Lanterns are one of the most versatile home accessories with so many uses for them both in and out! And with the wide range of lantern styles to choose from, you can find ones that work with your home’s style whether modern, farmhouse, or classic. Today I’m sharing ten lantern decor ideas to inspire you to use them in new ways throughout your home. (post includes commissionable affiliate links; for more information, see my full disclosure statement )
What better way to create an inviting entry into your home than lining the stairs leading up to it with lanterns. You could do this as an everyday look or just for special events/parties. I love the look of an eclectic assortment of lanterns in different shapes and sizes as was used in this beach home:
I also love the lantern decor idea of staggering a few of them on the front steps and the walkway, as was done with that are a beautiful combination of cedar wood and iron:
You don’t have to create an elaborate mix of lanterns and other decor for it to be impactful. Something as simple as in various sizes staggered down the stairs is absolutely beautiful too:
Filling outdoor lanterns with seasonal goodies is one of my favorite lantern decor ideas. For Halloween & fall, I’ve filled mine with baby boo mini white pumpkins for a fun and festive look:
During the holidays, I placed inexpensive ball ornaments inside my two lantern trios and tied a seasonal bow around the top of the largest one:
In the summer, add a few seashells to your lanterns so they surround the base of your candles like they did with :
There are tons of creative fillers that can be used to dress your lanterns up for Easter and other holidays too!
If you’ve got a bare coffee table, lanterns can be the perfect thing to pretty it up! You can use a single lantern such as surrounded by other accessories on your living room coffee table:
Another lantern decor idea is to elevate one of your lanterns on a pair of books or decorative box so that they’re staggered in height for a more stylish look:
Or if you have a long console table, a pair of lanterns on each end of your console is perfect for framing artwork hung behind it or accessories in the middle. I love the look of that flank the pretty accessories on this console table:
Want lantern decor ideas that really make a statement? Hang a series of identical lanterns such as in a grid pattern on the wall of your home as art:
Another idea is to place a lantern on each end of your fireplace mantel like I’ve done in our home at Christmas:
Or you can use them as mantel decor year-round with a season-less look such as this beautiful mantel with on each end:
I love using beautiful things, including lanterns, to style shelves throughout our home. Using three of adds so much to the gorgeous bookcases in this living room:
Get tons of inspiration for bookshelf styling in my post on how to decorate a bookshelf where I share my ten tried-and-true formulas for decorating bookcases and shelves.
Hanging a group of lanterns over a table is another beautiful way to use them, whether it’s a casual outdoor dining area such as with :
or a dining room table indoors (I love how they used a ladder to hang the lanterns from!):
For a unique lantern decor idea, think beyond your dining table and hang them from your outdoor umbrellas. This would look especially beautiful at night!
I love using lanterns as a table centerpiece when we’re dining outside on our patio. Not only does it look beautiful but using citronella pillar candles helps keep bugs away from our food:
For a classic, impactful centerpiece that can be used both indoors and out, place two large lanterns such as on your table flanking a large bowl filled with plants, fruit, or other decor:
Whether you’re setting up a Christmas brunch buffet for your visiting family or hosting a large holiday gathering, adding a lantern or two filled with a strand of battery operated fairy lights such as will make it a show-stopper:
Whether it’s lining the edge of your pool or your porch or patio, a series of lit lanterns such as is a statement-maker:
What’s your favorite way to use lanterns either indoors or out?
Simple tips to instantly transform five rooms in your home!
