How To Build A Farmhouse Hanging Lantern Display
I will show you how I built these farmhouse style hanging lanterns for my dining room!
Did you happen to catch the latest DIY farmhouse project reveal from my dining room makeover? In case you missed it, I shared the two Fixer Upper style hanging lantern displays that I made to flank either side of my buffet.
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I LOVE these and catch myself walking into my dining room quite often, just to stare at this wall. Ssshhh…don’t tell. I think it’s all of the textures, colors and layers that are so appealing to me.
Anyway, these indoor hanging lanterns were soooo easy to make! They have so much more impact than if they were simply hanging directly from the wall. Let me show you what I did.
SUPPLIES NEEDED TO BUILD FARMHOUSE HANGING LANTERN DISPLAYS:
This supply list is for ONE hanging lantern display.
1″ X 6″ pine boards – not pressure treated for outdoor use
Palm Sander or sandpaper – THIS ONE is my favorite!
2 – 12″ Metal Mending Straps – You may need something shorter if your boards are not as wide as mine.
8 – 1/2″ Wood Screws – Adjust the length you need according to the thickness of your boards.
Drill – We just bought THIS ONE and I love it!
Drill bit – sized for the size screws you are using
Screw bit – A kit like this one is super handy.
Chop Saw – THIS ONE IS A GOOD PRICE FOR A BASIC MITER SAW. Or – have the home improvement store cut the board to size for you.
Brown stain of your choice – I used MINWAX SPECIAL WALNUT
Gray stain of your choice – I used MINWAX CLASSIC GRAY
1 pair of “D” RING HANGERS
1 – Lantern of your choice THIS ONE IS SIMILAR TO MINE AND IS ON SALE!
1 – Hook to hang the lantern from – I USED THIS ONE.
1 – Wire Wall Basket – I USED THIS ONE. It’s on sale!
Glass Vases – The wire basket that I used holds 5 OF THESE.
FAUX GREENERY BUSH – With stems snipped off
Step 1: Determine the size of the boards you need by laying your lantern and wall basket on the floor in the arrangement that is appealing to you. Once you’ve determined the spacing that you like, measure for the length and width of the board you need. I needed a 1″ x 6″ x 8′ board that was cut into two 48″ long pieces. That gave me a few inches of space above the lantern and below the wire basket and about 1″ of space on each side.
Step 2: Give the boards a light sanding with the palm sander or sand paper on what will be the face side, the edges and the top and bottom of each board. When finished, wipe the boards down with a damp rag to remove all of the wood particles.
Step 3 – Apply stain to each of the wooden boards before attaching them together. Apply one coat of the Minwax Special Walnut stain to what will be the front side, the edges and the top and bottom of each board. I wanted the brown to be darker, so I allowed the stain the sit for a minute before wiping the excess off. It’s up to you if you want to stain what will be the back side or not. I chose not to. #lazy
Step 4 – Apply the Minwax Classic Gray stain on top of the Special Walnut stain. Technically, you’re supposed to allow the stain to dry between coats, but I didn’t. I just slapped the gray right on top of the brown while it was still wet. #impatient
In the above photo, the board on the left has one coat of the gray stain and the board on the right doesn’t have any gray. It wasn’t gray enough for me, so I applied a second thick coat of gray stain, allowed it sit for a minute or two and then wiped the excess off. In the below photo, I’ve applied the second coat of gray to the board on the left, but haven’t wiped it down yet. The board on the right has one coat of gray stain.
Step 5 – After the stain has dried, turn the boards over so that they are face down. Butt them up to each other and attach a metal mending plate near the top and one near the bottom to hold them together. Attach the D ring hangers to what will be the top, making sure they are level. You may need to predrill the holes for your screws so that the wood doesn’t split.
Step 6 – I don’t have a photo of this step, but turn the boards back over so that they are right side up and attach the metal hook for the lantern and the metal basket to the wood.
Step 7 – Hang the display on the wall, fill the wire baskets with glass vases and greenery and enjoy!
I admit that I was hesitant about adding these hanging lantern displays to my dining room wall. I was afraid that it would be too much, but I couldn’t have been more wrong – they are just what my farmhouse dining room needed!
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE THESE FARMHOUSE STYLE PROJECT TUTORIALS:
SIMPLE DIY PROJECTS FROM MY BREAKFAST AREA MAKEOVER
HOW TO BUILD A RUSTIC SOFA TABLE
Love it!!!
Thank you, Bev!
This is beautiful! I love how country chic this is. Thanks for sharing with us at Family Joy Blog Link Up Party this week! Have a lovely week!
Thank you, Charlene. I hope you have a great weekend!
I love the look of the lantern. Thanks for the tutorial and linking up with Family Joy Link Up Party!
Thank you, Becky!
These look fab! I really want to try making my own version of this for our hallway. Thanks so much for the inspiration – pinned for later 🙂
So glad you like them, Sam. Have fun making some of your own!
This is fabulous and I love your style. I’m trying to achieve a similar look in my home. Thanks for the sharing all the loveliness!
Thank you, Malissa. Have a great weekend!
What a beautiful addition to your walls! I love lanterns and snatch them up from garage sales whether I have place for them or not. You never know!
I love lanterns too, Audra! I wish that I could make myself get out early enough to hit the garage sales on the weekends!
I love how your handing lantern turned out. Thanks for the tutorial.Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party. Pinned & Shared.
Thank you so much, Theresa!
This is so pretty! Our decor is more coastal but if it were farm style, I’d definitely be trying to make one of these! Thanks for sharing with us at Share The Wealth Sunday. I hope we see you again tonight!
Thank you, so much!
This is a great project! Your dining room is so inviting, I would love to come there for dinner! Thank you for sharing with us at Totally Terrific Tuesday! We hope to see you back again this week!
Hi Nicki. Come on over for dinner anytime! 😀
Oh wow! This is stunning and so unique! I’m sure it’s quite the conversation starter!
Thanks for sharing (and for linking up to the #SHINEbloghop).
Wishing you a lovely week.
xoxo
Thank you, Jennifer!
Hi Suzy! I have chosen your DIY hanging lanterns for my feature this week at Totally Terrific Tuesdays. You always amaze me!
Aw, you are too sweet, Sherry. Thank you!
Those are beautiful! Will have to make some for myself!!
Love the lantern. Excellent work. Pinned and featured this week. Best to you. Linda @Crafts a la mode
This is seriously gorgeous!
Featuring you tomorrow on my blog!
XO
Thank you so much, Desiree!
I love these lantern displays! I have two lanterns that I have been trying to find a place for, but nothing has been working. I never thought of creating a place to hang them. I also love the idea of hanging a basket underneath it so you can change the contents to match the season. I think this will be my project this weekend. Thanks!
Thank you so much, April. Have fun with your project!
Hi Suzy! I love this! When you attached the hooks for the lanterns and baskets, did you attach a little to the right of the seams where the boards attach to each other? The pics look like you attached right in the crease of the two boards, but I know that can’t be right or the screw wouldn’t have anything to hold to. Of course the one pic you don’t show, and I get confused! Haha!
Hi Shelley. Yes, I attached the hooks right in the seam between the two boards. The boards are butted up against each other and are held in place by the metal plates on the back. Since there’s no open space at all between them, the screws bite into each of the boards. Make sense? There isn’t a hook holding the baskets. They’re held in place with a screw toward the top corner of each one, so the seam wasn’t an issue. Hope this helps!
I love these!!
These are so cool! And, the tutorial is easey, peasey!!!! Thanks!
Great idea that turned out beautifully! They look fabulous!
How do you take your wonderful pictures.