Raise the Lantern

Decorate with outdoor lighting. Source: Home Life by Rose Ann Humphrey

Lanterns have served a functional purpose since ancient times, but they’re often used as design elements these days. They can be placed indoors or outdoors to create a certain mood. They can also serve as a focal point on a patio or in a room.

When doing outdoor lighting with lanterns, there are several design possibilities, including:

• Using lanterns as a main lighting source on patios. You can hang lanterns on a home’s exterior near the patio or place lanterns on a table or on the ground. This type of lighting creates a cozy ambiance that’s perfect for entertaining guests on a warm summer evening.
• Placing lanterns near the poolside. Put a few large lanterns or a row of smaller ones on your patio near the pool to provide lighting for evening or nighttime swimming.
• Using lanterns as design elements. You don’t necessarily have to make use of lanterns in order to have them around. Choose lanterns that add visual appeal to your patio or outdoor living space during the day, such as antique lanterns or chic modern ones. Home Life by Rose Ann Humphrey demonstrated this clever use of lanterns as a design element by placing one large vintage lantern on the floor of a room to complement its overall theme. Using a lantern this way can turn it into a focal point, whether you use it inside or outside.

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