No Need For Pricey Lights — Turn Sticks Into A Boho Lantern For Your Patio

If you want to turn your patio into a peaceful, stylish, and whimsical oasis, you'll need lights. And we're not talking about plain string lights or whatever lantern you found at the store. You'll need lights that are unique and fun, and that truly add some visual interest to your space. One option is to go to a store like Anthropologie and spend $100 or more on a nature-inspired lamp. Or, if you'd prefer to avoid spending that kind of money on pricey lights, you can make your own boho lantern with a few sticks. 

The idea for this cute DIY comes from TikTok creator @macrami_arts. She used a few branches from outside and some simple jute cord to create a stunning lantern structure. Then, paired it with an LED tea light, which is a safe option as it will prevent a hidden fire hazard in your house, whether you use it indoors or out. The creator also added a see-through layer around the tea light to warm the glow and add a bit of dimension, which you can adapt in your own DIY or skip altogether. 

In order to do this DIY, you'll need a bit of jute cord, scissors, and some hot glue. For the frame, you'll need 18 straight sticks that are all approximately equal in size and thickness. Look for sticks that measure around 4 inches and about ½ an inch thick. If you have longer sticks, use some shears to cut them into equal pieces. For the translucent piece in the center of the lantern, you can use a rectangular section of baking paper or colorful transparent vellum paper. To zhuzh it up, grab some small dried leaves and stick them onto the paper with hot glue.

Start this DIY by creating an X with two sticks, and secure them together in the center with a dot of hot glue. Then, add two parallel sticks on either side of the X, using dots of hot glue to hold them in place. Now, grab some jute cord and wrap it around the intersections of the sticks. You can skip the hot glue and use only the jute cord, but that added step can help keep everything in place while you tie the cord. Repeat this process four times to create four identical shapes, each using four sticks. Those are the "sides" of your lantern. 

[embed=https://www.tiktok.com/@macrami_arts/video/7626077634803322144}

Attach all sides together using more jute cord to create a "box" shape, and add one final X made of two sticks on top. Flip it upside down, and you should have a cube that's open on top. You can use it as is by placing a small LED tea light at the center of the cube, where the bottom sticks meet. To keep the light secure, consider adding a piece of tape to the bottom of it before placing it on the sticks. It would make a cute bedside mini light, or you can use it to give your fireplace mantel a stunning fall makeover.

If you'd like to add the translucent layer, this is where your baking paper comes in handy. Cut a small piece that's about 2 inches tall and 10 inches wide. Loop it into a circle, using hot glue to secure it so it fits inside the twig box you've created. Place it inside, using hot glue where needed to hold it in place, then add the LED light. That's it! Place these lanterns around your patio for some cozy autumnal ambiance, or add branches of holly berries to spice up your holiday decor.