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The light that emanates from a Chinese lantern is justly famous, because it provides a soft, diffused light in every direction at the same time. There aren't many other types of lamp that can produce that quality of light. It's for this reason that cinematographers have used Chinese lanterns in filmmaking for many decades. Even today they are widely used, when a soft light source is required and is needed quickly.
 

Chinese Lantern Problems

However, the obvious problem with Chinese lanterns is that they're made of paper. And, as I'm sure you know, paper burns very easily. Essentially, with a Chinese lantern, you're placing a 250-watt lamp inside a paper bag. It doesn't take much to realize just how dangerous that is. The question is, how to get the wonderful light effect of a Chinese lantern, without setting your house on fire?

The other problem with Chinese lanterns is that they're rather flimsy. This means they got torn and damaged very easily. So this is another problem that needs to be overcome if you're going to use Chinese lanterns effectively in your decor.

Solving the Chinese Lantern Problems

The obvious solution is to make your Chinese lanterns from something other than paper. By doing this, you make your lanterns safer and also improve their durability. One option is to use foolproof fabric. Combine that with a light post globe and a standard lamp head, and with a few handyman skills you can make your own Chinese lantern in only a few hours. It's important to make sure you only use electrically safe parts, and always avoid using a high wattage globe.

Of course, if the whole idea of getting out the tools and making your own Chinese lantern doesn't appeal, you can buy them! If you want something more durable than a paper lantern, check out stores that supply lighting for photographers and cinematographers. It's highly likely that they'll have Chinese lantern style lights available. But be warned - Chinese lantern lighting in more durable materials doesn't come cheap.

If you have kids, it can also be a fun craft activity for them to make paper Chinese lanterns for decorative purposes only. They're simple to make, and if you use lots of colorful paper, can be a great way to cheer up a room for a party. Kids love them.
 

Ideal for Home Decor

One of the biggest attractions of Chinese lanterns is that they spread their diffuse light over a wide area. However, in some situations you may prefer to reduce the areas the light reaches. To achieve this result, you can either attach some material to the arm holding the lantern, or drape flame retardant material around the lantern on the sides where you don't want any light spill. Use Velcro pads if you think you might want to remove the shield later.


When it comes to providing attractive lighting for your home, it's hard to best Chinese lanterns. They're both aesthetically pleasing and also provide a soothing, soft light. Once you overcome the basic problem of using paper to make the lanterns, you'll be able to enjoy these attractive additions to your home.