Hanging paper lanterns come in various shapes and sizes and usually come needing assembly.
If you want to avoid the assembly process, you can buy pre-assembled lanterns at stores.
Generally, though, paper lanterns come needing some assembly.
They are easy to set up and use, and they often can be completed within twenty minutes, depending on the complexity of the situation.
Most paper lanterns are ball shaped, and they come with a metal expander.
A cord is needed and is often sold separately.
Before buying a cord, it is helpful to measure the distance from your electrical outlet to where you want the lantern to hang.
Measure up the wall and along the ceiling, and then add two feet for room of error.
Common sizes of cords are ten and fifteen feet.
If a longer cord is needed you may have to use an extension cord.
Setting up the expander is easy, but one must be careful while doing it.
It is easy to rip the paper with the expander; if you rip the paper, your lamp is ruined.
Paper lanterns are usually made with some type of wire that runs in a spiral through the paper, and they are usually collapsible, which allows them to be packaged and mailed flat.
Since they are collapsible, the metal expanders are needed to prop them fully open.
To do this, insert the expander in the top (usually the size of the holes in the lantern are different; the larger hole is the top) and hook the grooves at the bottom on to the edges of the hole at the bottom of the paper.
Then, you should pull the paper up to the top of the expander, which should have grooves that hold the paper; the grooves should be placed exactly where they need to be and the placement should be obvious.
Next, you need to run the cord.
Plug the cord into the wall, run it up the wall, and use hooks to hold the cord up on the ceiling.
Tape can also be used, but use an appropriate kind of tape, such as duct tape, and use it in large quantities.
Because tape can lose stickiness, we recommend using hooks.
Run the cord along the ceiling and attach the lantern to the end of it.
Be sure it looks how you want it.
Next, unplug the cord and screw in the light bulb.
When screwing the bulb in, be sure the bulb is as in the middle of the lantern as possible; it should not touch the sides, as this can start a fire.
CFC bulbs are recommended over incandescent because they produce little heat.
Be sure not to exceed the maximum recommended wattage for the cord to reduce the risk of a fire.
Once the bulb is screwed in, flip on the on-switch and your light should be working.
If it does not, check the connection and make sure the bulb is properly screwed in.
Now you're ready to enjoy your paper lantern.