From time to time, we share questions and answers from our free i3 webinars so church leaders can learn from others facing similar situations. Recently, our Interior Design expert Jennifer Snider answered participants’ questions about different aspects of church design interior finishes, including interior walls and design renderings. For those of you who might have missed this webinar, below are Jennifer’s responses to these questions.
We also invite your interior design and church building questions at any time. We are happy to talk about the scope of your church design project and the best way to approach your new church building or remodeling plans. Perhaps we can help you determine the resources you would need. To request a consultation, simply reach out to us by phone at 800-625-6448 or by email at request@mcknightgroup.com.
Question 1: Should Church Building Ceiling and Wall Textures Be the Same or Different?
The short answer is that there’s not necessarily any firm rule about it. Depending on the size of your church building, you may have ceilings of different materials, such as acoustical tile, alongside a smooth wall finish. Depending on how old your church building is—if, for example, you’re doing a renovation to update an older building—you might have popcorn drywall ceilings. We typically see a preference to smooth out those older ceilings.
Most church leaders’ preferences, at least in the Midwest, are for a smooth wall surface and a smooth ceiling surface, both of which are drywall. However, there are parts of the country where textured walls are more common. Texture is also an easier finish to complete and can be a nice way to hide an uneven surface during remodeling. In terms of your budget, if you’re going to have a smooth finish on your ceiling, you will likely need to spend a little bit more money to get an experienced dry-waller who can work at a level sufficient to prevent any seams or imperfections showing.
Question 2: Stone or Wood Accent Wall: Which Will Last Longer, in Terms of Style?
Wood has become really popular lately, especially the barn wood look or the pallet wood accent walls. From a longevity standpoint, in terms of church design, we believe that stone is going to have a longer life. Some of the wood looks are trendier, whereas stone is a natural product that always has that same test-of-time look to it. So, between the two, for longevity of style, it’s preferable to integrate stone accent walls into your interior design.
Question 3: Do We Need an Interior Design Rendering in Our Church Design Portfolio?
We do always recommend at least some interior design rendering. It is very helpful for people to be able to see what the proposed church building space would look like on the inside as well as the exterior. So, a rendering may be an important option to consider when you’re preparing to present your church building project to your congregation. It helps everyone buy in to your new church design and more easily connect with your church vision for the space.
As we mentioned, these good questions came from one of our free i3 webinars. Sign up for our upcoming webinars to learn more about church building and design and to ask questions of your own.