...or moist outdoors, and they can also be hung or rested over a tabletop for convenient lighting. Check out our exquisite collection of candle lanterns and don't be afraid to love them all as we offer these candle lanterns cheap for you to enjoy the finest decorating themes.
What are Candle Lanterns?
Candle lanterns are designed as a portable and safe lighting tool for candles. They are typically used with tea light candles, votive candles, and pillar candles, and you can use them, too, with gel candles and novelty candles to add to their aesthetic appeal.
Candle lanterns are typically made of a metal frame, which helps them to resist the fire-causing flame of candle lights and being blown by the wind when hung; their top features a small opening or ventilated cover, which allows oxygen to come in and out of the lamp so that the candle's light remains to glow; their side panels are usually covered with glass or carved steel, which helps to protect the candle light’s flame from being extinguished by the surrounding wind; and, they have a small opening at the top or sides, usually like a hinged door, for inserting the candle. A flat base and handle, or metal ring holder, also make candle lanterns versatile for use as tabletop candle lanterns or hanging candle lanterns.
Tips and Factors to Consider When Choosing and Buying Candle Lanterns
Perhaps the first thing that catches your eye when presented with candle lanterns are their designs and styles, and as candle lanterns usually come in different sizes for a particular style, so here are our tips about the other factors that you may also want to consider when it comes to choosing and buying candle lanterns.
Candle lanterns for indoor and outdoor lighting.
Candle lanterns are highly versatile – you can take your favorite candle lantern indoors or outdoors and they never fail to give each space an instant makeover. Mini candle lanterns, basically, would look perfect within small spaces, and while a large candle lantern can easily make of itself the focal point of a large space. Other than the style, you may also want to consider the type and size of candle to use to ace the brightness of light that you want from your candle lantern.
Dark-colored candle lanterns with metal covers are practical for indoor candle lighting if you have a knack for using paraffin wax candles, as such helps to prevent the black soot created by burning the latter from forming on nearby walls or ceilings. You may also rest your choice on glass candle lanterns for outdoor lighting as their glass panels can help to prevent the candle's flame from being extinguished by the wind or protect the candle inside from the wind or moisture.
Brightness and lighting effects of glass candle lanterns.
Plain, textured, frosted, or stained glass beautify each glass candle lantern while helping to keep the candle's flame burning even under windy or high moisture conditions. In addition, the different types of glass also make each glass candle lantern create different lighting effects, so here are our quick rundown as to the types of glass candle lanterns and the brightness and lighting effects that they shed to serve as your guide as to which glass candle lantern can answer your needs for bright or decorative candle lighting:
Clear Glass Candle Lanterns. Using them is often tantamount to lighting your candles without a covering, as clear glass does not obstruct the flow of light, thus it efficiently allows the candle's flame to light the surroundings of the lantern. Clear glass candle lanterns are, thus, perfect for dim task lighting, as candle centerpieces for dimly-lit party venue, outdoor lighting for your garden or patio at night, or for emergency candle lighting during power outage.
Textured Glass Candle Lanterns. The uneven surface of textured make these lanterns create a colorful glowing effect, which makes them perfect for decorative lighting and low light task lighting.
Frosted Glass Candle Lanterns. They create a beautiful, warm, and soft glow of light that is right for a romantic party setting and make the candle's flame appear to be partly obscured inside the lantern, owing to their almost opaque glass surface. Etched glass candle lanterns, or frosted glass with etched pattern, are also perfect for dim lighting as they shed not only a brighter glow of light than completely frosted glass candle lanterns, the candle's light also brings out the beautiful patterns on their surface, even reflect the same patterns on the tables or nearby walls.
Stained Glass Candle Lanterns. Usually found among the Moroccan lanterns, stained glass candle lanterns shed an impressively colorful glow that brings out the beauty of their design. Stained glass candle lanterns may be covered with non-textured stained glass or etched stained glass, which shed a colorful glow that is right for decorative lighting, or covered with both clear glass and stained glass, which makes them an ideal choice for both close-up task lighting and decorative lighting.
Lighting effects of metal candle lanterns.
Also known as filigree candle lanterns, these candle lanterns with intricately-carved metal frame that makes for their exquisite design stand out in dim and dark surroundings when brightly-lit, although they shed a soft and warm glow of light, and they reflect beautiful patterns to nearby surfaces.
What is the ideal size of candle lanterns for a table centerpiece?
There are basically three (3) factors to consider when you decide on the size of candle lanterns for a table centerpiece, especially for dining, and these are the maximum height of the candle lantern and the width and length (applies specifically to rectangular tables) of the table centerpiece.
