Frosty Windows

Greg Saffles at Long Hollow Baptist Church in Hendersonville, TN brings us this Christmas goodness.

The idea was to create an outdoor winter scene – hence the white trees outside of the windows. The design itself was fairly simple – they went out to some woods behind the church, cut down a few moderately sized trees, and painted them white with a Wagner power sprayer. Then they took each tree and supported it using cement in a one-gallon paint bucket. The windows were hung from one another using airline cable and were arranged in a curve to make the stage appear smaller. To complete the winter effect on the windows, they took some cheap fake snow from Walmart and frosted the bottoms of them. The trees were lit using Source 4 PAR cans and the windows with Source 4 Ellipsoidals. A general blue/purple wash was also created to give the appearance of a “cooler” atmosphere.

Creating a Winter Wonderland Stage Atmosphere

This enchanting Christmas stage design from Long Hollow Baptist Church demonstrates how simple natural elements can transform a worship space into an immersive winter wonderland. The genius of this approach lies in its accessibility—churches of any size or budget can achieve similar results using materials readily available in their own communities. By bringing the outdoors inside, the design creates an immediate visual connection to the winter season while maintaining the warmth and intimacy essential for meaningful worship experiences.

The white-painted tree technique offers several practical advantages beyond its aesthetic appeal. Fresh-cut trees provide organic shapes and natural variation that manufactured stage elements simply cannot replicate. Each branch has its own unique character, creating visual interest from every angle in the sanctuary. The Wagner power sprayer application ensures even, efficient coverage that would be difficult to achieve with hand-painting, while the glossy white finish reflects stage lighting beautifully, amplifying the impact of your lighting design.

The window frame arrangement adds architectural depth and creates the illusion of looking out onto a winter landscape. By curving the window arrangement, the designers cleverly manipulate perspective, making the stage feel more intimate and drawing the congregation’s focus toward the center. This technique works particularly well in larger auditoriums where creating a sense of closeness can be challenging. The frosted window bottoms using inexpensive fake snow add that perfect finishing touch that sells the winter illusion without requiring expensive materials or complex techniques.

Lighting plays a crucial role in bringing this design to life. The Source 4 PAR cans and Ellipsoidals provide focused, controllable illumination that highlights the texture of the painted branches and the frosted window details. The blue-purple wash creates the psychological sensation of cold winter air, demonstrating how color temperature affects emotional response. This cooler palette contrasts beautifully with the warmth of candlelight or warmer accent lighting used during communion or intimate worship moments.

For churches considering this design approach, timing is everything. Fresh-cut trees will maintain their appearance throughout the Christmas season but should be installed as close to your first service as practical. Consider working with local tree farms or landscaping companies who may donate or discount materials for church use. The cement bucket support system shown here is both stable and removable, allowing for easy setup and teardown without permanent stage modifications.

Related Designs

• Cool Cold – Ryan Dezwaan from The House church creates a similar winter atmosphere using spray-painted tree branches with glossy white paint that reflects light beautifully.
• Bay Windows – Mike Gerrells from Mission Hills demonstrates creative window frame usage with LED wall integration for contemporary worship spaces.
• Mountains of Sound – The Grove Community Church uses projection mapping on foam pieces to create versatile scenic elements that transform with lighting.
• Walkin’ on Sunshine – Trinity Bible Church incorporates LED tape on walking surfaces for dynamic illuminated pathways that enhance the worship experience.
• Stained Glass Everywhere! – Philip Meadows creates stunning faux stained glass panels using vinyl and cellophane for colorful backlit stage elements.

Pro Tips for Winter Stage Designs

Tree Selection and Prep: Choose trees with interesting branch structures and minimal loose needles. Remove any dead or weak branches before painting to prevent shedding during services. Allow painted trees to dry completely in a well-ventilated area before bringing them into your sanctuary—paint fumes can be overwhelming in enclosed spaces.

Secure Your Supports: The one-gallon paint bucket with cement method works well, but ensure buckets are heavy enough to prevent tipping. For taller trees, consider using wider bases or adding additional weight. Test stability by gently pushing on the tree from various angles—if it wobbles, add more ballast before service.

Lighting for White Elements: White painted trees act as natural reflectors, which means they can appear blown out under bright lighting. Use dimmable fixtures and experiment with lower intensity settings to maintain detail and texture. Gobo patterns projected onto white trees create interesting shadow effects that add depth to your design.

Storage and Reuse: While fresh trees won’t last indefinitely, quality artificial alternatives can be stored and reused year after year. Look for high-quality flocked artificial trees during post-holiday sales, or preserve your painted branches by sealing them with clear acrylic spray. Document your setup with photos to make next year’s installation faster and easier.