Decorating With Lanterns in 3 Simple Steps
Curate your space with a lantern or two.
Lanterns are great for making a statement and they're versatile enough that you can use them year-round. Curious about how you can use lanterns in your space? We've put together tips for determining the ideal lantern material and size for your home, as well as ideas for filling and placing your lanterns. Keep reading below for our lantern ideas for indoors and outside.
Step 1: Determine Your Ideal Material & Size
Before you can start decorating with lanterns it's important to consider the materials and sizes you can work into your design.
Lantern Materials:
The style of the lantern you choose will set the foundation for your overall decor. If you're looking to keep it contemporary, choose an metal lantern. If traditional style is more your thing, a wooden lantern would be just right. For a coastal or boho-inspired look, you might want to stick to a ceramic lantern or perhaps a glass lantern. Just be advised that these more fragile lanterns should be kept indoors if possible.
Lantern Sizes:
Keep the size of your lantern in mind while planning your lantern decor. A very tall lantern on a dining table might make it hard for guests to hold a conversation, whereas a much smaller lantern placed on the floor on its own might look out of place. To add texture, mix and match various sizes of lanterns as you cluster them together.
Decorating with anterns gives you the chance to get playful while tidily curating the small items you have around the house. Be inspired by a few of our top lantern decor ideas below.
Candles: Candles are probably the most quintessential lantern-filler – and for a good reason. The many glass angles of a lantern create a nice glow wherever you place them, especially if they sit near a wall or in a corner. To make decorating with candles easy, place a bit of sand in the bottom of the lantern and add a pillar candle. To make it even easier, use battery-operated candles.
Hemp Rope or Wood Beads: Keep it simple with a low-lift addition to your lantern. A bit of nautical hemp rope or a string of wood beads can make a statement. Curl the rope or beads up in a way that doesn't look too neat – a bit of untidiness will create more texture.
Pebbles or Glass Beads: Add colour to lantern decor by filling the lantern with ceramic pebbles or glass beads. These come in a variety of shades so you can swap the colours around as the seasons change. Pebbles and beads can both make a nice base for propping a pillar candle up if you need to add some extra light.
Natural Elements: For a whimsical, outdoorsy touch, consider decorating with lanterns filled with elements from outside. Take a coastal approach and use sand, seashells and starfish. Or make it rustic with pinecones and faux moss.
Terrarium: Fill a lantern with succulents or air plants. Place your lantern somewhere where it can get lots of light. Spritz the plants with water rather than pouring it directly into the lantern. If you don't have the greenest thumb, make it easy with artificial plants or flowers.
Seasonal: Decorating with lanterns can be extra special around the festive period and as the seasons change. In autumn, fill your lantern with faux cobwebs or mini pumpkins. During the cooler months, try filling your lanterns with cranberries, fake snow or ornaments to create your own mini winter wonderland. For spring, use moss and decorative eggs. And in the summer try out the coastal look with sand, shells and sea glass.
Step 3: Lantern Placement Inspiration
Once you've determined your lantern's material, size and what to place inside, the last step to decorating with lanterns is finding the perfect spot for it.
Light Up the Patio: Outdoor lantern ideas are one of our most preferred ways to create a cosy atmosphere. Place a few lanterns around your patio to create warmth without attracting the bugs overhead lighting tends to bring in.
Warm Up the Front Door: Similar to the patio, we also love to place lanterns around the front door. It creates a rustic welcome for guests and illuminates the pathway so you can easily find your keys.
Brighten Mealtime: A few small lanterns placed on the dining table can create a peaceful mealtime aesthetic. Whether you're hosting friends for a wine tasting or want to make a weeknight feel special, lanterns are just the right thing for adding ambience. Just make sure to check the height before purchasing a lantern for the table; something too tall will obstruct your eyesight.
Add to a Bookcase: A bookcase is a clever spot to add a lantern or two. They're sturdy enough to use as bookends but also act as decor. You can also place a couple of lanterns on top of the bookcase to create some height.
In a Vignette: Use a lantern as part of a vignette by setting one on a decorative tray. Place your tray on a coffee table to hold remotes and decor or keep it on the surface in a powder room along with bowls of bathroom necessities.
On a Console Table or Surface: A single lantern or a few in different sizes can add a bit of oomph to a coffee table, sideboard or bar cart. We love how these surfaces can give a large lantern the space to make a statement of its own, or you can create a scene with a few.