Ideal table centerpiece height: The rule of thumb for any centerpiece is to choose one that is not high enough to obstruct the vision of guests across the table and the highest point should be below eye level, thus, a maximum height of 12 inches, usually, makes for a good number for candle lanterns wedding centerpieces for the dining tables.
Maximum width for table centerpiece: Measure the width of your party tables and deduct 24" as allowance, assumed to be the two (2) 12-inch spaces for place setting for a pair of guest across the table. Thus, for a 60-inch round table, your table centerpiece, ideally, should measure up to 36 inches, i.e., 60 inch minus 24 inch. A 12-inch to 13-inch space at the center of a round table is also provided by some table rental companies, which you can follow as a guide as to how many and what sizes of candle lanterns, plus other centerpiece details, you can arrange within a 12" to 13" diameter or square as your party dining tables' centerpiece.1
Maximum length for table centerpiece: Measure the length of your rectangular table and, similarly, deduct 24" from the total length, accounting for two (2) sets of 12" inch space for the place settings of guests at the corner of the tables. Due to the usually narrow width of rectangular tables, you may be prompted to use small candle lanterns. You may want to start with a pair of small candle lantern illumined by tea light or votive candles per four (4) guests on a dimly-lit party venue.1
Small to large candle lanterns, therefore, will perfectly pass for a table centerpiece. Mix-and-match these candle lanterns in different styles and sizes to create a sense of variety and surround them with tea light candles, river rocks, flowers, and your sparkling glassware to complete your DIY wedding centerpiece. Don't be afraid to use large candle lanterns, as you can fill them with one or more pieces of short pillar candles for brighter lighting.
What is the ideal height of the candle to use inside a candle lantern?
For wedding and parties, candle lanterns with a top cover usually look their best with candles that stand up to midway the glass, or metal panel, that covers the lantern's side. At this height, the candle's flame glows just right at, or at most, up to an inch above the middle of the lantern's glass or metal sidings. When choosing candles for party lighting, make sure that they are capable to glow for hours and brighten up your whole evening. Don't limit your choice to pillar candles, though, as highly-efficient
tea light candles are also available.
How to choose candle lanterns for formal and casual events?
For formal events, like weddings, go for the elegantly-styled candle lanterns, like the Moroccan candle lanterns and filigree candle lanterns. They are sure to look pretty together with short or short or topiary-styled flower centerpiece and make for a picture-perfect table setting with stemmed wine glasses on the side.
For casual events, simple-styled candle lanterns, like the metal candle lanterns with clear and plain glass panels, can even stand alone for a laid-back party setting. You can easily bring them, too, to a garden, marquee, or waterfront party setting due to their design that mimics the traditional outdoor lamps.
Candle lanterns for themed weddings, special occasions, and decorating styles also never run short here on AsianIdeas.com, and they can easily blend with the already existing details of your party setting, like a garden or waterfront. You can try our:
Birdcage candle lantern for your garden wedding;
Lighthouse candle lanterns for your beach wedding and parties;
Pagoda candle lanterns or Chinese calligraphy candle lanterns for your Asian wedding;
Dragonfly lanterns and zen candle lanterns to bring the inspiration of the Japanese zen garden; or,
Star candle lanterns for a star-themed quinceanera party, bridal shower, or wedding.
Candle Lanterns Safety Tips
Place candle lanterns away from the reach of children and pets. Glass candle lanterns can break when dropped and when lit, their metal and glass surfaces can generate heat and tend to become very hot, they may burn your child's hand or cause fire.
Place lanterns at a distance from flammable materials, like curtains, carpets, and electrical wires.
Hang candle lanterns at areas that do not obstruct walkways and pathways, especially to keep them from bumping onto people's heads.
Place candle lanterns on top of a stable and heat-resistant surface to prevent heat damage to delicate counters and tabletops.2
If risk for fire is a concern, remember that battery-operated tea light candles can also be used to illumine your candle lanterns.
Use metal chains when hanging candle lanterns on breezy or windy outdoors. Metal chains can add more weight to candle lanterns, so they don’t easily get swayed by the breeze or wind.
Ensure proper ventilation when lighting candles.
Completely extinguish candles before going to bed or going out of the room.
