Hanging paper lanterns are usually not pre-assembled, especially if you buy them through the internet.  They are available in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes.  Although they come disassembled, they are one of the easiest things to set up, but only if you are careful; they should not be handled roughly.

Most lanterns are ball shaped, so we will talk about setting up these kinds of lanterns.  Because the lanterns come flat, they naturally try to revert back to this state, so an expander is needed to force pry them open.  A perfectly fitting expander should come with your lantern.  You’ll need a cord with a socket on the end, which come in lengths of ten to fifteen feet.  If you need more distance, you’ll likely need an extension cord.  Be sure you measure the distance from your outlet to where you want the lantern to reside before attempting to set up your lighting display.

Inserting the expander is easy, but it requires concentration and careful movement.  The paper is very easy to rip, so be sure you pay attention to what you’re doing.  Notice first that there are two holes in the lantern, and notice that one is bigger than the other.  The big one is the top of the lantern; this is where you will insert the expander.  There are grooves on the top and the bottom of the expander; this is where the expander will come into contact with the paper.  Insert the expander, and you must be sure that the paper is in the grooves at the bottom; then, pull the expander up and snap it into place in the grooves at the top of the lantern.  You’re done!

Now it’s time to run your cord.  You’ll want to do it plugged in first, so you can be sure of the exact distance.  If you’re running it on a ceiling, hang it by hooks.  If you don’t have hooks, use a strong tape.  Be warned, though, tape looks really tacky.  At the end, be sure the socket hangs straight down before going any further.

Now, it’s time to insert the light bulb.  Be sure you unplug the cord, first!  You don’t want to risk electrocution.  Screw in your bulb now.  But, be sure you are not exceeding the maximum recommended wattage for the cord you are using.  The usual wattage is sixty.  Some can go as high as seventy-five, and if you have a cord designed for filming paper lanterns (known as Chinaballs), it can be as high as six hundred and sixty.  To be safe, use sixty if you are unsure.  When you are done, attach the lantern.  It should hang nicely from the socket.  And, because you set it up hanging straight down (you did what we said, didn’t you?), the lantern should hang nicely.

You’re done!  Now you can enjoy a source of dim, peaceful light.  Or, if you prefer brighter light, you can use a higher wattage bulb (be sure you don’t exceed the wattage recommended for the cord you are using!).  Paper lanterns provide a cheap, safe, and beautiful alternative to traditional light fixtures.

More about paper lanterns and about the different uses of chinese paper lanterns.