51 Simple DIY Lantern Ideas to Brighten Your Fall Decor

Fall is the perfect season to bring warmth and charm into any space, and lanterns make that transformation effortless. Filled with pumpkins, candles, or autumn leaves, fall lantern decor ideas can instantly create a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. These little accents look beautiful on porches, mantels, or dining tables, adding a soft glow that captures the spirit of the season.

From rustic farmhouse styles to simple modern looks, lantern decorating ideas for fall come in endless variations that suit every home. This collection highlights some of the most beautiful and easy ways to decorate with lanterns this autumn—each one designed to make any corner feel calm, bright, and ready for fall.

1. Cozy Porch Lantern Ideas for Fall

A few lanterns by the front door can instantly make a porch feel warm and inviting. Try mixing different sizes and materials—wood, metal, or glass—for a layered look. Add a few mini pumpkins, a plaid blanket, or some dried leaves around them for that cozy autumn charm. At night, the soft glow from the candles or fairy lights gives the porch a magical touch that welcomes everyone home.

I love this charming centerpiece: a wooden tray holding a clear glass bubble lantern with a candle, surrounded by dried corn husks, pumpkins, and a little rooster figurine. The whole arrangement has a wonderful country sampler fall style. @countrysampler

This black metal lantern looks perfect as a table centerpiece, glowing with candles inside. They surrounded it with pinecones, whole cinnamon sticks, star anise, and beautiful maple leaves to bring in all the best sights and scents of the season. @0ct0berl0ve

This tall wooden lantern with the white candle stands next to a vase of dark red leaves. The furry, round pumpkin on the table is an unexpected texture that adds a fun, cozy feeling to the whole arrangement. @domestic_diva76

This is a cute idea for the shelf, using two small, white metal jack-o’-lanterns that are lit from inside. The aged, distressed look gives them a nice vintage feel for Halloween decor. @antiquefarmhouse

2. Elegant Lantern Centerpieces for the Table

A lantern centerpiece can completely transform a dining table, especially for fall gatherings or Thanksgiving dinner. Choose a lantern that matches your table style—something metallic for a modern touch, or distressed wood for a rustic vibe. Fill it with candles, acorns, pinecones, or even faux berries to add texture and color. Surround it with a leafy garland or mini pumpkins for an effortless seasonal look. The best part? It’s simple to adjust. Swap out the fillers or candles, and the same lantern can work beautifully for Christmas or winter decor too.

This tall, dark lantern has a candle inside and is wrapped with small white fairy lights for a sweet, magical look. Topping it with a little orange pumpkin and red-orange flowers makes it a simple but stunning Fall Lantern Decor piece for a corner. @lifeofafoosh

This isn’t a lantern, but it has the same cozy glow! The different pumpkins on the windowsill are carved with tiny holes to let the candlelight shine through, which is a neat, warm light idea for any fall evening.

These two metal lanterns are so pretty with the little feet and the oak leaf design on the top. Simply wrapping the candles with colorful fake leaves and placing them on a wooden tray is a great way to bring autumn color inside.

This tall, reddish-brown metal lantern has a great, aged look to it. Placing it inside a wreath made of tiny orange berries and twigs makes it a perfect, simple fall centerpiece for the kitchen table.

The two big black metal lanterns on the white brick hearth, next to the scrollwork fireplace screen, give this area a clean, elegant look. The contrasting white pumpkins on the floor and the “Thankful” sign on the mantel complete this modern fall look. @motherthyme

 

This large wooden lantern has a small green pumpkin inside, and the vine-like metal piece behind it is a clever way to add height to the whole fall decor scene.

This black metal lantern is standing on a dark metal base right next to a stone wall. The candle inside is surrounded by small mossy balls, and the bundle of golden wheat tied to the top gives it a great, simple autumn look for the front door.

This is a whole setup! The dark lanterns are placed on the stone steps next to the railing, which is covered in a fall leaf garland and a sunflower wreath. The two large, round twig pumpkins make this a welcoming and textural Fall Lantern Decor idea for an outdoor space.

Wow, this large, black outdoor lantern is fully dressed up for the season! It has a giant two-tone candle inside, and the top is covered with a big burlap bow and a beautiful spray of red leaves, acorns, and small orange pumpkins hanging over the side.

