Large Wood Porch Lantern Set (DIY Decor Without Tools Tutorial)

These large porch lanterns can add some much–needed drama to any decor, porch, fireplace, or mantle and Im going to show you secret tips on how you can make your own porch lanterns without having to own any woodworking tools. All you need is a hot glue gun!

Most small to medium wooden craft projects work well with utilizing a hot glue gun. The small grooves and pourus natrue of wood gives hot glue a lot to hold onto. For large wood projects, you will want to use screws, nails and wood glue. But since our lanterns are mostly a decor piece hot glue is a great way to go, is durable and it will hold up year after year.

1st Tip: No Need For A Saw. Use your local wood supply hardware store where you buy your wood. Ask them to cut the wood down to your measurements. Most hardware stores that sell lumbar with cut your wood to the size you need them. So no need for a saw of your own for this project.

Supplies For Two Lantern Set:

Supplies Need

• 2×2 Pinewood 8ft long (x3)
• 1×8 Pinewood 
• glue gun plus 5 to 6 glue sticks
• paint or stain

Cuts:

• 24 inch long -2×2 wood (x4) (taller pillars)
• 3 3/4 inch long 2×2 wood (x16) (slats)
• 15inch long – 2×2 wood (x4) (smaller pillars)
• 1 1/2 inch long – 2×2 wood (x8) (feet)
• 7 3/4 square – 1×8 wood (2) (platform)

Cut & Sanding: For this lantern set I’m making a larger 24 inch one and a smaller 15 inch one. I have a chop saw at home so I’m just going to cut mine myself. But you can have yours cut at most hardware stores. For sanding; If you want your lanterns to have a more rustic look you don’t need to sand them. I sanded mine because it is smoother and I will be less likely to get a sliver if I do.

1. Start with the Platform: Hot glue four of your wood feet to the bottom of your 1×8 wood square to make the platform. Tip: if the feet are not completely even and a little wobbly you can add a little hot glue to the bottom of the foot to create a little foot pad.

2. Sides First: put together just two of your sides first by hot-gluing two 24 inches 2×2 pillars to the outside of two 3 3/4 2×2 slats to make a long rectangle. Hot glue cools fast. When you have your two long rectangles assembled take another 3 3/4 inch 2×2 slat and glue one of each on both bottoms and both tops to create a 3D rectangle lantern top.

3. Top & Base: When you have your top all glued and cooled down and your bottom platform you can glue them together. Be very generous with your hot glue for this part. There is a lot of weight put on this section and the more hot glue the better.

Repeat steps 1 through 3 for the smaller 15 inch lantern.

Paint & Wood Stain: If you like the raw wood look you are done and ready to decorate. Or you can paint it anything you want. I chose to do a boho white wash look where I sained my lanterns with a light oak stain and before it had time to dry I rubbed white exterior paint over it for a dynamic light grey stain.

Modern Herringbone Design: I wanted to add a herringbone pattern to my lanterns and decided to just do it on one side so I can change the look of my lanterns depending on my mood. I love versatile decor. To achieve the haring bone pattern was easier than I thought it would be.

Easy Herring Bone Template: For a quick reference guide for the herringbone pattern I used a square cardboard piece and then cut it from one edge to the other edge so that it was cut in half and a perfect triangle. Then I used the triangle to to paint a tringle shape on all the mid points in my wood. And then used the same triangle to press it up along the wood so my stripes were exactly the same angle each time I painting another notch down. You may want to play with some desings on a paper before you start on yoru lanterns.

Let everything dry over night and then the next day it is ready for decorating! Yay! There are so many ways to decorate these lanterns and you can redecorate them holiday after holiday with all your favorite things. Some of the things I love to use to decorate my lanterns are vases full of bobble lights, sea glass, plants, planters, mini Christmas trees, floral arrangements, candles, nutcrackers, chestnuts, mixed nuts, candies, ornaments, and so much more.

Unexpected Fall Colors: For a fall look this year Im using some unexpected fall colors, purple, sage, white and mustard yellow! Fall has so many more colors to it besides orange and brown and it s fun playing with some of the more forgotten color combinations of fall. I even found a stunning plum colored pumpkin at Hobby Lobby to go with. For the sage color I found some faux lambs ears that I love and are so versatile and can be saved to use for Christmas to. Then I wanted to add in a pop of bright mustard yellow and frost everything down with some white berries to give you that taste of the upcoming snow.

To light up my lanterns I found this fantastic battery operated candle set on Amazon for a steal. They are made out of Real Wax and the faux flame on top moves just like a real flame. And super bonus….. wait for it…. the candles come with a remote control! What! Thats right! You can set up a whole candle display and turn it off and set the lighting intensity of your candles with your included remote control! Sometimes I really love technology!

How are you going to decorate your lanterns?

I would love to hear about and see your no-tool lanterns. Please message me with any questions or leave a comment below.

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