The Craftiest Way To Create Gorgeous String Lanterns For Your Home

Nothing curates the mood and ambiance of a room better than lighting. You may have the most impeccable decor, but what will ultimately pull your space's entire look together is good lighting. Fortunately, we're spoiled for choice when it comes to lighting options. From stylish statement lights in the living room to productivity-boosting home office lighting ideas, choosing the perfect lighting has never been so easy. And while store-bought options are convenient, we believe that nothing beats the charming appeal of a handcrafted lighting fixture.

Instagrammer @teebeeinspired takes us through an easy DIY string lantern project using items that you may already have around the house. Contrary to other lantern DIYs that require a bowl of glue to dip string in (and ultimately end up making a mess on your worktable), this method is surprisingly neat and fuss-free. A bottle of white glue, a balloon, a spool of thread, and a long sewing needle are all you need to get started on this project, and we guarantee that you'll end up with a beautiful handcrafted lantern that will elevate the look of any room.

First, make sure your needle is long enough to pass through the bottle of glue. Thread the needle, carefully pierce it through the center of the glue bottle, and pull it across. This will keep your thread constantly coated in glue as you proceed. Blow up a balloon to your desired lantern size and secure the thread's end to the balloon knot. Proceed to wrap the glue-coated thread by slowly turning the balloon over in your hands, slowly filling in the gaps to create a solid shell. You'll want to thoroughly cover the balloon's surface while allotting some space around its knot to remove the balloon afterward. Keep in mind that building up several layers of string will create a stronger shell.

Once the balloon has been sufficiently wrapped to your liking, suspend or hang it overhead to avoid any warping as you leave it to dry and set for at least 24 hours. Your lantern is completely dry if a light poking at its surface leaves no indentations. Pop the balloon and carefully peel it away from the shell.

This string lantern DIY can even be a building block to even more ambitious lighting projects. Make several small lanterns to fit over a string of fairy lights to illuminate your backyard patio, or create a trio of hanging lanterns with different-sized shells. Another option can be to pair lantern shells of different shades with and colored light bulbs to personalize the mood and aesthetic of any given space.