Some jails and opposing football team locker rooms have been painted pink.* The color pink is said to have a calming effect, initially at least. I, for one, don’t believe we have to paint our centers pink, however, I do believe the room colors and décor along with the overall cleanliness and neatness of our centers affects moods and attitudes and consequently the health of your ministry.

When people drive by your center or walk in your door what is their first impression? Is the appearance something that they have to try to overlook or is it something that draws them in?

8 points for evaluation:

• Cleanliness – Most TC centers are pretty good about this. But, we can get stuck in our routines and sometimes overlook the obvious.
• Donated Items – People are so thoughtful to donate their slightly used items to TC! So much so that it is often difficult to know what to do with it all. If you don’t have boundaries and a systematized way of dealing with this, it can pile-up quickly. Limit the space. When it is about to overflow, get it out of there. Don’t leave it in the entry for visitors to trip over when they visit. If the A&E channel shows up at your doorstep to film an episode of Hoarders, it’s too late!
• Organize – If you, as the leader, are not gifted in this area, identify the person on your team, or a volunteer who has this strength, and make them responsible for keeping the place organized and clean. Trust me, there is someone on your team who is a “neat freak.” Put them in charge; they’ll love it!
• Paint – A fresh neat paint job is one of the easiest, least expensive ways to keep things looking clean and fresh. Assign someone to regularly walk around the building and touch-up dirty and scratched-up areas. Don’t forget the trim work.
• Maintenance – Carpet, furniture, fixtures, etc. All these things wear out and breakdown. It can become overwhelming. If you’ve gotten behind on this, start by making a list of the needs. Create a realistic budget for each item. Prioritize the list. Work on the items on the list as money is available. Have the list ready for potential donors. They can choose an item or maybe even the entire list!
• Décor – Nice, clean bedspreads, curtains, furniture, carpet, fixtures, etc. are important. They take regular upkeep, and replacement. But décor goes further.  Décor is important to the moods and attitudes of students, staff and visitors.
• Artwork – There are some great principles about how to keep God’s truth in front of us and one of those ways is by the way we decorate our house: “And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9) We don’t live by Old Testament law but there is an important principle here.
• I think it is important for our décor to reflect the heart and culture of who we are as a ministry. Inspirational décor serves as a visual reminder of God’s truth. You can decorate with visual reminders of God’s truth in cool and contemporary ways that communicate with students and visitors. In fact you should do it in culturally relevant ways (i.e. don’t let your grandma do it). You are helping to create the atmosphere of your ministry by what is hanging on your walls.
• This is an area that you may need help with. Find the right volunteer that can connect with the culture we serve.
• Evaluate – Try to see the outside and the inside of your center from the perspective of a first-time visitor. If you can’t make an honest evaluation of your center, have an outside person (possibly a realtor, an interior designer, or someone you know who has a sharp eye for detail) come in and tell you their impressions and what they notice. Make a list and get to work.

* Article link: Drunk Tank Pink
http://www.colormatters.com/color-and-the-body/drunk-tank-pink