10 Cozy Ways to Decorate with Lanterns

Decorate with lantern ideas for your home decor and holiday decor. Lanterns are great to decorate with for holidays like fall and Christmas. And they are a perfect piece to use when accessorizing your home. Here are some of my favorite lanterns and a little more about how to decorate with them.

Using lanterns as a part of your decorations is an easy way to add height to your designs. There are so many different styles of lanterns from rustic to modern. Here are different decorate with lantern ideas along with how I styled mine for different holidays.

DECORATE WITH LANTERNS IDEAS

Lanterns are a staple when it comes to decorating. It is important to add height when using an assemble of pieces and a lantern can instantly give that height.

Lanterns are also great to use if you only need one item. Add a candles inside and like magic you have a simple accessory that glows.

But my favorite time to use lanterns is for holidays. Here are places I love to use lanterns in my home along with different holiday styling.

Decorating Mantels with Lantern

A great place to add lanterns is on your mantel.

On this mantel, I have decorated with lanterns, pastel-painted pumpkins, cotton, and a brown burlap wreath. The lanterns anchor the ends of the mantle so I can decorate it in the middle.

I simply added battery-powered candles inside. They are so pretty at night when turned on!

Here is the same lantern decorating idea on the mantel but I used spring farmhouse decor.

Now let's talk about add lanterns to your porch.

DECORATING PORCHES WITH LANTERNS

Probably my favorite place to use lanterns for decorations is porches. I love placing it on the floor together with a group of three or by itself like it did in this autumn porch decoration.

For this lantern, I added little tiny battery-powered lights inside. It gives it a pretty glow at night.

On my small front porch decorating ideas post I brought my lanterns from my fall mantel outside on the porch for spring. This idea is a little different from fall because I turned the lantern on an angle and added a small pot of greenery next to it.

Now think about moving your lantern by a larger plant or a Christmas tree in this example.

For Christmas decorating ideas for porches, I added the lantern next to a small tree that is sitting in a galvanized tub.

DECORATING WITH LANTERNS ON BOOKCASES

Remember me mentioning that lanterns add height to decorations. Here is a great example of how a lantern works perfectly in an assemble of accessories.

When you decorate with multiple accessories on a bookcase start with the tallest item first in the back. In this case, I added this gorgeous lantern, then a stack of books, a jug that is shorter than the lantern then a candle, and last something small on top of the books.

Remember you can just place a lantern as a single object on a bookcase but on this bottoms shelf, we decided a grouping would be better.

DECORATING WITH LANTERNS ON CENTERPIECES

Probably one of the most popular places to use lanterns for decorations is on a table centerpiece.

This particular Christmas I used a lantern for a festive tablescape at my sister's house. Simply add some ribbon to your lantern and place them on the ends of center decorations or use the lantern as the main centerpiece

DECORATING AN ENTRYWAY WITH LANTERNS

Okay maybe I mentioned that I love decorating with lantern in another place but I also love using lanterns to decorate my bench area during the holidays.

This simple Christmas home tour wouldn't have been complete without a cute lantern. If you have a bench think about adding accessories in layers and add your sweet little lantern into the mix.

BEST LANTERNS FOR DECORATING

So, how do you decorate with lanterns? With so many different types, where do you even start with picking one out? That's why I have put together this guide for you to show you some of my favorite decorate with lantern ideas!

Kate Aspen Classic Lantern

What I love about this one is that it will work with so many different designs – Coastal, Farmhouse, even Nautical!

Kate Aspen Classic Lantern, Gold

Boston International Cape Cod Style Net Covered Lantern

I love the nautical look of this one! If you have a coastal theme, this one would be perfect for you!

Boston International Cape Cod Style Net Covered Lantern, 10-Inch, Blue

Flameless Tin & Wood Rustic Candle Lanterns

Don't these lanterns look like tiny houses? To me, these would work great if you had a village scene, even for Christmas decor!

Flameless Tin & Wood Rustic Candle Lanterns, 15

Koehler Home Decor Perfect Lodge Wooden Lantern

This wood lantern would fit in PERFECTLY for a farmhouse or even French style! I love the simplicity of it and how you could incorporate it into so many designs.

Koehler Home Decor Perfect Lodge Wooden Lantern

Assorted Metal Glass Rope Lantern

Have more of a modern look you want to achieve? These glass rope lanterns will help with that – and this is a set of 2!

Deco 79 95241 2 Assorted Metal Glass Rope Lantern

By the Sea Lighthouse Tea Light Holder

This lighthouse-inspired lantern is perfect for real tea-lights! I'd love this one in my bathroom, or other small room when I need some low, romantic lighting.

By the Sea Lighthouse Tea Light Holder

Moroccan Solar Powered LED Garden Flameless Candle Lantern

Love entertaining outdoors? Just want a great way to make your garden “shine” (no pun intended) This outdoor, solar-powered lantern will do just that!

Moroccan Solar Powered LED Garden Flameless Candle Lantern

Kate Aspen Vintage Lantern, Blue

If you love blues, this one is for you! It's even got that shabby-chic look to it. I'd love to see this one sitting next to some pastel pumpkins, wouldn't you?

Kate Aspen Vintage Lantern, Blue

Siena Metal Lantern with LED Candle

If you don't have a lot of space, this tall and skinny lantern is perfect for you! It even brings in more of a ghoul look for Halloween!

Smart Design STI84036LC Siena Metal Lantern with LED Candle, 16-Inch Tall, Antique Brown Finish, Includes Realistic Candle Powered By One Amber LED, Suitable For Both Indoor And Outdoor Use

Country Style Rustic Lantern with Flickering Flameless LED Candle

Don't want a real candle? This one comes complete with a flickering LED candle. It's perfect for the mantel, hallway or the porch!

13″ Country Style Rustic Lantern 

CONCLUSION

So, there you have it – some of my favorite decorate with lantern ideas along with ideas on how to decorate with them! Whether you are trying to get more nautical or need something to help with your French decor, there's a lantern on this list to help your designs pop.

Love a lantern that's not on this list? Comment below and let me know which one is your favorite!

HAPPY DECORATING!

If you enjoyed these ideas, please sign up for emails, so you don’t miss out on more fun decorating tips and ideas HERE.

Here is an image you can use to pin for later to Pinterest.