Keep open-top candle lanterns away from drafts, vents, ceiling fans, and air currents to prevent rapid and uneven burning and avoid flame flare-ups and sooting.2
Never use a knife or sharp object to remove wax drippings from a glass holder. It might scratch, weaken, or cause the glass to break upon subsequent use.2
Be very careful if using candles during a power outage, especially when looking for things in a closet. Flashlights and other battery-powered lights are safer sources of light during a power failure.2
Never use candles, although inside a candle lanterns, as a night light. 2
The Popular Types of Asian Candle Lanterns
Asian Pagoda Candle Lanterns. Considered as one of the most sacred objects in Asia, the Asian pagoda candle lanterns have four to six sides with a tapered and pointed top, layered eaves that often curve outward, and high "first storey", which are characteristics of Asian pagodas. Perfect for indoor and outdoor lighting, the pagoda candle lanterns can easily fill a very elegant zen garden-inspired or Oriental inspiration to any space, especially when used on a garden, patio, and other outdoor spaces.
Moroccan Candle Lanterns. These highly-decorative and popular lanterns from Morocco flaunt a Mediterranean design and characterized for their intricately-carved metal panels that let them shed beautiful shadows to nearby walls, ceilings, or around them when illumined. They may also have colorful side panels that are made of stained glass, which let them shed a jewel-like glow when lit.
Chinese Candle Lanterns. Paper lanterns are actually a remembrance of the earliest Chinese candle lanterns and, interestingly, their design then and now has apparently changed only a little. Chinese candle lanterns come in an immense variety. They are typically constructed of bamboo, redwood, or wire frame and covered with translucent material, like oiled paper, rice paper, nylon, or silk; they also come in plain colors or finished with an elaborately hand-painted artwork, and a hanging tassel that adds to their protective charm.
During the early times where candles were considered as the most reliable light source, Chinese candle lanterns were used to protect the flame of one or two candle lights from being extinguished by the wind or storm. They were used inside the homes and merchant shops, or hung outdoors from the eaves or doorway, thus, served secondarily as lights on the streets. Some Chinese candle lanterns were also rolled on the ground with candle suspended within, others were on wheels, still others were carried by hand using a holding stick, displayed on the walls, used to divide rooms, hung freely from the ceiling, or attached to poles.
3Japanese Candle Lanterns. Simple-styled and sporting a timeless design, Japanese candle lanterns usually call to mind the Shoji screens, or lattice paper panels, that are traditionally used as dividers inside the Japanese homes.
Star Candle Lanterns. Star-shaped lanterns, especially 5-pointed star candle lanterns, easily take an Asian's mind to India, where they are celebrated as the guiding light of Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess for Wealth, and hung on the doorways of Indian homes and buildings during the Diwali Festival. Depicted in a wide array of colors, themes, and designs, you can also find an interesting array of 4-pointed to three-dimensional star candle lanterns among Asian candle lanterns.
Candle Lanterns Wedding Centerpiece and Decorating Ideas
There are infinite ways by which you can decorate candle lanterns wedding centerpiece or embellish them for special occasions, and among our favorites include:
The classic white candle lanterns wedding centerpiece: Put white candle lanterns as a centerpiece and surround them with fresh flowers;
Beach or beach-inspired table setting: Place candle lanterns over river rocks or beach sand with a few seashells, starfish, and plumeria or sunflower as accent;
Tropical table setup: Let a large, a few small, or a mix of different-sized candle lanterns stand on top of a large tropical leaf that is placed at the center of the dining table. Surround the candle lanterns with smaller-sized tropical leaves, flowers, tropical fruits, or berries;
Snow-themed Candle Lanterns: Pick a candle lantern with a wide base enough for you to make a good miniature landscape for snowman, sleigh, and a tiny Christmas tree, and candle. Fill the base of the lantern with faux snow and then arrange your Christmas ornaments and candles inside the lantern.
Garland on Candle Lanterns: Simply glue faux flowers, leaves, or other types of ornaments around your candle lantern. You can also wrap your lantern with a rubber band in the same color and insert your ornaments one-by-one, like a branch of tree, fresh or faux flowers (Tip: To keep the fresh flowers for a long time, try filling a small plastic with water, place the end of the stem inside it, and tie it around the flower's stem using a rubber band), or faux leaves and arrange them as you like.
Any decorating style for candle lanterns for weddings and other special occasions surely would come out as a hit. Enjoy our candle lanterns in different styles, sizes, colors, and shapes, plus grab big savings from our wholesale candle lanterns. You can also pick candle lanterns for wedding favors and instantly complete them in Asian style using our specially-designed Asian
personalized stickers and favor tags.
References:
1http://interiordesign.lovetoknow.com/Christmas_Table_Centerpiece
2http://www.candles.org/safety_rules.html
3http://www.chssc.org/Festival/Moon/moonfest/moonfestivalp38-39-2.htm
