Decorating a Baby Nursery with Paper Lanterns

by Becky on March 4, 2010

Want a quick and easy way to decorate your baby’s nursery? Try paper lanterns! Paper lanterns are a simple and inexpensive way to add a modern and unique feel to the baby nursery. They come in a large variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns so you’re sure to find the perfect fit for your nursery’s theme and decor. You can even buy small lights to hang inside to give your nursery a beautiful, calming glow.

When decorating the nursery in our home, I wanted something very unique, but still keep it classy. When scouring the internet for ideas, I came across the idea of using paper lanterns. I loved the idea and ordered several.

I decorated my son’s nursery with browns and blues, with white as an accent, so I ended up buying paper lanterns in these colors. There were several shades of brown and blue lanterns to choose from, which was great to make sure I got the perfect match. I ended up selecting lanterns in chocolate brown, sky blue, and snow white. I also bought them in a variety of sizes, ranging from eight to sixteen inches.

I wasn’t exactly sure how I wanted to use them when I bought them. Should I hang them above the crib? Should I put them in a corner? Large grouping or small grouping? I had no idea where to start at first, so I scanned the web. I was only able to find a few ideas, but they did help me visualize the possibilities.

Here is a quick list of some that I found:

I decided that I wanted to hang some hand-painted artwork above his crib, so I opted for a small grouping of three paper lanterns in the corner above the chair. I didn’t want to mess with any wiring to add a light to the lanterns, so we simply used some fishing line and some small hooks to hang them from the ceiling. It was done in less than five minutes and it looks great. The lanterns get nothing but compliments.

Here are the things you need to consider before you just go crazy buying paper lanterns (which is what I did and then I ended up not using all of them):

Choose the location: Do you want to hang a grouping above the crib, as an accent in the corner, in the center of the ceiling, or all over?
Choose the quantity: A large or small grouping will give a completely different effect. Do you want the lanterns to be the first thing that grabs your attention, or just a subtle touch to the room? You also may decide to use the lanterns in a few different places around the room.
Choose the size: Lanterns are available from 4-inches to 30-inches and everything in between. You can stick to one size or get a variety of different sizes to group together. Remember to keep the scale of your room in mind when considering the size selection.
Choose the shape: Round is the most common and a traditional shape for paper lanterns, but there are many more shapes available. Square, cylinder, polygon, star-shaped, and oval are just some of the options. Just keep in mind that the more elaborate shapes are more expensive. You can group similar shapes of a variety.

5. Choose the color/pattern: Make a bold statement by choosing a variety of colors or keep it simple with a monochromatic scheme. Or maybe you can find a patterned lantern that fits your nursery perfectly.

6. Consider lighting: Do you want your lanterns to also act as a light source or just as art? Most lantern sites offer lighting as well, so know if it’s something you want or not.

Once you have all of these factors figured out, go ahead and purchase the lanterns and hang them as planned. If you’re not sure if you like the arrangement, take a picture and try another one so you can compare them side-by-side.

Paper lanterns are a creative and affordable way to decorate the baby nursery. Have fun with it and be ready to wow anyone who stops by for a tour!

If you want more ideas for do-it-yourself nursery decorations read about how to paint-your-own nursery art or create cheap and easy art.

How do you plan on using paper lanterns in your nursery?

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