How To Decorate With Lanterns – Tips And Ideas
Lanterns are an essential part of any well-rounded home decor collection. Whether you’re looking to create a cozy corner with a soft glow or add a decorative touch to an empty corner, lanterns are a great option.
Their ability to blend functionality with style makes them a go-to accessory for many home decorators.
I have a particular fondness for decorating with lanterns! Whether I’m arranging a display for a specific season or simply adding a touch of charm to a room, they never disappoint.
Over the years, I’ve experimented with lanterns of all shapes, sizes, and colors, and I always find new ways to incorporate them into my decor.
And because of the availability of such a wide range of styles, I’ve had no trouble finding lanterns to fit with my style, no matter how much it changed over time.
Whether you’re on a budget or looking to splurge, there’s a lantern out there for you.
I don’t see them going out of style anytime soon—they’re a staple in the world of home decor for a reason!
Let me show you some of that ways that I’ve used them around my home and hopefully give you some ideas for yours.
Lanterns are fun to decorate seasonally as well as for everyday looks.
Lately, I’ve been enjoying the simplicity of these fun pagoda shaped lanterns paired with a gorgeous display of hydrangeas.
Open lanterns are the best for filling with a variety of items centered around a season or holiday.
Talk about versatility and using your imagination! Let’s start out with one of my most favorite diy projects at the time I was embracing farmhouse style.
To recreate the look, use my easy formula to stain a board to look like driftwood, add a plant hook to it, and hang your lantern.
For an added touch, attach a wire hanging folder basket below the lantern. They are lots of fun to decorate seasonally.
The simple white battery operated candles in these lanterns give off a nice glow and give the whole room great ambiance at night.
We all crave coziness and hominess at the holidays, so lanterns are a perfect fit to add to your Christmas decor.
A piece of ribbon and a sprig of greenery is all it takes to dress your lantern so that it fits in, no matter your theme.
What’s better than decorating a lantern with a single white candle? How about a whole trio of them!
I love, love, love using over-sized lanterns. They’re great displayed on the floor, on your porch, in the center of a table – any place that you want to make a real statement.
If white candles look a little too plain inside your lantern, wrapping them with twine will add interest and texture.
Here’s another example of what a great statement you can make by using over-sized lanterns. The Christmas decorations in my friend’s foyer certainly wouldn’t be quite as dramatic without the large lanterns.
Notice that the placement of the lanterns, both on one end of the console table, reinforces the angle of her stairway.
Here’s another statement-making idea. When you’re setting a table just for looks, look at all of the drama that the use of large lanterns adds to a small table.
Lanterns aren’t just for candles either. What can you fill lanterns with besides candles? Well….anything! Candles are easy, but you can do so much more with them.
I love to pull all sorts of items together to create seasonal displays! It doesn’t have to be complicated though – just gather whatever goodies you have stashed away and combine them together in your lantern.
As a centerpiece for an Easter tablescape, I filled a pair of large open lanterns with a mix of decorations geared towards the holiday. The tablescape itself, was pretty simple, but the addition of the lanterns gave it drama.
Even Uncle Sam got into the act in a lantern that acted as a centerpiece on a table that I set for July 4th on our screened porch.
One more idea is to put a lantern within a lantern. The lanterns that you already own may be silver, black, wood or white, but this is a great way to add a pop of color and tie them in with the rest of your decor.
Call attention to a lantern by displaying it in an unexpected way, such as how I placed this lantern inside of a crate on my fireplace hearth.
I think the overall effect is much more eye-catching and appealing than the display would have been with just the lantern alone.
At Christmas, fill large lanterns with a grouping of miniature Christmas trees.
One spring, when I had farmhouse decor and shelves in my breakfast area, I filled a large square lantern with a stack of plates, a pretty blue bowl and faux succulents.
So far, I’ve only talked about decorating with lanterns indoors, but they’re for outdoor use too!
One year, I used lanterns in another unexpected way on my fall front porch.
I started off by flanking my front door with a pair of black urns filled with wire lanterns and a fall colored candle, then added a grapevine wreath with a few fall picks tucked in. This idea was a huge hit with all of you!
Here’s another over-sized lantern that’s displayed on a deck outside filled with decorations that reinforce the outdoor vibe – a mossy branch, a bird and a potted plant.
These are just a few of the many ways that I love to decorate with lanterns! Have I made a believer out of you yet? Gather up a lantern or ten and have some fun!
Thanks for sharing. I love lanterns!! But I only have one….I know!! They are definitely on my list of items to get. I NEED more!
Hi Kim. There’s no such thing as too many lanterns. Or pillows! 😀
You have created some wonderful displays with your lanterns! I love the hanging wall ones. I just started a new blog and would love it if you came to check it out! Here is the link.
http://www.enjoyingthesimplethings.com
Thank you, Penny. Congrats on starting a blog! I’ll be sure to visit.
