How to Use Lanterns in Your Fall Decor

Lanterns are such a great way to bring a little “cozy” to your autumn home. Not only can they be customized to reflect your individual style, but they allow you to celebrate the season without breaking the bank. The ability to change things up year after year makes the initial investment well worth it. With that in mind, I wanted to share a few ideas on how to use lanterns in your fall decor.

Candlelit Lanterns

Intended to be a vessel of light, I always find a way to illuminate my designs. Candles not only add light but also bring a certain warmth to any room.

I loved the look of this lantern last year so I decided to keep the same design with a few minor changes.

Since it sits on my coffee table, I wanted it to be pretty whether the candles were on or off. Adding leaves to the bottom brings in some pretty fall colors and the pine cones and pumpkins add interest as well. Using lanterns in your fall decor is just so easy!

Because my theme this year involves several black and white buffalo check accents, I changed the bow to coordinate.

Candlelit lanterns are also a great way to spruce up your outdoor spaces as well. I use battery operated candles with timers in my lanterns both inside and out. It is just so easy to keep your design looking good without having to turn your candles off and on. Outdoors, my candles are set to come on at dusk each evening and are such a welcoming sight coming up the walk.

While those made with real wax are great indoors or in a shaded area, on a warm fall day they will melt here in Colorado.

I use candles made specifically for the outdoors on my deck that is in full sun almost all day.

Creating a Lantern Scene

A big part of my love of lanterns is the versatility of them. They are pretty enough with just a candle or two but the possibilities are endless. A large enough lantern will give you the ability to create a fall scene that quickly becomes a conversation piece.

Last year, I used this one to show off a favorite fall accent. Being a bear collector, I thought this design placed in the entry was the perfect welcome!

Having found another use for my fall bear this year, I decided to build a scene around this adorable little truck instead. Using fall picks, I fashioned a tree for a backdrop.  I added a house, pumpkins, and a small candle to illuminate it in the evenings.

Fairy Lights to Illuminate

Using fairy lights to illuminate your lantern are another way to bring a cozy feel to your design. Most light sets come with a timer and the ability to use a “twinkle” setting for some added magic.

My newest lantern is in the shape of a church. To add some color, I used a few fall picks secured in the corner in a tiny pot. Winding the lights around the picks keeps them in place as well and is such a pretty sight on a brisk fall evening. A small sign here is the perfect reminder of what a little bit of faith can accomplish!

Speaking of fairy lights, my summer fairy lantern is always a favorite on the downstairs patio. We enjoy it all summer long and I’m never ready to put it away at the end of the season.

Last year, I realized that while the fairy plants needed to come inside with the cool fall temps, there was no need to put the lantern away so early. Replacing the fragile plants with mums and adding a few fall accents, we can enjoy it right up until the first snowfall!

A Gift of Light

While I honestly do not believe that you can ever have too many lanterns, this one does not belong to me. It is a gift I put together for a neighbor and a friend who has always been there for us through the years. I wanted to surprise him with a special “thank you.”

I found this rustic lantern on a shopping trip and thought it would be perfect for him. Unlike me, he has a large covered front porch so there was no need to worry about the lantern contents. While I am limited to things that will hold up in inclement weather, the sky was the limit on this one.

I knew he liked the Harvest Trees that I had made earlier this season, so I decided to make another but on a grander scale. This lantern is quite large and the trees I’ve made so far would be dwarfed inside. I also wanted to add a little whimsy with some scarecrows.

This larger version worked and I think he will be happy!

Although he is too modest to admit it, he is blessed with a true artist’s eye so I know he will find a creative use of the lantern when this season ends.

Design Your Own Fall Lantern

I’m so glad you stopped by today and I hope this post will inspire you to design a fall lantern of your own. The Create the Look section of the blog is intended to help you do just that. There are links to some of my favorite lanterns and several more with accents and special touches to make it a one of a kind.

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