Weathered

Chad Boak from Vaughn Forest Church in Montgomery, Alabama brings us this great rustic look. 

From Chad: Vaughn Forest Church makes a regular practice to update their stage design 3-4 times a year. A new design is normally introduced for Christmas, New Year, Easter, and toward the end of Summer. This set design recycled components from the Christmas set and was repurposed for Easter.

The concept for this new design uses old metal roofing, recycled wood, and painter’s light…fairly simple, right?

Each panel is 16 feet tall and 4 feet wide attached to a 2×2 wood frame on the back. The panels are connected by pieces of 2×4 painted black which is what the painter’s lights are secured to.

Rusted metal roofing and weathered wood panels were rescued or donated and cut into 4-foot wide segments at no cost. Volunteers then laid out the wood and metal in a planned “random” pattern with different sizes of wood and metal alternating.

All 10 panels were assembled in about two days using 100% volunteer help. Similar materials could be purchased at your local home improvement store and weathered yourself, though this would add time and cost to this project.

The old stage was struck on a Sunday afternoon after the morning worship service. The 10 panels were brought in and secured to each other by black 2×4 pieces. Above each panel, paracord was used to secure the panels to existing trussing above the stage. The panels were also bolted into the stage for extra safety and to keep them from moving.

Lighting was set up the next day by 2 people. A total of 36 painter’s can lights with Edison bulbs were installed in 4 rows, 4 high. They were installed in increments 3 feet apart starting at 15 feet high (1 foot down from the highest point, and 6 feet high at the lowest). All of these were connected together and each horizontal row was assigned a dimmer so that the rows could roll for a lighting effect up and down.

A par can light with a traditional 750-watt bulb was placed at the base of each panel to provide an uplight effect. All of these were wired together on one dimmer row and could be used in conjunction with the painter’s lights to fade in and out.

Total costs were $250-300 due to a majority of the materials being donated.

Additional pictures are available at https://flic.kr/s/aHskFQuHXF.

Chad Boak serves as Creative Pastor at Vaughn Forest Church.

Article by Vaughn Forest Church Communications Director, Brian Harris. (brian.harris@vaughnforest.com)

Building Rustic Stage Texture with Reclaimed Materials

Rustic stage designs work best when the materials carry real texture, and this design succeeds because it does not try to make new materials look old from a distance. The mix of rusted roofing, weathered boards, Edison lamps, and warm uplight gives the wall depth before any color is added. For churches working with a volunteer team, that matters because texture does some of the visual work that would otherwise require more fixtures, scenic painting, or complicated fabrication.

The 16-foot by 4-foot panel format is also a smart construction choice. Each panel can be built flat, staged off-site, and then moved into place as a repeatable unit. That keeps the build organized and lets different volunteers work on separate sections without needing to understand the entire scenic plan. When panels are this tall, the framing and attachment plan matter as much as the finished surface. A 2×2 frame keeps the pieces lighter, while black 2×4 connectors and overhead paracord add stability once the panels are installed.

For teams recreating this look, the key is planning the random pattern before fastening the materials. Lay the wood and metal out on the floor, step back, and check for accidental stripes or clumps of the same finish. Alternating wide and narrow boards with metal sections creates a more natural weathered rhythm. If donated metal has sharp edges, grind or fold those edges before installation, especially anywhere volunteers will lift, carry, or cable near the panels.

The lighting strategy is what keeps the wall from feeling flat. The painter lights provide a warm practical glow that fits the rustic material palette, while the par cans at the base add vertical movement and separation. Assigning each horizontal row of Edison bulbs to its own dimmer gives the lighting team simple control without needing pixel mapping or complex programming. Even a slow chase from bottom to top can make the structure feel alive during worship transitions.

Budget-wise, this is a strong example of designing around what the church already has access to. Donated roofing and wood kept the scenic cost low, but the design still feels intentional because the panels share a consistent size, clear rhythm, and repeatable lighting grid. If your church cannot source reclaimed material, new fence boards, pallet wood, corrugated roofing, or stained lauan strips can create a similar layered effect with predictable dimensions.

Related Designs

• In the Fields – A rustic environment that uses natural texture to support a sermon-series theme.
• Flourishing Life – See how repurposed materials can become a warm, dimensional worship backdrop.
• Transplanted Ranch – A ranch-inspired design with weathered surfaces and strong environmental character.
• Wrapped in Ceiling – Another modular-panel approach that turns simple repeated units into a full-stage look.
• Rise Up – A recent build that combines warm practical lighting with bold scenic structure.

Pro Tips for Rustic Church Stage Designs

Seal before hanging: Reclaimed wood and metal can bring dust, rust, splinters, and loose debris into the room. Brush everything down, remove sharp edges, and consider a clear matte sealer before the panels go on stage.

Build repeatable modules: Keep each panel the same outside dimension even if the surface materials vary. Consistent modules make transport, alignment, storage, and future reuse much easier for volunteer crews.

Separate scenic and structural fasteners: Use one fastening plan for the visible wood and metal, and a separate plan for the frame, panel-to-panel connections, and overhead safety support. That makes the design easier to inspect before services.

Test warmth on camera: Edison bulbs and amber uplight can look beautiful in the room but overly orange on video. Check the design through your livestream or IMAG cameras and adjust white balance or fixture intensity before the weekend.