be reused as a bookshelf or a hostess stand for events. Add on wheels and drawers to make it into a moving stand for a classroom.

Altars and Tables

Depending on the size of a church sanctuary table, you may be able to repurpose it into a side table or use it in an office or classroom.

With its ornate carvings and unique design, an old altar can become a stunning and meaningful piece. Church altars can be converted into a:

• Desk or workstation
• A table for a church office
• A focal point in a room

If you’re repurposing any kind of wooden furniture, you might stick with its beautiful rustic look. Or you can sand, paint, or stain the piece to match your décor or add color to your space.

We hope these restoration ideas help you make the most of old church furniture, keeping it out of a landfill.

If you’re not quite ready to recycle your chairs, learn how to clean your church chairs to keep them looking new. We also recommend following manufacturer’s recommendations to increase the life of your furniture.