Project Case Study · Pew Reupholstery
Before and After: Reupholstering Orange Church Pews in Hunter Green
Bright orange pew fabric makes a statement. In this sanctuary it was competing with amber and green stained glass. We reupholstered the pews in a deep hunter green and kept the oak pew ends with their carved crosses. Here is what changed, why the new color works, and how to choose a pew color for your own sanctuary.
The Pews, Side by Side
Both photos are taken from nearly the same spot, looking down the pew line toward the stained-glass windows. Watch the carved cross on the nearest pew end, the lattice glass, and the gray carpet. None of those changed.
The takeaway: when the frames are good, a new fabric color can change how a whole sanctuary feels. Nothing structural moved in this room.
Where This Sanctuary Started
These pews were already upholstered, so this was a reupholstery job, not a first-time conversion. The seats and backs were covered edge to edge in a bright orange fabric. The oak pew ends each carry a carved cross, and the frames are square and solid.
The room around them is simple and bright: white walls, gray-blue carpet, and tall lattice windows filled with amber and green stained glass. That is a lot of warm color coming in through the glass. Put orange pews underneath it and everything starts shouting at once.
The good news in the before photo is everything that is not orange. Oak ends like these, with the crosses cut right into them, are the kind of detail a church should keep. New pews would have meant losing them.
So the question was never whether to replace the pews. It was which color would let this room settle down.
Choosing a New Pew Color: What This Room Teaches
Pew fabric is the largest block of color in most sanctuaries, and it stays for a long time. This project is a good lesson in how to choose it.
Start with what cannot change
Stained glass, wood tone, and carpet are expensive or impossible to swap. Here the green came straight out of the windows, so the pews and the glass now agree.
Pick a color that sits back
Deeper colors let the windows, the altar, and the cross carry the room. Bright colors pull the eye down to the seating, which is rarely where you want it.
Respect the wood tone
Golden oak and hunter green have been paired for generations because they flatter each other. The carved crosses now stand out against the fabric instead of disappearing into it.
Judge samples in your own light
Stained glass tints everything under it. A fabric that looks right in a showroom can look very different at 11 a.m. on a Sunday, so look at samples in the sanctuary itself.
We offer a wide fabric selection with design recommendations and color-matching. More on that is on our church pew upholstery page.
How a Pew Reupholstery Job Comes Together
Changing the fabric on already-upholstered pews follows a steady sequence. Here is how a job like this one runs.
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Walk the sanctuary
The free consultation starts with the frames, joints, and seat boards. If something needs repair, it gets fixed before new fabric covers it.
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Choose the fabric and color
Our fabrics are woven in the U.S. from domestic yarns and built for commercial use. This is where the room’s glass, wood, and carpet guide the choice.
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Take off the old fabric
The old covering comes off, and the foam underneath gets checked. Worn foam is replaced with high-density LUX foam, sized and firmed for the congregation.
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Protect the wood
Oak ends and carved details stay on the pew and are protected while the upholstery work happens around them.
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Fit the new fabric
New fabric is pulled tight and fastened so it sits flat from end to end, with clean edges against the wood.
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Reset the room
The pews go back in their rows, ready for the next service. The upholstery is covered by our 15-year warranty.
Pew Fabric Colors and the Rooms They Suit
There is no single right pew color. There is a right color for your room. These are the pairings we see work again and again.
| Fabric color | Often suits | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Hunter or forest green | Golden oak, green in the stained glass, trees outside the windows | Can read dark in a room with small windows |
| Burgundy or red | Dark wood, traditional sanctuaries, dark wainscot, like our Lebanon, TN pew upholstery project | Can overpower a small, low-ceilinged room |
| Blue | Blue carpet or glass, lighter wood tones | Match the carpet closely or clearly contrast it |
| Gray or taupe | Large, modern rooms with neutral walls and lots of lighting, like our large two-level sanctuary | Pick a warm neutral if the wood is golden |
If the fabric is fine and the wood is the problem, start with church pew refinishing instead. If you want some padding without full upholstery, look at lay-in pew cushions.
Why Churches Trust McPhail With Their Pews
We are a family-owned company that has worked with churches from Eastern North Carolina to Texas, plus courthouses, funeral homes, and historical buildings. The people who help you choose the fabric are the same people who put it on your pews.
- A 15-year upholstery warranty. Rare in this trade, and backed by the team that did the work.
- Color help included. Design recommendations and color-matching to your wood, glass, and carpet.
- No outside contractors. Upholstery, refinishing, repairs, and installation by our own team.
- USA-sourced materials. Domestic wood, fabric, and foam, with high-density LUX foam in the seats.
- Built around your calendar. We schedule around services, weddings, and funerals.
- Free consultation and quote. Honest advice on what needs doing now and what can wait.
“We appreciate your dedication to your job and concern to complete the installation in a neat and orderly manner.”
“I cannot say enough as to how blessed we were to have a man of his honesty and integrity to be a part of the building of our new place of worship.”
See more color changes in our before-and-after photo gallery, or read more about the McPhail family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can church pews be reupholstered in a different color?
Yes. This project took pews from bright orange to hunter green. The old fabric comes off, the foam is checked, and new fabric in any color from our selection goes on the same frames.
How do we choose the right color for our church pews?
Start with what will not change, such as stained glass, wood tone, and carpet, and choose a fabric that works with them. Look at samples in your sanctuary’s own light. We offer design recommendations and color-matching to help.
Is the old foam replaced when pews are reupholstered?
We check it on every job. Where the foam has worn down, we replace it with high-density LUX foam and set its size and firmness for your congregation.
Will reupholstering damage carved pew ends?
It should not. The oak ends stay on the pew and are protected while the upholstery work is done. The carved crosses on the pews in this project came through unchanged.
Will our church have to cancel services during the work?
No. We schedule every project around your church calendar, including services, weddings, and funerals, so the sanctuary stays available for worship.
What warranty comes with pew reupholstery?
McPhail Church Services offers a 15-year warranty on church pew upholstery, which is rare in this industry. All of the work is done by our own team.
More answers on our FAQ page. Back to top
Ready for a Color Change?
If your pews have a color that no longer fits your sanctuary, the frames are probably worth keeping. Let us take a look and bring the room back together. The consultation is free.
McPhail Church Services, Inc. · 59 Vickers Lane, Autryville, NC 28318 · 910-322-5673