DIY Rustic Wooden Lantern

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Yay!  Summertime is in full swing and between barbecuing and swimming, our family is spending the majority of our time outside!  With that, I decided I want my outdoor living space to feel as welcoming and decorated as I like my indoor space to feel.  I came up with this DIY Rustic Wooden Lantern design to adorn my outdoor table.  It’s super easy and cute enough to bring inside when the weather turns cold again!

In less than an hour and with a little elbow grease, you can have one of these sweet lanterns yourself!

My supply list:

• (1) 1/2″x6″x2′ poplar board (around $5 a piece)
• (3) 5/8″x36″ square poplar dowels (around $2 a piece)
• Stain of your choice, I had Rust-Oleum Varathane in Weathered Grey on hand and I LOVE it!

I love the color it gives to the wood and how easy it is to apply!!  I also don’t have to worry about an extra coat of sealant afterwards because it’s all in one!

Here are the measurements.  Cut the poplar board at 5 1/2″ to create your a square bottom.  Then cut (4) 12″ pieces and (8) 4 1/4″ pieces out of the square dowels.

The wood pieces are small enough to use a hand saw if necessary but this Ryobi Compound Miter Saw does make cutting a breeze!

After cutting all of your pieces, sand off any rough edges.

Here’s the basic frame we are going to nail together first.

If using a staple gun, line up your wood pieces and using the table for pressure nail pointing down.  You can also use a hammer and finish nails if you’d rather.

Complete two rectangles by nailing two long and two short pieces together.

Then attach the two rectangles together by nailing four more short pieces in between.

Once your upper frame is complete, add the bottom square to finish off the lantern.

Again, you can use a staple gun or finish nails with a hammer.

Now onto the stain!

I used a foam brush to add two coats of the Weathered Grey stain.

Here is the finished product!!  I just added a battery operated candle.  Perfect for a poolside party!

Or as a centerpiece at your next barbecue!

It even adds a great touch inside on a mantle or side table.  It looks beautiful here next to our Magnolia Wreath.  I love how this little project took very little time and money and is such a versatile decor piece.  Let us know where you’d display it if you made one!

If you loved this DIY rustic wooden lantern, check out a couple more of our projects.