If you’re looking for a simple way to infuse your youth ministry with newfound energy and excitement, consider renovating your youth space.
Just like adults, teenagers love buildings that are clean, well-lit, and designed to cater to their needs and interests. They need a comfortable area to connect with their peers that bridges the gap between children’s ministry programs and adult services.
Fortunately, it doesn’t take an enormous amount of time or money to transform your youth building to cater to the needs of your group. Consider these easy, hassle-free solutions for sprucing up your youth space to create an inviting, inclusive room for pre-teens and teenagers at your church.
1. Clean the Clutter
One of the best (and easiest!) ways to elevate the look of your youth building is to clear away clutter and reorganize your storage spaces.
Gather your youth ministry team and neatly arrange the items that must be easily accessible each week on shelves or in cabinets. Then, place the rest of the things you’ll use semi-regularly in storage closets on your church campus.
If you don’t use certain items anymore, either sell them for some extra cash or donate them to a charity or nearby local church.
2. Create a Brand
Do you have anyone on your youth ministry team with marketing or graphic design skills? If so, consider creating a unique brand for your youth group to give kids ownership and a strong sense of community.
Come up with a fun, catchy name and create a logo that incorporates cohesive colors. You can use this name, color scheme, and graphics on flyers, announcement slides, t-shirts, and other items that are frequently used in your youth room.
3. Paint the Walls
If your walls are looking dingy, it might be time for a fresh coat of paint. New paint is one of the most inexpensive upgrades you can take advantage of to transform the atmosphere of a room.
If you want to create an upbeat, positive atmosphere, consider painting the walls a light color, like white, to reflect natural sunshine. You might also want to choose a classy, dynamic color, like blue, for a trendy look. Or, if you’re trying to draw attention to one side of the room, paint most of the room a neutral color, and choose one wall to paint a bright accent color.
4. Use Warm Lighting
Bright, fluorescent lighting reminds teenagers of being in a classroom, so it doesn’t set the tone for making friends or having vulnerable conversations.
If your youth room primarily uses fluorescent lights, consider offsetting them with other inexpensive, warm-toned lighting options. For example, you can hang string lights around the room’s perimeter, add floor lamps near couches and other seating areas, or install hanging lamps to provide warm lighting and a modern appearance to the room’s décor.
5. Install Quality Flooring
Consider replacing dirty vinyl tiles or outdated carpet in your youth building with durable, attractive flooring.
Carpet tile and hardwood-style vinyl flooring are affordable options that look great and are well-suited for heavy traffic areas. If replacing the flooring in your youth room isn’t an option, consider adding cozy, colorful rugs that match the décor and offer comfortable spaces for kids to relax.
6. Buy Versatile Furniture
To match the theme or accommodate the new layout of your youth room, you may need to purchase some new furniture.
Ideally, most of your furniture should be easily movable to accommodate games and activities. Still, there should also be some cozy, “permanent” spaces that offer consistency and create a relaxing area where kids can hang out with their friends.
You can achieve this concept by creating a “hangout” spot with comfortable couches and chairs in one corner of the room, then use foldable, stacking chairs in the rest of the space.
7. Hang Wall Décor
Decorating the walls is a great way to add style and personality to your youth room. Consider removing posters that may seem cheesy and outdated with trendy, modern touches that teenagers will love. Here are some ideas:
- Choose one or two inspiring quotes or verses to paint on the walls in unique lettering.
- Install decorative wall shelving to display succulents, plants, or even books.
- Print photo canvases featuring teenagers having fun at past youth events and hang them on the walls.
- Create a chalkboard or white-erase wall that kids can draw on and you can use to write on while you’re teaching.
8. Invest in Technology
Teenagers use technology every day to complete their schoolwork and connect with their friends. When you incorporate a moderate amount of technology into your youth space, it adds relevance to the age group you’re trying to reach.
Consider installing helpful technology that amplifies your ministry instead of shiny new objects that become a distraction to kids.
For example, large projector screens can show videos and movies, display song lyrics, and scroll announcement slides. Many of them can also be rolled up and stored away when you’re done using them. This one piece of technology can be used for multiple purposes, making it a valuable investment.
Looking for Extra Inspiration for Renovating Your Youth Ministry Space?
When it comes time to update your youth ministry room, you have plenty of design options to choose from. If you’re overwhelmed thinking about where to start, consider hiring a trusted design-builder to help with your project.
Our team can expand your youth ministry room with beautiful, functional space, but we can also share expert advice on refurbishing your current room to fulfill your vision for ministry. For more creative ideas on renovating your youth ministry space, check out our project portfolio to be inspired by youth ministry spaces around the country!
