Lantern Decorating Ideas: Where to Put Woven Bamboo Lanterns
Where to put a woven bamboo lantern: an empty corner, beside a sofa or bed, on a shelf, in the hall, in a group of three heights or over the dining table. Plus si...
Good spots for a lantern are an empty corner, beside a sofa or reading chair, on a shelf, in the bedroom or hall, in a group of three heights, or hanging over a dining table. The woven bamboo lanterns in this guide light with a bulb, so placement and the light through the weave do the decorating, not fillers.
Fillers, candles, seasonal swaps, weddings and DIY are left out here, because a bulb-lit woven shade has nothing to fill.
The lanterns named below are from our own range, each handmade in Thailand and handwoven by a named Thai artisan.
Lantern decorating ideas, spot by spot
1. Fill an empty corner with a low floor lantern
A bare corner is where a big lantern earns its place, because a small one alone on the floor can look lost. The Extra Large NIT CHA MON low floor lantern is 51 cm (20 in) tall and 38 cm (15 in) across, which still keeps it low. Its rounded shape is inspired by traditional Thai fishing trap baskets, so the corner gets a shape to look at as well as a light.
2. Put a compact lantern beside a sofa or reading chair
The listing for BA WON KAN names this spot directly: beside a sofa, beside a reading chair or in a cosy corner. It is 29 cm (11 in) tall and described as compact for smaller spaces. The open weave is designed to diffuse the light and cast shadow patterns, and a plain wall nearby gives those patterns somewhere to land. The cord is 1.8 m long, so pick a spot within that distance of a socket.
3. Give a shelf a lantern of its own
The Medium NIT CHA MON is 26 cm (10 in) tall and 20 cm (8 in) across, and its listing says the lantern can sit on a shelf as well as on the floor. Measure the shelf first, both the depth and the gap to the shelf above, so the shade has clear space around it. Keep the shade uncovered, because the weave is the decoration. The on/off switch sits on the cord, so there is no reaching behind the lantern.
4. Bring a low glow to the bedroom
The listings for both floor lanterns include bedrooms among the rooms they suit. A Large NIT CHA MON, 36 cm (14 in) tall, on the floor beside the bed puts the light low and leaves the bedside table free. Run the cord so the inline switch ends up where you can reach it.
5. Light the entryway or hallway
Entryways are among the rooms the BA WON KAN listing names, and at 29 cm (11 in) tall and 25 cm (9 in) wide it suits a narrow hall where a larger piece would crowd the floor. Set it beside a hall table or bench, so the first light you see when you come in is the woven shade.
6. Group three heights together
A group looks deliberate when the heights differ; three of the same height reads as a row. NIT CHA MON in Medium 26 cm (10 in), Large 36 cm (14 in) and Extra Large 51 cm (20 in) gives you three steps in one shape. Put the tallest at the back or the outer edge. Each lantern has its own cord, switch and plug, so plan the group where you have a socket for each.
7. Hang a lantern over the dining table or kitchen island
KEM MA NUT is a small bamboo lantern for hanging, listed at 6 in (about 15 cm) tall and 4 in (about 10 cm) wide. Its listing suggests hanging it above a kitchen island, or in a dining room, bedroom or foyer. Four bamboo sticks with natural string come with it so you can change its shape. It has no cord or bulb.
Over a table, hang it clear of the seated eye line so it does not block the view across. Our pendant size guide covers drop height over a dining table. For other hanging shades, see our bamboo pendant lighting.
Sizes at a glance
Sizes come from our listings. As each lantern is handmade, sizes vary slightly.
| Lantern | Size | Where it suits (listing wording) |
|---|---|---|
| KEM MA NUT | 6 in (about 15 cm) tall, 4 in (about 10 cm) wide | Hanging above a kitchen island, or in a dining room, bedroom or foyer |
| NIT CHA MON Medium | 26 cm (10 in) tall, 20 cm (8 in) across | Low on the floor or on a shelf, in a living room, bedroom, reading corner or home office |
| BA WON KAN | 29 cm (11 in) tall, 25 cm (9 in) wide | Beside a sofa or reading chair, or in a cosy corner; also bedrooms, home offices and entryways |
| NIT CHA MON Large | 36 cm (14 in) tall, 28 cm (11 in) across | Same as Medium |
| NIT CHA MON Extra Large | 51 cm (20 in) tall, 38 cm (15 in) across | Same as Medium |
To compare them with other woven floor lights, browse our boho floor lighting collection.
What you need to light it
- A bulb. None of our lanterns comes with one. BA WON KAN and NIT CHA MON take an E27 bulb up to 60W (NIT CHA MON specifies a 60W LED maximum), and both listings suggest a warm white or vintage Edison style LED.
- The right plug. Choose UK (Type G), EU (Type C), US (Type A) or AU (Type I) when you order. The US plug runs on AC 110 to 120V; the others on AC 220 to 240V.
- Nothing else for the floor lanterns. Each arrives with the shade, frame and base, an E27 socket with cord, an inline on/off switch and your chosen plug, ready to use once you add a bulb.
- A cord and bulb for the hanging lantern. KEM MA NUT comes with neither. If there is no ceiling point where you want it, our guide on how to hang a plug-in pendant explains the swag lamp approach.
Caring for a woven lantern
The NIT CHA MON listing says to dust the bamboo regularly with a soft cloth or a feather duster. For a deeper clean, unplug it, wipe it with a slightly damp cloth and let it dry fully before plugging it back in. KEM MA NUT can be wiped with a dry or slightly damp cloth; keep it out of long spells of sun, rain and humid conditions. Our guide to cleaning a rattan pendant light or woven lampshade goes through it step by step.
FAQs
What can I do with a lantern indoors?
Give it a spot of its own: an empty corner, beside a sofa, chair or bed, a shelf, or above a dining table. For more ways to use handwoven pieces, see our Thai home decor ideas.
Do bamboo lanterns need a bulb?
The ones in this guide do, and none comes with one. The floor lanterns take an E27 bulb up to 60W.
How do you group lanterns?
Mix the heights. The three NIT CHA MON sizes make a stepped group from one shape, tallest at the back.
Can a lantern hang from the ceiling?
A hanging lantern can. The KEM MA NUT listing suggests hanging it, once you add a cord and bulb. BA WON KAN stands on the floor, and NIT CHA MON sits on the floor or on a shelf.
