Easter Boxes

Ashley Garrett from New Life Church in Springfield, MO brings us these awesome squares.

From Ashley: We filled our back stage wall with 50 LED lit coroplast squares. Every 2 squares were lit with one 16′ LED strip that we stuck in J channel. We found that spending a bit more helped greatly in the look of each square. We sandwiched the J channel between one white coroplast and one semi-transparent one. We tried using small screws, but that was tedious, so we just used hot glue and it held really well.

Each square was 2×2. We built a frame first with 2x4s as the base and 1x2s in front to mount squares on and painted it black. This way, our wall would only have 9 holes in it from the 2x4s instead of 100 holes or more from the squares themselves.

Each set of 2 squares was wired with 5 wire with small wire nuts and then run to one of 4 DMX decoders. We had a power supply for each of these that we used basic lamp cording to extend the reach. I covered the LED strips and wires with black electrical tape and you can’t see it at all from the auditorium.

We spent about $1500 in total for everything for this design. The frame is something we can use in the future for easier installment of new designs.

Understanding the Easter Boxes Design

This innovative stage design demonstrates how geometric shapes and creative lighting can transform a worship space for Easter celebrations. The modular square approach offers several advantages over traditional backdrop designs, particularly for churches seeking versatility and reusability in their stage elements.

The combination of opaque and semi-transparent coroplast creates visual depth and interest. When illuminated from within by LED strips, the squares produce a soft, glowing effect that can be adjusted through DMX controls to match different moments in the worship service—from subtle white light during prayer to dynamic colors during celebration songs.

The 2×2 foot module size strikes an ideal balance between visual impact and practical handling. These dimensions make the squares manageable for volunteers to transport and install while creating enough surface area to make a statement when assembled en masse. The grid pattern that emerges from arranging 50 squares creates a modern, clean aesthetic that complements contemporary worship styles.

Beyond Easter, this design framework adapts easily to other seasons and themes. The coroplast squares can be replaced with different materials—fabric for softer looks, wood for rustic themes, or metallic panels for dramatic effect—while the frame and lighting infrastructure remain constant. This adaptability maximizes the return on the initial $1500 investment.

Pro Tips for LED Panel Installations

Plan Your Power Distribution: Before construction, map out exactly how power will flow to each section. Calculate total wattage to ensure your power supplies are adequately sized. It’s better to have slightly more capacity than to overload your system, which can cause flickering or premature LED failure.

Invest in Quality DMX Controllers: While budget options exist, reliable DMX decoders ensure consistent performance service after service. Cheap controllers can create frustrating synchronization issues or limit your programming options. Consider this component an investment in reliability.

Test Before Final Assembly: Wire and test each LED strip before attaching it to the coroplast squares. It’s much easier to troubleshoot connections on a workbench than when everything is mounted and partially hidden. This step saves hours of frustration during installation.

Create a Maintenance Plan: LED strips have a long lifespan but can fail individually. Document your wiring clearly and store spare strips and connectors. Label each square on the back so you can quickly identify which module needs attention if issues arise.

Related Designs

Explore these modern geometric designs that use similar principles of modular construction and creative lighting:

• Decorate Church for Easter: Step-by-Step – Comprehensive guide for modern Easter decor
• Complete Guide to Easter Church Decorations – Planning resource with budget tips
• Stunning Easter Decor Ideas – Recent inspiring examples
• Honeycomb Easter – Another geometric paper-based design
• Cross of Easter Lilies – Floral geometric approach using truss structures

These designs showcase how churches can create contemporary worship environments that engage modern congregations while honoring traditional Easter themes.

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