You have the best design posts! Can you tell me where you got the candlesticks in the first picture? Great post! Thanks for linking up for the Best of the Blogosphere Linky party!
Thank you so much, Chelsee! Those candlesticks are old ones that I already had. They used to be red, gold and green. I spray painted them gray paint and then applied a coat of Minwax Special Walnut stain to them and allowed that to dry.
Love these! The last four were my favorite! Large lanterns are awesome because you can do so much with them!
Kate | The Organized Dream
Thank you so much, Kate. I totally agree with you about large lanterns – they can be too fun!
I agree there is no such thing as having too many lanterns and I’m always looking for another! Hobby Lobby always has a great selection and their prices are so reasonable. I love the vignette you did for Christmas. Will have to tuck that away for future reference ; )
HI Cricket. You’re right – Hobby Lobby does have a great selection and they’re forever putting them on sale for 50% off!
Lanterns are such a lovely decor piece! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Blessings,
Edye | http://gracefulcoffee.wordpress.com
Glad to meet a fellow lantern lover, Edye!
They are all so pretty that I don’t know which one I like best! Each one lends a differently “feeling” to the space. Going to use some of your ideas for my tablescapes. Thanks for the great post!
So glad you found some inspiration, Carole!
I love your lantern ideas, pinned several to my ‘Home’ board. Love the squirrel, he looks rather desperate trying to get inside!
Roxann
That’s too funny, Roxann. I never noticed that, but you’re right – that squirrel looks pretty desperate. Must be an acorn hidden in there!
Suzy I am partial to lanterns too, and adore your ideas. I’ve often presented friends with a bouquet in a lantern, and they’re always well received as well. Love, Mimi xxx
Hi Mimi. What a great idea for a bouquet! I know that I’d certainly love to receive something like that.
I love lanterns too and you have given me some great ideas. Thanks for sharing,
Bev
Glad you found some inspiration, Beverly!
Great inspiration! I love decorating wit lanterns and use them for every season as well. Thank you for sharing on Family Joy Blog Link-Up Party. Hope you are having a great week!
I love these lanterns Suzy! They really are the prefect adornment to so many spots. I actually have one hanging from a hook in the ceiling in my seaside themed bathroom. It makes me smile every time I go in there 😉 Thanks so much for linking these up to our Bewitchin’ Projects Block Party this week. I always dropping by to see what you’ve been up to 😉 Hugs, Lisa
These are all lovely ideas for decorating with lanterns. I have several lanterns and I’m always looking for new ways to use them. Thanks for the inspiration and for sharing at Snickerdoodle Sunday. Pinning.
I love the look of lanterns! These are all so beautiful! 🙂 Thank you for sharing with us at the #HomeMattersParty
These are so beautiful! I pinned your post to my Home Decor board. Thank you so much for participating in the Get It Together Link Party this past week! Hopefully you’ll join us again!
Hi! Thank you for all the beautiful lantern ideas! I LOVE your pig that is encircled in a wreath on the wall at your breakfast nook. Can you tell me where you found the pig?
Hi Shell. I love Mr. Pig too! You can purchase a pig head like mine at this link: http://www.antiquefarmhouse.com/pig-head-wall-mount.html
I love lanterns too! thanks for the great ideas for using them in my home!
I’m having a 70 th birthday party for my husband and I’m using lanterns for decorations. They will be setting on a slab of wood. I’m wondering if that will be enough or should I use greenery, bows etc.? Any ideas? Help! Thank you.
Hi Wanda. So sorry for the delay in replaying! I’m having some technical issues when it comes to being notified of new comments. I assume you’re asking about whether or not you need to add anything to the handles or tops of the lanterns??? If that’s correct, I think it would be a good place to add something that ties in with the rest of your table decorations. You could always give it a try and then remove the decoration if you think it’s too fussy. 🙂
I like how you said that placing white candles in lanterns may be simple, but that doesn’t make it boring. My husband and I want to find some classy ways to decorate our yard before our garden party this weekend. I’m glad I read your article because I think buying some lanterns and adding simplistic decorations will create just the effect we’re looking for.
Thanks so much, Suzy, I’ve used your ideas so many times – you always surprise me and these lantern ideas are certainly no exception! Are the open lanterns (in your first picture) available for purchase? They are so unique – I really love them!
Hi Patty. I purchased the lanterns from Amazon, but I’m sorry to say they aren’t currently available. I contacted the manufacturer and was told more would be available in July. Here’s the Amazon link, if you want to keep an eye out: https://rstyle.me/+TJrs5HRZwBjZr-dHxDS3Mg
Thanks, Suzy. I love your blog – your home is so lovely – the screened-in porch makes me want to come for a visit 🙂 We are kind of neighbors as we live in Winston Salem, NC!
We are neighbors! 😀
Hi Suzy……where can I purchase the open lanterns shown in your Easter table decor?
Thanks,
Hi Susan. I purchased them from Amazon, but they’re no longer available. 🙁