Since lighting is the easiest and most effective way to set the mood and style of a room, we usually put a lot of thought into the chandeliers, lamps or light fittings we chose. But often we forget about outdoor lighting! If you have a deck, a porch, a patio or any other type of outdoor entertaining area, hanging lanterns is a great way to create that laid-back feel and welcome people into your outdoor space.
Design
When choosing the design of your lantern, keep in mind that a dense and heavy lantern will appear smaller in an outdoor space. By the same token, a lighter and more transparent lantern will appear larger. If you are planning to install several lanterns, be sure they all follow a coherent theme, e.g. made of similar materials or from the same time-period.
Height
The height at which you hang a lantern is an important factor. If your lantern is going to hang above a table setting, the general rule of thumb is suspend it 76-90 cm above the table. It will therefore be high enough to see everyone across the table, and low enough to provide light. If your lantern is hanging in a space where people will be walking, make sure the bottom of the lantern is at least 7 feet from the ground so tall folk don’t bump their noggins!
Size
Upon choosing the size of your hanging lantern, always opt for the larger one. Smaller lanterns are often dwarfed in outdoor spaces and can make the whole area seem disproportional.
Number
For larger spaces and larger tables for that matter, consider hanging matching lanterns overhead. Two, or even three symmetrical lanterns can really warm up the space and provide great night light. If you have separate areas for eating and sitting, try hanging different lanterns over each space to define the areas.
