How to Make a Room Look Like a Masonic Lodge

Tile the floor in the center of the room. This is where the ceremonies take place in a Masonic lodge, with seating around the perimeter of the room so everyone can view what's happening on the floor. Masonic lodges seat anywhere from 30 people to hundreds, so unless you have a very large room, use a light colored tile such as a classic black and white pattern. Tile a small square or rectangle, depending on the shape of the room, in the center of the floor and use wood flooring for the rest of the room, creating a border around the tiled area.

Use wooden paneling on the walls to create a rich, grand atmosphere. In a small room, limit the paneling to the bottom half of the walls and paint the top half with a light color to create a feeling of height and space. Add ready made pillars to the upper half of the walls for extra grandeur and paint them in the same light tones as the walls.

Position seating around the perimeter of the room on three sides. This can be anything from wooden dining room chairs to wooden benches. For a cozier, more homey feel, use small individual armchairs. This creates a comfortable space to meet with your book group, host neighborhood watch meetings, or simply relax with friends. Place cushions on wooden chairs or benches to add color and texture to the room.

Add a different, accent chair to the fourth side of the room. According to the website Sant Freemasons, the head of the Lodge -- known as the Worshipful Master -- sits at the eastern edge of the room. This chair is often positioned on a raised platform, and there are also specific chairs on two of the other sides of the room for principal officers. One feature chair is sufficient to represent this custom.

Place a coffee table in the center of the tiled area in the middle of the room. According to the website Edmund Masonic Lodge, in U.S. lodges, this is where an altar is positioned with the Bible or other holy book, referred to as the Volume of Sacred Law, placed on top. Unless you require an altar or podium for speaking, use a small table to represent the altar. In a lodge, three candles are placed in a triangular position around the altar; placing candles on your table will create a pleasing focal point upon entering the room.