Light up Your Life With Lanterns
Illuminate outdoor parties with pretty paper lanterns, or bring them inside to add a festive atmosphere to interiors
Susan Redman
December 26, 2015
Houzz Australia Editorial Staff; writer, author, dreamer.
Paper lanterns bring a joyous mood to outdoor entertaining, but they can be equally cheery suspended over a dining table for an indoor party. They’ll also add instant lift to decorating schemes in other rooms around your home, with minimal expense and effort. Whether you choose coloured or plain white lanterns, Chinese style or simple spheres, electric or solar-powered systems, or just a single pendant for a room, lanterns are guaranteed to light up your life at home.
Add oriental flair
Charming oriental-style lanterns in a paintbox of vibrant hues will add colour and interest to your garden. Chinese lanterns are slightly different from conventional ball-shaped lanterns, as they are shaped like a mandarin and feature a small tassel hanging from the base.
If you are fortunate enough to have a large tree in your garden with low and wide-spreading branches, you’ll find it easy to hang a line of lanterns, looping them from one branch to the next.
Charming oriental-style lanterns in a paintbox of vibrant hues will add colour and interest to your garden. Chinese lanterns are slightly different from conventional ball-shaped lanterns, as they are shaped like a mandarin and feature a small tassel hanging from the base.
If you are fortunate enough to have a large tree in your garden with low and wide-spreading branches, you’ll find it easy to hang a line of lanterns, looping them from one branch to the next.
Look up for festive fun
Small lanterns can bring a sense of wonder to a birthday party held indoors. To envelop party-goers in the celebratory atmosphere, reinforce the colour scheme of the table setting by choosing lanterns and streamers in the same shades. String them overhead for a unified look.
Summer party ideas
Small lanterns can bring a sense of wonder to a birthday party held indoors. To envelop party-goers in the celebratory atmosphere, reinforce the colour scheme of the table setting by choosing lanterns and streamers in the same shades. String them overhead for a unified look.
Summer party ideas
Set a stylish scene
Give your outdoor space a stylish makeover with a garden laced with plain white paper lanterns in various sizes. You will not only pull off a polished look for your evening soiree, but will also light up the night in an elegant fashion when darkness falls.
Update your outdoor lighting
Give your outdoor space a stylish makeover with a garden laced with plain white paper lanterns in various sizes. You will not only pull off a polished look for your evening soiree, but will also light up the night in an elegant fashion when darkness falls.
Update your outdoor lighting
Dare to decorate
Why should only parties and outdoor entertaining areas get to enjoy lovely lanterns? Bring a touch of razzle-dazzle indoors with a bright and eclectic selection of cylindrical lanterns. This dining room gets a bold pick-me-up with a selection of brightly coloured concertina lanterns, strung from a cross beam over the dining table.
Why should only parties and outdoor entertaining areas get to enjoy lovely lanterns? Bring a touch of razzle-dazzle indoors with a bright and eclectic selection of cylindrical lanterns. This dining room gets a bold pick-me-up with a selection of brightly coloured concertina lanterns, strung from a cross beam over the dining table.
Style up sleeping quarters
Create a heavenly haven in your bedroom by suspending fluffy white pompom-style lanterns above the bed. Sleepyheads will be forgiven for thinking they have been transported to a dreamy world when they awake and look up – cloud nine perhaps?
Create a heavenly haven in your bedroom by suspending fluffy white pompom-style lanterns above the bed. Sleepyheads will be forgiven for thinking they have been transported to a dreamy world when they awake and look up – cloud nine perhaps?
Wow with the wonderful
If you want to create a joyful atmosphere indoors, take the same approach when decorating your living room as you would with outdoor areas – hang an abundant collection of lanterns, suspending various shapes and sizes from the ceiling to run the full length of the room.
If you want to create a joyful atmosphere indoors, take the same approach when decorating your living room as you would with outdoor areas – hang an abundant collection of lanterns, suspending various shapes and sizes from the ceiling to run the full length of the room.
Play with pattern
Cluster your lanterns above a key piece of furniture, such as the sofa in this sitting room. Repeat the accent colours in the sofa upholstery, cushions and throws, as well as in the colours and patterns of the lanterns selected.
Cluster your lanterns above a key piece of furniture, such as the sofa in this sitting room. Repeat the accent colours in the sofa upholstery, cushions and throws, as well as in the colours and patterns of the lanterns selected.
Accessorise the pool area
Warm weather calls for days and nights spent outdoors, but why not stay out later with extra lighting that adds pizzazz to your pool area? As a lively detail, and a fun talking point, hang little lanterns over a lounge area, then you and your guests can kick back and relax under a string of simulated stars.
Warm weather calls for days and nights spent outdoors, but why not stay out later with extra lighting that adds pizzazz to your pool area? As a lively detail, and a fun talking point, hang little lanterns over a lounge area, then you and your guests can kick back and relax under a string of simulated stars.
Inspire with novelty
Hang a flotilla of multi-coloured and patterned lanterns above baby’s cot. As babies and toddlers are inquisitive creatures and like to discern a variety of colours and shapes, don’t spoil junior’s fun by limiting the colour, shape and size of the lanterns you choose. When decorating the nursery with lanterns, go bright and bold!
Hang a flotilla of multi-coloured and patterned lanterns above baby’s cot. As babies and toddlers are inquisitive creatures and like to discern a variety of colours and shapes, don’t spoil junior’s fun by limiting the colour, shape and size of the lanterns you choose. When decorating the nursery with lanterns, go bright and bold!
Feast with flying colours
When entertaining a large group outdoors, play up any colour scheme by stringing lanterns above the table in the same palette as your table decor. This tie-in gives a nod to formality for your dinner party proceedings, while still being merry and slightly frivolous.
Outdoor party planning
When entertaining a large group outdoors, play up any colour scheme by stringing lanterns above the table in the same palette as your table decor. This tie-in gives a nod to formality for your dinner party proceedings, while still being merry and slightly frivolous.
Outdoor party planning
Make a big statement
Want bold and budget-friendly statement lighting in your living room, that will work with most decorating schemes? Find the biggest paper lantern on the market and hang it as a central pendant. The dramatic effect of the one pictured here is made all the more stylish with a lantern that is the same shade as the walls and ceiling.
Want bold and budget-friendly statement lighting in your living room, that will work with most decorating schemes? Find the biggest paper lantern on the market and hang it as a central pendant. The dramatic effect of the one pictured here is made all the more stylish with a lantern that is the same shade as the walls and ceiling.
TELL US
Have you hung up lanterns at home to add a festive air to an outdoor area or room? Share your experience decorating with lanterns in the Comments.
MORE
Get Crafty: Make Your Own Stunning Designer Paper Lantern
Light Up: 10 Good Reasons to Use Outdoor Lighting
How to Host a Tea Party at Home
Have you hung up lanterns at home to add a festive air to an outdoor area or room? Share your experience decorating with lanterns in the Comments.
MORE
Get Crafty: Make Your Own Stunning Designer Paper Lantern
Light Up: 10 Good Reasons to Use Outdoor Lighting
How to Host a Tea Party at Home
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I just love those big round paper lanterns! The white ones remind me of the full moon & I'm a moon loving maniac! I used to always have those in rented accomodation when i was young as ni5t only were they beautiful but also cheap! I like the coloured ones too as they remind of little hot air balloons. Love what they've done with them over the bed in the pic above.