Decorating with Japanese Lamps
Japanese lanterns were introduced to Japan by the Chinese and are great to decorate with. The stone versions were originally used to light the paths of temples and shrines, and later became a fixture at tea ceremonies. You can use both paper and stone Japanese lanterns in your home to great effect. The wonderful thing about Japanese lanterns is that they can be used across many different design styles. Made out of rice paper, Japanese lanterns use low wattage-bulbs and therefore should not be used as your main lighting source. They can, however, provide beautiful, soft ambient lighting.
Several Japanese lanterns strung from the ceiling down the center of a hallway can be a stunning, warm welcome to anyone walking into the space, royally them into the other rooms in your home.
If you have a corner in the room that is begging for some floor lighting, consider a shoji floor lamp. They often have a lattice pattern made out of wood on the outside, delicate rice paper on the inside. The structure of the lamp gives it an almost furniture-like heft while the bulb inside shoots a gorgeous, restrained glow across the room.
Instead of a traditional wall sconce, try a Japanese lantern wall sconce. There are some amazing lantern-style sconces available, and in a traditional bathroom, one on either side of a large mirror can help add a touch of the exotic to the space.
Instead of one table lamp, try a cluster of lanterns of different sizes. When the lights are off, it creates a pleasing geometric effect, and when the lights are on, it will give a stunning but subtle glow.
If you have a garden, line identical lanterns along both sides of a path. If you don't have a path, you can create one with the lanterns using the same technique. You can also create a fantastic visual by hanging lanterns from tree limbs. You can use battery-powered light sources for these.
