Today we are sharing our DIY Outdoor Lantern. With our step-by-step tutorial you will learn how to make a lantern for your own home. This wood lantern is perfect for decor inside or outside of your home.
Hey this is Meghan and Lara over at Jolly and Happy. We love to DIY, we love Disney and we love Diet Coke. We are bringing you a fun simple project to try out this summer.
DIY OUTDOOR LANTERN
Yay! Summertime is in full swing and between barbecuing and swimming, our family is spending the majority of our time outside! With that, I’ve decided I want my outdoor living space to feel as welcoming and decorated as I like my indoor space to feel. I came up with this rustic wood lantern design to adorn my outdoor table. It’s super easy and cute enough to bring inside when the weather turns cold again!
In less than an hour and with a little elbow grease, you can learn how to make a lantern yourself!
DIY OUTDOOR LANTERN SUPPLIES
- (1) 1/2″x6″x2′ poplar board ($4.70/ea at Lowes),
- (3) 5/8″x36″ square poplar dowels ($2.18/ea at Lowes),
- stain of your choice. I had Rust-Oleum Varathane in Weathered Grey on hand and I LOVE it!
- Foam brush
- nails, staples or wood glue
- saw
- nail gun
- sand paper
HOW TO MAKE A LANTERN
I love the color it gives to the wood and how easy it is to apply!! I also don’t have to worry about an extra coat of sealant afterwards because it’s all in one!
Here are the measurements. Cut the poplar board at 5 1/2″ to create your a square bottom. Then cut (4) 12″ pieces and (8) 4 1/4″ pieces out of the square dowels.
The wood pieces are small enough to use a hand saw if necessary but this Ryobi Compound Miter Saw does make cutting a breeze!
After cutting all of your pieces, sand off any rough edges.
Here’s the basic frame we are going to nail together first.
If using a staple gun, line up your wood pieces and using the table for pressure nail pointing down. You can also use a hammer and finish nails if you’d rather.
Complete two rectangles by nailing two long and two short pieces together.
Then attach the two rectangles together by nailing four more short pieces in between.
Once your upper frame is complete, add the bottom square to finish off the lantern.
Again, you can use a staple gun or finish nails with a hammer.
Now onto the stain!
I used a foam brush to add two coats of the Weathered Grey stain.
Here is the finished product!! I just added a battery operated candle. Perfect for a poolside party!
Or as a centerpiece at your next barbecue!
It even adds a great touch inside on a mantle or side table. It looks beautiful here next to our Magnolia Wreath. I love how this little project took very little time and money and is such a versatile decor piece. Let us know where you’d display it if you made one!
OTHER DIY PROJECTS
- DIY Outdoor Wood Bench
- DIY Outdoor Furniture Ideas
- Outdoor DIY Projects
- DIY Porch Planter
- Vertical Flower Bed
- How to Make a Giant Jenga Game
If you loved this DIY, check out a couple more of our Jolly & Happy DIY projects.
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William Earle says
Thanks, Amy for share these tips
making DIY lantern is a great way like yours. It would be more helpful if you can make a step by step video on this.
Cheers
The Idea Room Assistant says
William- That is a great idea. I will pass that on to Ladies over at Jolly and Happy. This is a shared post. Hope you ended up making one!
Hello!
If you are recommending using 1/2″ x 6″ x 2′ poplar board and cutting it into a 5 1/2 square does that mean I can make two bases out of one board? I’m picturing this in my head and want to make sure I am understanding it correctly. I’m planning to make these for my wedding and need 8. So I’m wondering if I need 4 or 8 of the baseboards. I hope that made sense.
Marrissa- This was a guest post. You can email them at http://jollyandhappy.com/ and ask them about the measurements. I have never made one, so I am not totally sure.
The lantern looks lovely! This would make a great decor for our patio. Thank you for sharing!
Emma- Thank you!