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Choose the best lanterns for the living room. Guide to buying Lanterns.

If you light a lantern for another, it will also brighten your own way ~ Nichiren.

The word lanterns originated from the Greek word “Lampien” which means “to shine”.  Lampien is modified into the word Lantern in modern English, and it means something that lights up the surroundings as well. Lanterns have been around us and used for the longest time. They have taken many forms and materials change over time. They were used in the earliest of times to light up homes with candles in them. After light bulbs are invented, lanterns have been used as a fashion accessory. Let’s see what lanterns have in store for you in terms of variety and style.

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Types of lanterns

A lantern is a device that is enclosed to shield the inner lying candle or wick. The inner material is being replaced by the LED light, batteries, and solar panels.

Following are some of the common types of lanterns being used and operated.

Electrically operated lanterns

This major division is divided into further subtypes:

LED lanterns

A step up to the new era where LED lights have taken over. They can stay lit up for longer time, it makes LED lanterns important. LED lanterns are preferred by campers because of their portability and ease of maintenance. They can be tiny in size and large as well, with ease to operate. They would usually have an on and off button. They are also made waterproof. You can use them to light up the outside garden and patio.

Solar Lanterns

As their name suggests these lanterns are powered by solar power. They can be easily charged up using small solar panels by placing them in the sun. They also have an option for a USB charger. The new and smart lanterns are all smart, portable, easy to operate. Solar panel lanterns are cheap, and you would not need to replace the batteries after every specific time interval. This lantern won’t be useful in the winters when sunlight is not enough to charge the lantern.

Battery operating lanterns:

This type comes with a battery that can be replaced. Again, with new innovative technologies and developments, these lanterns are easy to operate and use. They are cheap and can be taken to places where the sun does not shine like in the case of solar power lanterns. You just have to have enough batteries. For camping, to northern areas and far off forests this lantern would be perfect.

Fuel based lanterns:

In case you do not have direct access to power or batteries and sun, you can use these lanterns. They are in the middle of lantern evolution. Between candle lanterns and electrically operating lanterns, these fuel-based lanterns lie. The main drawback is the continuous need for fuel among others like accidental fires. Following lanterns are included in fuel-based lanterns.

Butane And propane lantern:

Working on butane and propane as fuel this kind of lantern would be best to use around winters. These are very common hydrocarbons being used as natural fuels. The reason being the light produced by the burning of the fuel. This fuel produces heat and light and makes the surroundings warm. So, you can have a portable small heater with you on your camping trips. They usually have a hanger with which you can hang the lantern from the roof of your camp or room. No need for an electrical source. As long as you have some fuel and lantern, you are good to go.

Methane and Kerosine Oil lanterns:

Methane is another hydrocarbon. The energy is produced when the bonds between carbon and hydrogen break and this energy is used as a fuel for burning. Methane and Kerosine are normal fuels used to light fires. Methane lanterns are also attached to a gas source which gives it the energy to burn. Using these lanterns is cheap as is the gas in our homes. But there is always a threat of gas leakage and accidental fires.

Candle lanterns:

Starting from the very earliest of times, candle lanterns have been with us for as long as we can remember. These are simple wax and thread; the thread is dipped in wax. Wax provides energy for the thread to burn easily. They are still used for traditional settings. Where there is no electricity, batteries, and fuels, there are candles. No need for something extra. Just a matchstick and the lantern would give you enough light and warmth. They are simple but pretty. All of these are the reasons why candle lanterns have still been around for so long.

Characteristics to be taken into account before buying the Lantern.

Size of the lantern:

This matters for fitting the lanterns into your luggage while packing for a camping adventure. The small-sized lantern is useful and efficient. So, choose a petite and cute lantern for your camping excavations and discover the wilderness, the mountains, and the forests. Small lanterns are also desirable when you want to decorate a place. Many small lanterns would look prettier than a single big lantern.

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Light intensity:

The light intensity of the lantern is of importance for different applications. If you are camping at night in dark forests, you need lighter than in the mountains with stars and moon. The light given out by the lantern or any other light source like a bulb is measured in Lumens. A lumen is a standard international unit used to measure the light produced by a light source that is visible to the eye. 100-200 lumens are enough for camping in the woods for a person or two. So, this is to be considered before buying a lantern.

Run time:

Either rechargeable or solar-powered or fuel operated. The run time is important as it controls for how much time we can enjoy the light of the lantern. The general sense says that rechargeable and solar panels would lose from a fuel-operated lantern. Because as long as you have the fuel you have light. But the rechargeable lanterns depend on their capacity to store the power in them. So, either you can take your fuel with you, or you can take two or three chargeable lanterns. It is up to you.

