James Felver and Micah Jacobsen from Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas brings us this PVC pipe stage design. (originally posted August 2016)
They used around 1000 feet of PVC pipe. Uplights were Blizzards and Colorado Tours. Each pipe needed a few coats of flat white spray paint. They used stage tieline to suspend the pipes from each other.
Building a Patterned PVC Stage Backdrop
This suspended PVC pipe design creates an elegant, dimensional backdrop that transforms an ordinary church stage into a professional worship environment. The hanging pipe arrangement allows air and light to flow through while providing visual structure that frames your worship team beautifully.
The construction process begins with precise measurements. Church of the Resurrection used approximately 1000 feet of PVC pipe cut into various lengths to create the cascading pattern. The pipes were suspended using stage tieline—a strong, thin rope commonly used in theater applications—which was threaded through small holes drilled near the top of each pipe section.
Paint preparation is crucial for this design. Standard PVC pipe comes with manufacturer markings and a slightly glossy finish that doesn’t photograph well under stage lighting. The team applied multiple coats of flat white spray paint to create a uniform, matte surface that reflects light evenly. This step requires patience—each coat needs proper drying time, and you’ll need to paint all sides of the pipes for consistent color.
The hanging pattern creates depth through careful spacing. Columns of pipes hang at different heights, creating a rhythmic visual that draws the eye across the stage. LED uplights positioned at the base of the installation wash the pipes with color, and the gaps between pipes allow the light to create interesting shadow patterns on the wall behind.
This design is particularly effective for churches that need a temporary installation since the entire backdrop can be taken down and stored flat when not in use. The total project cost typically runs $250-400 depending on pipe diameter chosen—2-inch PVC provides the best visual impact while remaining lightweight enough to hang safely.
Related Designs
- What’s the Pipe Pattern? – A wall-mounted PVC pattern using graduated pipe lengths for geometric visual interest
- Hanging Pipes – Similar suspended PVC design using paracord for a clean, minimal look
- PVC Pipe Organ – Vertical PVC installation creating height and visual drama
- Geometric Suspension – Mixed material hanging elements for modern stage design
- Vertical Hanging Panels – Alternative suspended backdrop using lightweight panels
Pro Tips for Patterned PVC Installations
Choose the Right Hanging Method: Stage tieline is the professional choice for suspending PVC pipes, but paracord works well for lighter installations. Whatever you choose, ensure it’s rated for at least three times the weight of your pipes. Safety cables as a backup are essential when hanging anything above people.
Paint in Batches: Painting 1000 feet of PVC pipe takes time. Set up a painting station with sawhorses or PVC supports that let you rotate pipes easily. Paint one side, let it dry, then rotate and paint the next. Rushing this step leads to drips and uneven coverage that shows up under stage lights.
Plan Your Spacing: Before hanging anything, lay out your pattern on the floor. The visual density of this design depends on how closely you space the pipes. Church of the Resurrection found that roughly 12 inches between columns created the right balance between openness and visual presence.
Secure Your Anchor Points: PVC pipes are lighter than they look, but 1000 feet adds up. Make sure your ceiling anchors or truss attachment points are properly rated for the load. If you’re unsure, consult a rigger or structural engineer—it’s not worth the risk to guess.
Love how that looks. Is that 2″ PVC?
2″ PVC and 1 1/2″ PVC! Thanks!
How many pieces did you buy of each?
What did you use to tie the PVC pipes together?
We used Tie Line. It’s commonly used by production folks to secure cables to box truss or safely rig. We tucked the knot inside the pipe and were able to untie and make height adjustments if necessary. We purchased a 3000 ft spool similar to the one in the link below.
http://www.rosebrand.com/shop/product.aspx?id=506
Awesome! Thanks so much for your details. Such a great idea that looks pretty slick as well!
If it’s written here somewhere, I can’t find it. How much was all the PVC piping?
Hi Bob, It was about 7-800 or so
What kind/brand of paint did you use and did you do any prep to the pvc? I know PVC is almost impossible to get paint to stick to.
