Prayer Benches / Prayer Kneeler
Buy the best prayer benches / prayer kneeler selected and recommended by interior designers. By Chloe Hughes.
Shorter than a normal bench, these prayer benches are designed for kneeling, without pain inflicted on the knees. Give praise to your maker, thank him for his blessings, and do it all while knelt on these handsome wood benches. In a few attractive upholstery options as well as non padded, you will find your perfect prayer bench in this very fine collection.
Prayer Benches / Prayer Kneeler
Buying Guide
Chloe Hughes
Interior Design Expert
Chloe is a highly-regarded expert in all things vintage and antique. She’s excited to share her vast knowledge with readers and clients wishing to infuse their homes with a mixture of old-time warmth and modern comfort. In addition to her design work, Chloe regularly volunteers at her local community center, teaching DIY projects to adults and kids.
For the spiritual at heart, prayer benches are 'godsend' pieces of furniture as it's a lot easier to concentrate in communing with God if you are in a comfortable position. Perhaps you know this firsthand, and that's why you are on the market for a prayer bench.
Keep in mind that there are plenty of prayer benches to choose from, and each has its pros and cons. This makes the entire task of selecting the right one a bit trickier. To help clear things a bit, this article is going to be a prayer bench buying guide.
While it is true that there are prayer benches that are made from aluminum and high-grade plastic, wood is still the most common. Hence, it's best to focus on this material.
When it comes to a wooden prayer bench, your choices typically fall into chipboard, fiberboard, plywood, pine, beech, ash, oak, maple, walnut, and mahogany. Each of these varies in terms of quality.
The premium wood includes mahogany and walnut. These are the top-of-the-line as they offer maximum durability. They feature beautiful natural wood patterns as well. But, you have to keep in mind that these types of wood are often expensive.
On the other side of the spectrum are plywood, fiberboard, and chipboard. The advantage of these wood types is the low price. However, don't expect these kinds of wood to last very long and/or support too much weight.
Beech, ash, oak, and maple are on the middle part of the spectrum. They are cheaper when compared to premium wood, but they are also more durable than the low-end wood types.
A prayer bench typically includes a cushion to rest your knees. Some will have a cushion for elbows and/or arms. To make things simpler, you can categorize cushions in terms of primary purpose.
If you want something that is easy to care for and affordable, then you can go for polyester or cotton covers. While these types are economical, they don't offer maximum durability.
If you want something that has a resistance against wear and tear, then leather may be your best option. Keep in mind that leather is a relatively expensive material.
If the aesthetic appeal of the prayer bench is crucial to you, then you can go for silk or velvet cover.
It's rare to see a prayer bench that has not been treated with a finish. Hence, it's a good idea to know the type of finish used before buying anything. There are basically two types of wood finishes. There's the penetrating and the coating.
Varnish and lacquer are the most common examples of a coating finish. These types of finishes coat and sit on top of the wood. The advantage of a coating finish is it provides a thick coat for the wood. This seals the material and offers greater protection against the elements.
The common examples of a penetrating finish are oil, dye, and wax. Since these types of finishes penetrate wood, they do not offer a high level of protection. On the upside, they can make the material attractive and with a natural look.