I love this idea for a spooky, yet chic look—the large glass globe lanterns are filled with thick candles, moss, and tangled, dark twigs. The white gourd pumpkins scattered around the base are a simple contrast that works great for Halloween or early fall.

These two black wall sconce lanterns hang right beside a fancy black door decorated with a wreath of bright red and yellow flowers. Wrapping the metal hangers with an orange and green leaf garland is an easy way to make these outdoor lights part of your fall decor look.

3. Outdoor Lantern Displays That Shine All Season

Outdoor lanterns bring an incredible sense of warmth to cool fall evenings. They look beautiful along garden paths, on steps, or even hanging from tree branches. Try combining lanterns of different heights and styles to create a more natural, collected look—like they’ve been gathered over the years. For extra charm, place a few near your seating area and fill them with LED candles or twinkle lights to keep the glow safe and long-lasting. You can also tuck in natural elements like pinecones, dried flowers, or cinnamon sticks for a cozy scent when the breeze picks up.
If you love a touch of drama, group several lanterns together near your front steps or fire pit. As the sun sets, the light flickers across the space, giving your outdoor area that golden, storybook glow that feels both romantic and timeless.

What a nice picture! Two small black lanterns with lit candles sit deep in a rustic window box filled with orange pumpkins, bright berries, and different kinds of grasses, making the window look warm and welcoming from the outside. @autumn.coven 

This is a fun idea for the porch—a set of three black metal lanterns with a wire cage design, all filled with smooth white pumpkins. Putting them next to the big, bright pink mums creates a stylish color pop that really catches the eye. @drivenbydecor

This tall wooden lantern has a cool metal base and top, and the inside is stuffed with pinecones, a small orange pumpkin, and dark red dried flowers. Tying a burlap bow with a bright sunflower on top is a classic rustic fall lantern design. @sawtoothrustics

This is not a candle lantern, but it’s a great floor idea! This huge, clear metal box is filled right up with soft fabric pumpkins in orange, gray, and white, making a fun, easy decoration for next to the stairs. @laurend0824

Look at this simple, amazing idea: filling glass jars with strands of fairy lights and dark fall leaves tied with twine. This brings a super warm, amber glow to any table or shelf on a cool night.

These two modern gold and glass lanterns sit on the hearth for a glamorous look. The mantel above has a beautiful fall garland draped over it, making the whole fireplace area feel bright and cozy. @courtneyfitzp01

 

The outside wall lanterns next to this dark door are a perfect match for the black lanterns and pumpkins below them. This whole front step area is covered in mums and pumpkins for a layered, inviting fall porch display. @lifeofafoosh

This red lantern sitting on a bed of bright red and orange fall leaves really pops against the white candle inside. It brings a lot of warmth and autumn color right into the middle of the room.

These modern, super shiny silver lanterns are a great choice for a classy look. Just adding a few pinecones and acorns around the base of the thick white candles is an easy, quick way to make them feel like fall.

These two black metal lanterns have orange and red candles inside, which look so pretty when they are lit. The garland of small orange bittersweet berries wrapped all around the lanterns adds that natural, colorful fall touch.

What a neat idea for the dining room! They used three hanging metal birdcages as lanterns, sitting candles on little trays inside the cages for a cool, moody look.

These birdcages hanging over the table are a fun, clever way to use candlelight; the tiny fairy lights on the twigs add a soft sparkle. This setup is perfect for a rustic, unique fall dining style. @antiquefarmhouse

This light wood lantern is decorated perfectly with a big plaid bow, white wheat stalks, and beautiful red leaves on top. The little pumpkins and pinecones inside and outside make it a cheerful piece of autumn decor. @easy_peasy_creative_ideas

This is a great, modern twist on a classic Jack-o’-lantern—a carved pumpkin set inside a big black glass lantern on the ground. Having the plain white candle next to it creates a simple, fun welcome light for the walkway. @caneline

This bright white lantern with a glass top sits on a black and white checked rug next to several orange and white pumpkins. The flowers and tall grass make this a balanced, cozy front porch decor setup. @willowbloomhome

This outdoor dining table is decorated with beautiful gourds and pumpkins, and small black lanterns hang from the tree branches overhead. The large lantern on the table holds white pumpkins and vines, adding to the lovely natural fall decor theme. @toni_marianna

