Christmas Home

Drake McDonald from One Hope Church in Tuscaloosa, AL brings us this awesome Christmas setup.

Lead Pastor: “I want the Christmas set to feel like I’m walking into my living room on Christmas morning.”

From Drake: The fireplace was the first project we tackled. It’s constructed of cardboard moving boxes on a 1″x frame, with a front flat constructed from foamcore fastened to the front. The flat and the bottom boxes (the ‘legs’ of the fireplace) are covered in peel and stick white brick wallpaper.

Next came the bookshelves. We were originally planning to use a pair of photo backdrops we’d ordered, but when they arrived they were too small, and didn’t match the scale of the fireplace. So we cut them up, scanned, scaled and reprinted certain shelves of books (depending on the perspective), and taped them to white coroplast that we’d painted with a grey wash paint to match the perspective we were going for in the shelves.

Then we wrapped some boxes in various colors of wrapping paper, and topped them with bows we had from previous years’ sets. The trees we also already had from previous years. We decided we were only going to decorate one tree, and situated the others on the margins of the stage to make them look like “outside” trees. We elevated our main tree on a piece of portable stage we had sitting around, and added another stage piece to the front of our choir levels to make a bigger space for our living room furniture. The couch came from the executive pastor’s office; the chairs and table came from the lead pastor’s office.
The snowy forest graphics came from churchmotiongraphics.com, and I overlaid a window I found on canva pro (after cutting out the window panes), then added the “One Hope Christmas” graphic our communications coordinator had created to the middle window.

The cardboard fireplace construction demonstrates how effective stage design can be achieved with humble materials. Moving boxes are readily available and surprisingly sturdy when taped securely. The peel-and-stick brick wallpaper transforms the cardboard into a convincing fireplace facade. When working with cardboard structures, reinforce all seams with packing tape and consider adding internal bracing for taller pieces to prevent bowing or collapse.

The bookshelf solution shows creative problem-solving when purchased backdrops don’t work out. By scanning and scaling specific shelves, Drake achieved perfect perspective that matched the fireplace scale. The gray wash on coroplast created depth that flat printing alone couldn’t achieve. This technique of hand-painting over printed materials is a valuable skill for set designers working with limited budgets.

The “borrowed” furniture from offices is a common and smart practice in church stage design. Using real furniture creates authentic comfort that props can’t replicate. Just be sure to protect upholstery from candle wax, glitter, and other Christmas hazards with washable throws or sheets during services.

Related Designs

• Home for Christmas – Cozy living room Christmas setup with drywall panels and giant wreath
• Christmas in the City – Buckhead Church’s foam-core city skyline with over 12,000 CNC-cut windows
• Free Christmas Cheer – Budget-friendly Christmas stage design ideas
• 12 Strands of Christmas – Creative Christmas lighting design using string lights
• Stretch Fabric Options for Christmas – Versatile fabric backdrop ideas for holiday services

Pro Tips for Christmas Living Room Stage Design

Cardboard Construction: When building with cardboard, use heavy-duty shipping boxes rather than lightweight retail boxes. Double-wall cardboard provides the best structural integrity. Create internal supports using triangular cardboard braces or wooden dowels for pieces over 4 feet tall.

Scale Matching: Before ordering backdrops or printed materials, create a simple mockup using newspaper or butcher paper to verify scale. Tape the paper to your existing set pieces and view from the back of your worship space. This simple step prevents costly mistakes with printed materials.

Window Graphic Tips: When creating window views with graphics, ensure the perspective matches your stage angle. Graphics viewed from below should show more sky; graphics viewed straight on should be centered. The snowy forest view here works because it suggests a ground-level perspective looking into woods.

Furniture Protection: When borrowing office furniture for stage use, photograph everything before moving it. Document any existing wear or damage. Use furniture sliders when moving pieces to protect both the furniture and your floors. Return items promptly after Christmas services conclude.