Chinese Lanterns
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.
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