All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Design ideas for indoor paper lanterns
A paper lantern is one of the most ubiquitous elements of design, thanks in large part to IKEA, whose large, very affordable globes have decorated houses across the country for years and hark back to the late 90s and early noughties (at least for me in the case of my parents' house). These huge paper light fittings are endlessly appealing, whether the cheap IKEA version or a proper Noguchi design. They are simple yet make a statement. They fill a space but don't take the attention of a room and they diffuse light in a wonderful way.
They are a rare breed of design piece that is both utterly timeless (Noguchi's designs have been around since the 1950s, while Pinch's more recent Soren globe lights could have come from any era) and work in nearly any room, from a mid-century flat to a cottage kitchen. As Cassandra Ellis, founder of Atelier Ellis paint company, so neatly puts it, “what I love about these lights – and I've hoarded a stash of them – is that you just cannot find anything better. I get inspired by them. They can sit in any type of property, from a Californian house like Sea Ranch or in an old Georgian. They are utter perfection.”
From the affordable end of the scale to collector's items, this is how paper lanterns have been used across the House & Garden archive.
Christoper Horwood1/11A paper shade from Hay takes centre stage in the main living room of Lucy Williams' London house. It's a classic example of the design, and adds a layer of warmth in the evening.
Chris Horwood2/11Looking through to the room that connects the living room to the kitchen, a Pinch light gives the same effect but in a more formal, grown up way that works with the space.
Simon Brown3/11A pendant light from Heal's is reflected in the mirror in this tiny flat designed by Beata Heuman. It suits the small space better than a sphere, as it takes up less room both physically and visually.
Chris Horwood4/11An Isamu Noguchi paper light hangs in the hallway of Cassandra Ellis' Battersea flat. She has many throughout her flat and uses them in all different rooms.
Chris Horwood5/11In the living room, a Noguchi lamp is in the foreground, while one of his more sculptural paper lanterns hangs to the side of the sofa.
Mark Anthony Fox6/11The bathroom in artist Haidee Becker's house and studio, is lined with art, as well as plants. Haidee has hung a simple paper lantern to soften the room's overhead lighting; the hanging paper mobile created by Haidee's daughter, Rachel, is an excellent artistic accent.
Christopher Horwood7/11In the spare bedroom of this Hackney coach house, a Pinch ‘Soren’ globe light hangs over the bed. It takes up a lot of space in the room but works in just the right way.
Elsa Young8/11Pinch's ‘Soren’ light hangs above the table in this Ibizan farmhouse, adding to the natural quality and materials used.
Esther Bellepoque9/11There are two instances of rare edition Noguchi lights in Stanley Quaia's flat; one seen here in the bathroom is the oval shape, while a sphere hangs in the bedroom.
Milo Brown10/11High ceilings – like those in this Lonika Chande project – suit paper lanterns as you can hang them at any height. Here, a Pinch design anchors the space.
Line T Klein11/11A Noguchi rice paper lamp hangs over the dining table in this cool Copenhagen apartment.