Ability to adjust light:

Why should there be a need to adjust the light given out by the lantern? While camping in the woods and mountains you have to be careful to not make enough sound or light to attract any wild things. So, there should be a need to adjust the light. Lanterns are not only used in climbing but also if you are using a lantern at your side table to read a book or take a walk down in the park. You have to have the option to adjust the light intensity.

Weight of the lanterns:

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The lanterns can be hung by the ceiling or kept on the stand. You can hold it in your hand while taking a walk or going hiking. For all these reasons you can use the lanterns, they must be lightweight and easy to keep. They are to be light in weight so your hand does not get tired. Lanterns should be light so if they are hung from the ceiling, so they do not fall off. But also, lanterns shouldn’t be too lightweight that they fall down after a mere wind strike.

Material lanterns:

Just like “Manners make the man”, material make the objects. Good materials make good objects and vice versa. Following is the list of materials that are used to make the lanterns. Lanterns are made of two distinct regions. One is for shielding that consists of metals or plastics and the other part is transparent to let the light out. Metals lanterns are used indoors and outdoors. But mostly as outdoor lanterns because of their durability and weather resistance.

Metals like iron and Aluminum:

In recent simple times, corrodible iron was used extensively and widely in lantern making. It was easily available, cheap, and cast-able. It is now almost replaced by Aluminum. Aluminum has many advantages for being a lighter metal than iron, less corrosion-prone. Aluminum is also coated with some other material to protect the Aluminum from corrosion. It is easy to handle and cheaper.

Copper:

Copper is another important metal finding its applications in many walks of life. Copper mixed with Zinc results is a very strong alloy called Brass. This alloy and copper are extremely weather-resistant and strong. Durable copper makes up a greenish corrosive layer when subjected to environmental extremities that lead to corrosion. This layer protects the underlying copper from further corrosion. Corrosion resistance is important for the materials that we use for a longer time.

Zinc:

Zinc is another very important metal. It is a bit brittle so it can be molded into a variety of shapes and designs. To fight off the brittleness it is mixed with other metals like titanium to strengthen it. This makes up a very strong material that is weather-resistant and extremely useful in lanterns. Metals all of them have a very polished and unique finish to them and that is why they are still being used for over many centuries now.

Plastic lanterns:

The most recent and unique new advent is to use plastics for your lanterns. Plastics are light and inexpensive. Many new material that comes under the category of plastics like Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics and Polyethylene glycol (PEG) are being used in making these lanterns’ outer bodies.

Synthetic and traditional Glass:

Glass and plastics are mainly used for the transparent part of the lantern. Traditional glass is used but that is heavy and can break easily. This can be harmful. Plus, glass and plastics can get heated up, break, and melted respectively. Synthetic glass materials are also used made from polymers. Polymers like Polycarbonate which is transparent resembling glass. Scratch-proof and high durability is the selling point of synthetic glass. It is lightweight which is a good thing because traditional glass material would make the whole thing heavy. Impact resistance provided by this type of glass is very crucial as it protects the lanterns from accidental bumps.

PMMA- Polymethyl Methacrylate is another polymer glass that is synthetic and strong. It is also very durable and resistant to force and pressure. They are also heat resistant and protect the inside bulb or candle. This is a good material for the lanterns.

Location of the lanterns

You can keep your lanterns anywhere you want as long as they fit there. Keep it in your bag or hold it in your hand if you are going hiking. If you want to read a book at night and do not want to disturb your partner, you can use the lantern on the side table of your bed. Keep it on the top of the fireplace to get the luminescence of the lantern and the warmth of the fireplace. You can use them to decorate almost any place. Either it’s a birthday party or candlelight dinner. New and trendy style lanterns would find their place and application anywhere. You can decorate these lanterns with fairy lights to create a magical sight. A central light source surrounded by little twinkling stars would create a scene out of this world. You can also hang them from the ceilings in place of electric lights to get an old-time charm. Lanterns can also be used to decorate patios and gardens. You can keep your lanterns on the garden statues to bring them to life. A little pretty light enclosed in outer shell would make anything look pretty.

Expert’s advice:

You can get lanterns in a variety of shapes and styles. They work on different kinds of phenomena. These can be gifted to loved ones. They can decorate our homes and rooms, study areas, and dining areas. So, choose the lantern that suits your needs and budget and decorate your home. Happy Lighting.

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