What kind/brand of paint did you use and did you do any prep to the pvc? I know PVC is almost impossible to get paint to stick to.
Hi Ryan. All of the PVC I bought from home depot had writing down the side so I had to cover it. I wiped each pipe with some shop towels. I also covered each piece of PVC with at least one quick coat of Flat White so the would not be as reflective. The Paint had no problem sticking, it was also sitting out in the Sun at about 95 degrees, so it didn’t take long to dry. Sorry for taking so long to get back to you, I forgot to select “notify me of follow up comment” (My first time using the site!) thanks – Micah
What was the purpose of painting the PVC? Its already white? I assume it has something to do with how the light responds to the PVC.
That and the writing and stripe from the mfg on it.
Hi Craig! I had to cover up the black lettering that’s printed down each pipe. I wiped it first with shop towels to clean them and prep them. Thanks! – Micah
Hey, Micah. Looks great! Was there a system that you used in how far apart your rows were?
That looks amazing!
Love this! We want to do this on our ceiling. How did you hang them?
TY – we used stage tieline
I suggest a 3-4″ screw
What do you use and how to light up the pipes?
We use Chauvet Color Strip lights. They aren’t very expensive and worked great! You can buy them at Guitarcenter.com
Dewey these are Coloroda Tours
Hello,
I am from a portable church in California. From your knowledge of the weight of this, if we used a frame, what kind of material would you recommend?
Hi, loved the design and how it brightens the stage!
Just wanted to ask, you suspended spray painted PVC pipes using Tie Line, and then placed an LED light just below them to make them light up? Please reply asap, thanks!
Hi! Micah here: yes, that’s exactly what we did. We Used flat white spray paint because we didn’t want the PVC too glossy and reflective, also to cover up and imperfections and lettering! We made the know inside the pipe, to hide excess string in case we needed to raise and lower each pipe. Apologies on the delay replying
Vamos fazer isso em um auditorio em nossa igreja no Brasil
amei é muito facil e creio que ficara lindo!
Could someone please tell me how many inches between each pipe?
Probably about a foot? Something like that – sorry for the delay in the response – this website doesn’t alert me
What is the length between the pipes?
How did you connect the tie line to the ceiling ?
We are looking at doing the same thing but were amazed at the cost. So, you have 1 foot between pipes ? What do you think the effect would be if we ripped pipes in half with a table saw, and then hung them ?
Thanks for the how-to !
The other idea we had was to not cut and stagger but wrap them in gaffe or electrical tape to give the illusion of blank space…
Also, considering lighting from behind with LED Tape…
What length did you cut the PVC down to? I’m guessing you bought 10 foot sticks.
How did you light the pipes?
Hello! I am Brazilian, I live in the city of Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais. I would like to know if there is a led light inside the pipes and what type of rope you used to hang the pipes. And how did you hang them from the top, what kind of material did you use to get them stuck in the ceiling. And the panel you used hanging in the center of the stage, what kind of material you used. Another thing, to use different colors the pipes used what kind of light?
Please how much is the price of it, and where can i get it
Please, can I get someone to help with this? Trying to do something like this for my church
Hello Micah. Am from Nigeria. I must say this is great. Pls can you share a video that explains this? Or you can share with us your the link to your YouTube channel, if there’s. I would be glad to watch.
Thanks.
hey! this is AMAZING! Im currently trying to put this together for my church. Our main concern is unwanted movement of the pipes. Is there any movement from the air conditioning or passer-bys? Anything else I/we should know going into this build?
I’m assuming this is the old sanctuary? Is the one in the Easte building or the “temporary one” in the building built in 2003?
Thanks
Hi! Great design. Working on putting together something similar. How far apart were the columns from one another? I know it has been a while since you put this up, and it is probably different now. But if you remembered the spacing, that would be awesome.
Hi! I am a worship pastor at a church looking to incorporate a new stage design! I was curious how much this whole project cost. Thank you!