How to Hang Paper Lanterns

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: October 30, 2022 References

Paper lanterns make great decorations, whether they’re in a bedroom, on the patio, or hung at a celebration. After making or buying paper lanterns, you’ll have to decide where to hang them and how to arrange them. You’ll need your lanterns, hooks, and a drill if you’re hanging your lanterns from a hard surface.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Hanging Lanterns Indoors

1
Make sure your lanterns match the room. A beautiful configuration of lanterns won’t impress your guests if the colors are clashing or mismatched. Make sure that the lanterns you hang match any patterns, colors or themes present in your room. Take a trip to a nearby Chinatown or shop online to find the perfect colored lanterns.^{[1]
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- Match colors with similar colors. Categories of colors, like earth tones, jewel tones or warm/cool colors should be matched to similar colored lanterns. For example, a red couch would be well accented with warm colored lanterns, like orange and yellow. If your bedroom has a navy blue bedspread, match it with cool colored lanterns, like light blue, white or dark green.^{[2]
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- Match patterns. Paper lanterns come in a variety of colors, and some even have patterns. If you have floral patterns on a chair or bedspread, find a complementary patterned lantern online. Try to match diamond patterns, spiral patterns, or plaids. Be careful that the lanterns don't clash or overload your room with the pattern, however.
2
Decide if you want to light the lanterns. Some lanterns are purely decorative while others contain small lamps or lightbulbs. Decide whether you want to use the lanterns as accent lights in your room, and then search for the right kind of lanterns. Many come with pre-wired plug-in lightbulbs or battery powered LED lamps.^{[3]
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3
Choose hooks. To hang your lanterns, you’ll need hooks. Because paper lanterns are relatively light, you won’t need anything too large or heavy duty. Look for small, screw-in hooks at a local hobby store or at hardware store. Look for hooks small enough that they won’t be noticed, and consider buying some that match the color of your walls.
4
Decide on the configuration. You’ll want to decide where the hooks will hang before you do any drilling. Visualize your room and the way you want the lanterns to hang. You may want to hang them in a row across the room, in a corner in a bunch, or over a bed or chair. Look at websites like Pinterest to get some ideas, or ask a creative friend for help.^{[4]
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Mark the placement of the lanterns. Using a pencil, make marks on the wall or ceiling that your lanterns will hang from. Visualize what they’ll look like in those places. Remember, you can make and erase the marks as many times as you want, but once a hole is drilled, you’ll have to fill it in if you’ve made a mistake.^{[5]
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Hang your lanterns on drywall or wood. Most homes in America have interior walls and ceilings made of drywall. Drywall isn’t meant to bear a lot of weight, but since paper lanterns are lighter than paintings or mirrors, you can go ahead and screw your hooks directly into it. Alternatively, if you want to hang your lanterns from a wood surface like a cabinet or a shelf, you can use the same method.^{[6]
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- Drill a pilot hole. While you may be tempted to screw the hook in by hand, it’ll be much easier if you drill a pilot hole. Choose a drill bit that’s the same size as the inner core of the hook, not the width of the threads. Power up your drill and drill straight into the wall, making sure your hole goes all the way through the drywall.
- Screw in your hook. Place the hook into the hole, then begin screwing it into the wall. Apply pressure as you turn the hook clockwise, stopping when the base of the hook is flush with the drywall.
7
Think about using adhesive hooks, especially on tough surfaces. Some homes have walls or ceilings made of plaster or brick, which are hard or almost impossible to drill through. For these surfaces, consider using adhesive hooks. They aren’t quite as sturdy as hooks that screw into the wall, but they’ll work for something as light as a paper lantern. Their strong adhesive will keep them attached for years and they’re easier to use if you’re nervous about using a drill.^{[7]
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8
Thread your lanterns with fishing line. Your lantern is going to hang from a hook, so it needs a line to hang from. You can use twine or fishing line to hang the lanterns, depending on how “invisible” you want the line to seem. Find twine at a craft store, or check out an outdoor/adventure store for some inexpensive fishing line.^{[8]
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- Cut the line to the right length. If you want all of your lanterns to hang at the same height, make sure that you cut all of the lines to the same length. If you want them to be staggered, play with line lengths a bit to see what combination looks best.
- Tie a small loop at the end of your line. Most paper lanterns have a rigging device inside, shaped like a “C”. Because of this small hook, you don’t need to tie the line onto the lantern directly. You can simply tie a small loop at the end of the line and then slip it over the “C”. Make sure your knot is tight so it doesn’t come loose and let the lantern fall.
- Tie another loop at the top of the line. Tie the same knot at the top of the top of the line, then slip it over the hook.
9
Plug in electric lamps. Some lamps have small lightbulbs inside that need to be plugged in. These can be a bit trickier to hang, because the cord will have to be hung as well. For these lamps, you’ll need to screw in additional hooks and loop the cord through them, all the way to an outlet. Use an extension cord if the original cord isn’t long enough. Look into buying battery powered lamps to avoid the unsightly cables altogether.
10
Make sure never to use candles with your lanterns. Paper lanterns may have traditionally held candles instead of lightbulbs, but any open flame is unsafe, especially indoors. Use LED lamps or small lightbulbs in your lamps to avoid any accidents with open flame. Many lanterns come pre-lit for your convenience.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Hanging Lanterns Outdoors

