Lantern Lighting Style: Types, Rooms and Finishes

Lantern lighting style comes down to one idea: a light source wrapped in a frame, shade or cage, so the glow spreads softly instead of hitting you as a bare bulb. Fixtures range from paper globes to glass-and-metal chandeliers, and they work in nearly any room if you get the size and bulb right.

If you're choosing one, start with the room and the mounting point (ceiling, wall, or outdoors), then pick the finish. The sections below follow that order.

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What are the different types of lantern lights?

There are five common types, and they differ mostly in how they mount.

• Lantern chandeliers and ceiling lanterns, hung from a chain or mounted flush.
• Hanging pendants, usually one fixture on a single cord or rod.
• Wall sconces, mounted beside a door, mirror or bed.
• Outdoor lanterns, rated for weather, on walls, posts or hooks.
• Paper lanterns, the lightest and cheapest option, good for renters.

Pick by what you can wire. A hardwired chandelier needs a licensed electrician if you're changing the circuit. A paper lantern on a plug-in cord kit does not.

How do you use a lantern chandelier over a dining table?

A lantern chandelier over a dining table should hang roughly 30-36 inches above the tabletop, so you can see across the table without a glare in your eyes. Its width should be about half to two-thirds of the table's width, which keeps it from looking either lost or oversized.

With ceilings around 9 feet, a larger lantern still works, since the open frame lets light and sightlines pass through. Add a dimmer. Dinner and homework call for very different brightness.

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Can lantern pendants work over a kitchen island?

Yes. Lantern pendant lights for a kitchen island look best in a row, spaced evenly, with the bottom about 30-36 inches above the counter. Two or three small lanterns usually suit a standard island better than one large fixture, because the light covers the full length of the work surface.

Choose closed or semi-closed shades if the island faces a seating area, since an exposed bulb at eye level is uncomfortable. Wipeable glass and metal also handle kitchen grease better than paper does.

Which lantern lighting style suits a living room?

For a living room, a large paper or fabric-shaded lantern gives the softest, most even light. Paper acts as a diffuser, so it glows in all directions and reduces harsh contrast. Size is where people go wrong: most buy too small. As a rule of thumb, I'd go for a diameter of about 20 inches or more in a standard room, and larger with higher ceilings.

Keep the bottom of the fixture at least 7 feet from the floor wherever people walk beneath it. In a room with low ceilings, a flatter saucer or ellipse shape gives horizontal spread without taking headroom. If you can't hardwire, a cord kit and a swag hook let you hang one in a corner, and you'll want to see how to hang paper lanterns for the mounting steps.

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What bulb and color temperature should you use?

Warm white LEDs in the 2700K range suit living rooms and bedrooms. Correlated color temperature (CCT) is, per the U.S. Department of Energy, one of the primary metrics for the visual appearance of light. In practice, keep every lamp in a room at the same temperature, or the room feels patchy.

LEDs are also the sensible choice inside a closed lantern. The Department of Energy says good-quality white LED products are expected to last 30,000 to 50,000 hours or longer, which matters when changing a bulb means taking down a chandelier. Look for a dimmable bulb, and check that it fits the lantern's size and heat limits.

Light also affects sleep. The Department of Energy notes that "Light plays a key role in setting and regulating the body's biological clock." That's a good reason to dim lanterns in the evening.

How do you choose a lantern for outside?

A hanging lantern light outdoor needs a damp or wet rating on the label, depending on whether it's under a covered porch or fully exposed. Black, bronze and powder-coated metals hold up well, and glass panels resist weather better than paper or fabric.

Outdoors, less light is often better. The Illuminating Engineering Society and the International Dark Skies Association jointly put it this way: "The Five Principles advocate thoughtful deployment of light at night, optical control to direct light only where it is necessary, using the minimum amount of light necessary, use of controls to use light only when necessary, and careful selection of color temperature." For a porch, that means a warm, shielded lantern beside the door, ideally on a timer or sensor.

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Traditional or modern: which finish fits?

Traditional lanterns lean on candle-style bulbs, glass panes and aged brass or bronze. A modern lantern lighting style simplifies the frame: thin black metal, clean geometry, or a plain paper sphere with no ornament.

• Black metal reads crisp and works indoors and out.
• Unlacquered brass darkens over time, which suits older or warmer rooms.
• Bronze sits between the two and hides fingerprints well.
• Paper and fabric are the softest, but keep them away from steam and splashes.

Since the frame is visible even when the light is off, match the finish to your door handles and faucets, as in the hardware swap ideas covered in this bedroom lighting guide.

Pet and household notes

Hang low lanterns out of tail range. A cord that dangles within reach can tempt a chewing puppy or a climbing cat, so keep cords short, tucked or covered. If a pet chews cords at all, check with your vet and avoid plug-in cord kits at low heights.

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Frequently asked questions