How to Decorate Front Porches With Lanterns

Use different styles of lanterns to create an eclectic look. Display homemade tin lanterns on your steps along with jars filled with glowing candles. Line up paper lanterns or carved pumpkin lanterns on a wide front-porch rail. Try not to place two lanterns of like kind next to each other.

Hang lanterns from the ceiling of the porch using ceiling hooks. To make them hang lower, attach a chain to the hook. Fasten the handle of the lantern to the chain using heavy wire that you twist around the lantern handle and the last link of the chain.

Dress up the walls of your porch by hanging wall sconce lanterns. This look works well if you've created an outdoor room in your porch area. Hang these above furniture pieces such as a couch, bench or rocking chair.

Decorate each step with a lantern to light the way. Add additional light to the area by lining the sidewalk coming up to the steps with matching lanterns to provide foot lights for guests.

Vary the heights of the lanterns in your display as well as the height of the base on which you place them. Place the tallest of lanterns in the back of a cluster of lanterns and the shorter ones in front. Use cinder blocks, bricks, chairs, benches, candelabras and free-standing lantern hangers to create different heights for each.

Enhance the look of the lanterns by adding other decorative objects. Position a tall mirror behind lanterns you've placed close to the house. Position a series of lanterns in front of it to create a soft, glowing back light for the lanterns. Decorate around the lanterns with fruits of the season such as apples, gourds or pumpkins. Hang a wreath on the banister and decorate the porch stairs below it with a variety of colored lanterns.