DIY lanterns for summer evenings are that detail that transforms any corner of the garden into a place where you can breathe beauty. Jars, ropes, a touch of wood are enough … and the atmosphere changes.
When the days are long and the cicadas begin to sing, it is almost natural to want to be out. Maybe in the garden, with a simple table, two disappeared chairs and that soft light that only a lantern can give. But not any. A created calmly, with your hands, leaving room for improvisation and taste of the moment.
Sometimes a jar found by chance is enough, a piece of string that hangs from who knows where, a sprig collected walking without a destination. Put these little things together, without taking care of the result too much, and here is something surprising. Imperfections? I’m the beauty. A knot made in a hurry, a label that does not detach: small defects that make each lantern unique, with a story to tell.
Creative recycling with glass jars
The old preserved jars? Pure gold. The wide ones, perfect for hosting a candle or row of LED lights. They wash, they remove the labels (or leave in half, for a vintage effect), and then play. Satin paint for a soft look, lace for unexpected reflections, sand and shells to evoke the sea even if you are in the city.
A simple but effective idea? Fill the bottom with coarse salt. He keeps the candle firm and creates an effect reminiscent of the snow, but in the height of summer. What if you want to hang everything? Just wrap the string around the edge and make a big big knot. You don’t need anything else. Sometimes simplicity works better than a thousand decorations.
Ideas for lanterns with ropes and wood: the charm of raw things
Those who love raw wood and thick ropes, here feel at home. There is no need to be carpenters: just a little intuition and desire to experiment. The fruit boxes become bases for multiple lanterns, the branches are transformed into frames, the twine in macramé.
Here are some flying cue:
- Old wooden boxes: excellent to fill with lanterns of various sizes.
- Woven branches: support for hanging candles or stuck lights.
- Suspended jars in the rope: perfect for creating “floating” light points.
- Mini table lanterns: truncated and handle base in twine, ready to be turned on.
Those who have a little manual skills can also try to build small perforated houses. Lights inside, and voila: insured magic effect. Ideal for outdoor dinners or for creating a relaxation corner that seems to have come out of a Scandinavian magazine.
Atmosphere and details: the part that makes the difference
A lantern alone does not make summer. But a lit lantern, on a table with a light tablecloth, a few pillow thrown on the ground and the distant noise of the cicadas … change everything. There are no major projects. A good idea is enough.
Better to choose hot lights. The white ones tend to look cold, from the office. A real candle, however, warms up. And if it smells of vanilla or citrus fruits, even better. And no, everything must not be perfect. A limestone hops sometimes is worth more than one built with ruler.
You can also have fun with the themes: sea, forest, flowers, geometries. A jar full of moss, another with painted pebbles, perhaps one with handmade drawings. Each lantern tells something. And when they all turn on together, it doesn’t only light up the garden. A small world is created apart.
In the end, this is the beauty. Stop, build calmly, turn on a light and see what happens. Often there is nothing more to transform any evening into a memory that remains.
Photo © Stock.adobe
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