These two black lanterns are a great contrast against the white marble kitchen countertop, surrounded by pumpkins and a gorgeous wreath in soft greens and oranges. The whole kitchen feels upscale and ready for the harvest season. @balsamhill

This is a great little porch vignette made from stacked wooden crates holding wood logs, pinecones, and small lights. The distressed white lantern with the chunky brown candle sits right on top, creating a perfect rustic fall scene. @livetpalahaugen

This is a huge, stunning entryway! The doorway is wrapped in an arch of fall leaves and little white pumpkins with fairy lights. Two tall black lanterns sit on the brick porch among a giant pile of harvest pumpkins. @luke_into_my_world

4. Mixing Lanterns with Other Fall Decorations

Lanterns blend beautifully with almost any fall decor. Try pairing them with a wreath of orange leaves, a few fabric pumpkins, or a cozy plaid runner. On the mantel, mix tall lanterns with small vases of dried flowers for balance and height. In entryways, surround lanterns with baskets or wooden crates for a layered look that feels natural and relaxed. The key is to keep it simple—let the lanterns glow softly while the textures of leaves, wood, and fabric tell the story of fall.

This black lantern with a curved, beaded top holds a single white candle surrounded by small orange berry sprigs. The little knitted pumpkin next to it gives the whole piece a warm, homemade fall centerpiece feel. @my_nest_in_the_midwest

These two white painted lanterns on the console table glow with yellow candles and are topped with checkered bows. Arranging them with small white pumpkins and golden leaves makes this a very charming harvest blessing display. @decoratingwithjazigreen

This gorgeous outdoor staircase is decorated with planters full of deep red and green plants, along with weathered copper lanterns. The white candles inside give off a soft glow, making the chunky orange pumpkins on the steps look inviting. @livetpalahaugen

This light wood lantern has simple curved sides that perfectly frame the big orange pumpkin inside. Piling a thick layer of bright orange fall leaves around the base is an easy, great way to fill the space. @emmetts.house

This little weathered wood lantern is filled with faux succulents and tiny orange berries. It looks lovely next to that carved white frame and the “Family Forever” pumpkin—a perfect small arrangement for a shelf. @sarahscreationbytheseason

This is a deep, rich fall decor display on a front stair landing, featuring large bundles of deep red and orange leaves mixed with candles and black lanterns. The tall columns of color make this entryway look dramatic and extremely welcoming. @evangraydesign

This dark, carved wood lantern is used as a centerpiece, filled with a small bumpy orange pumpkin and deep red and orange flowers. The dry golden leaves sticking out everywhere make it look super lush and ready for autumn.  @mchomeandco

What a cool, different look! The blue buffalo check base and columns make this white-candle lantern feel modern, while the big bow and white flowers on top still make it cozy. @stylemysweets

This rustic wood lantern on the mantel is surrounded by beautiful golden leaves and two small white pumpkins. The faded round clock face behind it gives the whole mantel decor arrangement a lovely vintage look. @favoredfarmhouse

These two wood and black metal lanterns are perfect for a farmhouse porch look, sitting next to a huge urn of bright orange mums. The contrast of the rustic wood and the bright flowers makes for a gorgeous autumn welcome. @favoredfarmhouse

What an incredibly cozy porch! There are two small wood lanterns with candles on the floor next to the swing, which is piled high with pumpkins and fall mums in every color. The dog curled up on the swing with the plaid blanket makes this the perfect autumn retreat. via @kjp

This wooden lantern has a beautiful beaded arch design and holds two soft pale-blue candles. The burnt-orange fall leaves tucked around the candles are a simple, modern way to add autumn color to a unique piece. @the_mustard_seed_shop

This light, rustic lantern is made from weathered wood sticks and is filled with pale green faux succulents and orange berry clusters. It looks lovely next to that carved white frame and the orange “Family Forever” pumpkin, creating a sweet, simple arrangement for a shelf. via @rustedfence

A tiny, bright red lantern with a single candle sits on the stone steps amongst large orange and white pumpkins. The colorful garland of autumn leaves draped over the stairs connects the whole simple welcome display.

 

Someone got creative by covering this simple wood lantern with a huge, gorgeous floral arrangement. It’s full of sunflowers, deep red flowers, two small pumpkins, and a wide pumpkin-patterned ribbon, making this tall lantern stand out as a centerpiece. @kristenscreations12