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How to Create Faux Gas Lanterns!
Many years ago, when we lived in South Alabama, our home had beautiful gas lanterns on each side of the front door, and I absolutely loved them. There’s something about the flickering light from a gas lantern that gives off an elegant, romantic, charming ambiance.
I wanted to create that same feel and look for our current home, but installing gas lanterns not only wasn’t in the budget, but it was a bigger project than I wanted to take on. After searching for a way to “get the look”, I decided decided those flickering lanterns could be created very easily. Using battery operated, flickering, outdoor candles, and two lanterns, my faux gas lanterns were complete!
There are quite a few battery operated candles on the market, but there is only one that replicates a true flickering flame, and that is the Luminara candle.
If you’ve never seen the Luminara candles, you will be amazed at how realistic they look. I love candles and have always burned one in our home, however, after forgetting one and it burning a hole in a piece of furniture, I no longer use real candles indoors.
Luminara makes several styles of candles, including those designed for outdoor use, and that’s what I used in these lanterns.
I bought the lanterns from a local home store, but they can also be found just about anywhere.
Both the lanterns and the candles can be found on Amazon, and we’ve added both to our “favorites” page on Amazon.
We used cast iron hooks mounted on each side of the door to hang the lanterns.
The Luminara candles have five hour timers on them, so they can be programmed to come on at the same time every evening and turn off five hours later, which I love. It makes it so easy to set the timers and not have to worry about turning them on and off.
I waited until dusk to try and get some pictures of them with the candles “lit”. I wish you could see them flickering! They look fabulous, and truly resemble flickering gas lanterns.
They create such a soft, flickering glow on each side of our front door, adding such an elegant ambiance after the sun goes down.
I loved the result so much, that I even added a single lantern with a Luminara candle at our back door. You could do this in a patio or garden area as well.
These Luminara candles are a staple in our house. I use them everywhere, especially during the holidays, without worrying about anything catching on fire. I have a pair in the family room in a pair of cherub wall sconces. Everyone that sees them believes that they are real candles! They operate off of 2 D size batteries, and you can get about 500 hours off of one set of batteries
The front of the house looks so handsome now with the addition of the flickering lanterns! I think I will add some of these on our back patio as well.
If you like this idea, be sure and pin it to your DIY Home Decor boards. And follow us here if you would like to see what we are pinning every day!
Cheers, Cindy
{This is NOT a sponsored post. These are 100% my opinions and I have not been compensated by Luminara in any way….they have no clue who I am! I just happen to love the Luminara candles!}
I love your home inside, thank you for showing excellent style/taste for your front porch/portion of your home. I love, love this idea. Had no clue that there are luminary candles with a timer. I love candles/lights inside and outside the home. Thanks to you I now can place some on my front and back of the home. Your style of design is outstanding
Aw, thank you Ivory! You are too sweet! Thanks for commenting!
I am amazed that you get that many hours out of your batteries. I’ve been using battery operated candles almost from the time they came out and find that when they are in the “On” position in order to use the remote, they eat up battery power the entire time. I thought the same would apply to having them on the timer, but I just recently purchased a Luminara so will put it to the test.
I get the full five hours out of the Luminara. That’s the only brand I use. I’ve never had very good luck with other brands.
LOVE! What a great idea. I live in Charleston, SC. A lot of the homes downtown have the gas lanterns. I have been wanting some for a while now. Love this. One quick question though…. the last time I put lanterns on the porch they rusted from the weather. Did you do anything to prevent this? Spray the with anything?
Thanks!
Thank you, Sandy! We didn’t spray ours with anything but we don’t the salt air that you have in Charleston. You could always spray with a clear acrylic spray to protect the finish.
They should at least send your you a few candles for your nice comments, I know I’m going to try them now thanks to you.
I am so happy that I found your blog! I can’t get enough of your beautiful home and style! Love this idea, BUT we live in what seems to be a wind tunnel! If I did this my neighbor would own my lanterns in a matter of hours:) I have a mum out front in an olive bucket that has blown over 3 times now:( Thank for the info on the Luminaria candles though, I CAN use them indoors!!!
Thank you Pinky! I understand about the wind! If you could figure out a way to mount the lantern directly to the house, it would work!
Hi Cindy! These lanterns are so elegant and very French! Ooh la la! Love your welcoming touches.
Thank you Pat!
What a fabulous idea Cindy! I love these!!
Thank you Amy!
LOVE the look Cindy! Your front entrance looks so pretty!
Thank you Martina!
Hi Cindy !
Your front door area is so inviting, very pretty front door too !! I really like the Luminara candles too, I have a remote with mine which I like. Is the urns on each side of the door cast iron? I have been looking for new ones! Thanks for sharing your beautiful home.
PaulaD
Thank you Paula! The urns on each side of the door are actually resin that I painted with the “stone” spray paint from Lowe’s so that they look like cast iron!
THank you for the tip !!
