How to Highlight Church Stained Glass Windows
Church stained glass windows often involve months or even years of labor. You'll want to show off the fine craftsmanship. These windows might even be what initially attracts someone to the building. Some adventurous homeowners are even converting old churches into homes. These windows often depict scenes from scripture or nature. Stained glass windows bring in bright colors while keeping with tradition. Here is how to highlight church stained glass windows.
Instructions
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Highlight Church Stained Glass Windows
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Orient the service around the church stained glass window. Of course, the sermon should be the focal point of the religious service. Many people are visually minded and can concentrate better if they have something to look at. Change the positioning of the room so the preacher is in front of the window. This has a dramatic effect. Plus, this way people won't be craning their necks to look at the intricate window designs.
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Light it up. Many more modern churches might not be able to afford a stained glass window. They will often use faux panels illuminated from behind. This is a way to brighten up a basement that might not have a lot of natural light. If you are lucky enough to have actual stained glass in your church, show it off. Having an electrician install lighting can be expensive. Try placing uplights underneath the windows. This way you will highlight the church stained glass windows at evening services too.
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Let it stand out. You might be tempted to take your wall color from the church stained glass window. These are inspirational pieces that often have bright yellows, reds and blues. If you paint your entire interior this color, it might seem overwhelming. It probably won't be appealing to all of your patrons. The paint color might overpower the stained glass window. Instead, paint the walls a neutral color. This can be any color from beige, brown, tan or pale yellow. For a particularly dramatic effect, try painting the wall with several coats of black paint. This way the stained glass will really pop because it will be the only color on the wall. The glass will almost glow.
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Repeat the elements from the stained glass window. This lends it more importance and gives continuity throughout the space. If it's a nature scene, try turning a leaf into a logo for your church. You can have it printed on stationary and even your weekly programs.
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Protect your stained glass window. Depending on the age of the building, it might have been around for a long time. You'll need to keep the window safe from vandalism, natural disasters and even the sun. You can do this by having professionals provide a protective coating. They might even place a storm window over your stained glass to make it more secure.
Add a Church Stained Glass Window
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Create your own church stained glass windows. Stained glass seems to be a standard focal point for many churches. You might just be renting a space or even using a school. The church can seem empty without this added detail. Try making your own stained glass window inexpensively. You can do this with a bottle of liquid leading and some glass paint. This isn't permanent, but you can leave it up for as long as you like. If this is your first project, keep things simple. This will look cleaner and more professional. You might try painting large squares or even a simple cross.
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Map out the design you want to use on your window. You can even tape a printed out pattern on the outside of the window. Trace along the lines with a bottle of liquid leading.You can also buy self adhesive leading strips if you don't have a steady hand. If you are worried about your window becoming permanently stained, cut a piece of plexi glass to fit in your window. This makes for easy removal. Let the liquid leading dry.
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Fill in each square with a different color of glass paint.
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Hang an existing stained glass window. You can find stained glass windows at garage sales and salvage yards. When you see a historic house being demolished, ask if you can take the windows. Be aware that these windows are probably more architectural in theme. Hang these from chains in front of the existing windows. Light will still stream through the room, and it's a trick that is often used by interior designers. They might not depict a scripture, but it will add personality to the space.
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Tips & Warnings
One of the easiest & cheapest ways to highlight church stained glass windows is to give them a good cleaning. This will remove years of dirt, and make them appear like new.
Resources
- Photo Credit Elfineer