1
Choose the right lanterns for your outdoor area. There are a lot of decisions that go into decorating a deck or backyard, just like a living room or bedroom. The main things you want to think about are durability and color scheme. You’ll need to find special outdoor lanterns that fit the look you’re going for.
- Use outdoor lanterns. Paper lanterns are great for use indoors, but they can be damaged by water. Look for lanterns specifically made for outdoor use: they’ll typically be made of nylon or silk. You can find them online, at home improvement stores, or at patio decoration outlets.^{[9]
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- Pick a good color scheme. Unlike an indoor area that is already decorated, you’ll have a bit more free reign in choosing the colors of your lanterns. Match them to your deck furniture, or go big with bright colors like red, blue or yellow. White lanterns can give your backyard a relaxed or dreamy atmosphere when it gets dark.^{[10]
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2
Decide where to hang your lanterns. There are many places to hang them: in the air, on a fence or off of a railing. Each will give your backyard a different vibe, and it all depends on your personal preference. Depending on your choice, you’ll need different tools and supplies.
- Hang your lanterns high up. If you have large trees, you can hang your lanterns from them for a cool effect. If you don’t want to hang them from trees, or you don’t have any, buy poles to hang your lanterns from. Some companies sell poles specifically for hanging lanterns on, but you can hang them off of any type of pole, as long as there’s a place to attach a hook.^{[11]
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- Hang them from a fence. If you have a tall fence, you can simply tie the lanterns right onto the boards without a need for hooks.^{[12]
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- Hang them off of a railing. If you want to hang your lanterns from a wooden railing, you’ll need a drill and some small hooks. If your railing is wrought iron, you can easily tie them on.
3
Drill any necessary holes. If you’ve chosen to hang your lanterns from a surface that requires hooks, you’ll need to drill a pilot hole to help start the hook. Choose a drill bit with the same diameter as the core of the hook, then drill straight through the wooden railing. Pull out the drill, then screw your hook in, pushing clockwise until it’s flush with the surface of the wood.^{[13]
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Tie your lanterns up. Once all of your hooks or poles are installed, you’ll be able to hang the lanterns. Use twine or fishing line so that the line doesn’t distract from the effect of the lantern. Tie a small loop at the end of your twine, then slip it over lantern’s hanger. As with the other end of the line, tie a sturdy knot around the fence, tree branch, hook, or other surface.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Hanging Lanterns for a Party

1
Decide on a theme. Whether you’re planning a wedding, a family reunion or a simple barbecue, you’ll want your lanterns to fit with a theme. White lanterns work well for weddings, while bright colors will brighten up a summer party. Search online for the perfect kind to fit your theme.
- Pick a holiday-specific color scheme. Christmas events generally feature red and green, while Easter parties use pastel colors like light pink, light purple and light yellow.
- Look for event-specific lanterns. Some paper lanterns have printed patterns specifically for holidays, like Menorahs for Hanukkah, hearts for Valentine's day, or pumpkins for Halloween.
- If you're having a party to celebrate a game day, use colors from the sports team your group favors.^{[14]
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Choose hooks that work for your surroundings. Parties can be held in a variety of different venues: tents, picnic shelters, even boats. You’ll need to find fasteners that work for your situation, and most importantly, they’ll have to be easy to remove. Think about using adhesive hooks, or try tying your lanterns directly to rafters or tent supports.^{[15]
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3
Choose a configuration. Decide the placement of the lanterns and the heights at which they’ll hang. Look online for ideas to match the setup that you are planning for. Sites like Pinterest have many example photos to help your creativity along.^{[16]
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- Tie lanterns across beams or supports. If your event setting has a shelter or tent, hang lanterns across the supports to create a large canopy of lights.
- Tie lanterns in bunches. Bunched lanterns hanging at different heights create great focal points at your party. Choose a point on a beam or support and tie five to ten lanterns in the same area, all at different heights. Try mixing the sizes of the lanterns to make your bunch even more eclectic feeling.
- Light a path with lanterns. Hang the paper lanterns low to the ground on short poles to create a cool effect. Use poles made for hanging potted plants, or make your own small poles with hooks. Then place the poles along a path or sidewalk to light the way to your party.
4
Tie strings for your lanterns. Once you’ve decided how high you want your lanterns to hang, it’s time to tie them up using twine or fishing line to create an “invisible” floating effect. Tie a sturdy loop at one end of the twine, then slip it over the lantern’s hanging device. Then, tie the other end directly to a beam or loop it over a hook.

Warnings

Always be careful when working with power tools. Wear goggles for safety while you drill.

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Never burn a candle or other open flame inside of a paper lantern. They can easily catch fire. Use battery powered LED lights or plug-in lightbulbs instead.

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