Hi Cindy, I love your blog so much! I have just the center lantern like the one on your front porch. Do you think I could put a luminaire candle in there in place of the bulbs? Thank you and I love your home. Jan
Thank you Jan! I don’t know why you couldn’t use one of the Luminara candles in your lantern, as long as there is a bottom to the lantern for the candle to sit on. Thanks for following along!
AAahhhh, it’s the little things that make all the world of difference. I can only imagine how beautiful they look at night. My husband, he’s in charge of Christmas lights on the outside, likes to put flickering bulbs in the coach lights on the garage, I know he will be in luv with this idea for every season!!
Happy October Cindy.
Gee, it sounds like your hubby would love some Luminara candles!
Wow, that is a very clever and cost affective idea, they look great and very charming. Bet they look really beautiful at night and you would never know
the difference. Great job……….
Happy Fall Blessings,
Nellie
Thank you Nellie!
Wow!!….I love this idea…but then again…I love all of your beautiful and creative ideas!!
Thank you Shirley!
Love those lanterns with luminara candles. I was going to buy those lanterns and hang over tables at one of my pergolas last week. I think I will now that I see how beautiful yours look. I already have the faux tea light candles in a chandelier hanging over a round table at another pergola and just love it. So romantic looking. The front of your front house looks so elegant with those urns. I love cast iron urns also. I look forward to seeing your next post. Great taste, Cindy…….
Thank you Nancy!
Oh I love this ! Will have to do this somewhere outside at our house !! I use that brand inside only mine are prim , and so hard to find . But for outside , I would want exactly what you have . LOVE it . You’re so kind for sharing!
Thank you so much Dee!
Love it Cindy! Think I may place a couple on my front porch. Thank you, love your posts.
Thank you so much Vicki!
I’d love to hear about the gorgeous wreath on your door! I tried to make one of these at Christmas and it was the. biggest. mess. ever! Yours looks so lush. Did you make it or buy it already made? And – I have the Luminara candles in the bay window of my bedroom and love that they just magically come on at 5 every evening!!
Hi Kathryn! The wreath is literally just a large wire form {from Michael’s or Hobby Lobby} with burlap tied in bows all the way around it. The key is to push each burlap bow very close together as you work your way around the frame, and fluff as you go, so that it looks very full when your finished. The flowers are from Hobby Lobby {just stuck into the bottom of the wreath….didn’t have time for anything else! Ha!} I made the wreath last year, and it probably won’t last another year and will need to be redone next year. Love, love Luminara candles….they are my favorite!
LOVE this idea SOOO much!!! I think I’ll do this on my front porch! How often do you have to replace the batteries?
Thank you Heather! You will get approximately 500 hours out of a set of batteries……so if you’re using the timer (stays lit for 5 hrs}, then a set of batteries should last a little over 3 months…..I hope I figured that correctly!
Love this idea! I also love luminara candles! I have quite a few and use them around my house and in lanterns on my covered patio. I lucked-out and got 2 colonial silver candlestick pillar luminara candles at an estate sale for $5.00 each. Love that they come on every night with timers. The front of your house looks fantastic! I love everything about your house. Can’t wait to see your next project. I get so excited whenever you have a new post up.
Wow, I can’t believe you found 2 for $5 ea! What a buy!
Cindy, I’m loving your great idea for your outdoor faux gas lantern, they look so beautiful with the soft candle glow not to mention very elegant for your beautiful home…
Smiles~
Mari
Thank you Mari!
Hi Cindy, What a great idea and so pretty!
Thank you so much Sherry!
So lovely! Thank you for sharing and being so generous with your ideas. I’ve already begun incorporating some of your tips in my home and the elegance is beginning to appear. Eagerly await your next post!
Such a sweet comment, thank you so much Jonelle!
I love this look, Cindy. What a great idea for a budget or when you don’t have gas. We are total electric so I would have to do this. The candles at Pottery Barn look very real, too. Haven’t bought any yet since the price tag is a bit hefty. I think I will check out the other sources.
Thank you Kim! Yes, the prices on the candles can be pretty pricey, I try to buy one if I find them on sale or have a coupon for one. I haven’t seen the ones from Pottery Barn, I will have to check them out. I’ve tried other brands, but keep coming back to the Luminara. I haven’t found one that compares to those yet. These would look fabulous out on your pretty deck area!
Love this idea!!! Where did you get the hangers for the lanterns?
I live in a ranch with no front entry light and this would solve that problem nicely without extra wiring which is very expensive!!
I use the Luminara candles in my home and cabin through the the Fall and Winter so this idea really hits home with me here in Southeast Missouri where the winter nights are long, long and made more cozy with the warmth of candles!
Love EVERYTHING you have done!!!
Thank you Cyndy! The cast iron hooks are from Hobby Lobby as well!
Beautiful way to replicate the old world charm of a gas lantern. Your home is turning out so wonderful. Look forward to your posts and I save every one of them! I love your French style and especially when you share how to’s! I also live in Missouri but my heart is in France (at least my decorating heart).
Thank you Sandy!
Where did you buy these lanterns? I love them and wanted to make some faux gas lanterns as well!
We bought the lanterns from the At Home store!