Battery operated paper lanterns are lanterns with paper shades which use batteries as a power source, rather than needing to be plugged in. There are a number of reasons to use battery operated paper lanterns, and they are often carried by home supply and hardware stores. One common use of such lanterns is in outdoor decorating, where it may be laborious and time-consuming to connect outside lights to a power source.
These lanterns come in a wide range of styles. Some are standalone units which may be encased in a spherical or cubical paper shade. These can be useful for things like setting out a lantern on the porch to welcome guests, or for hanging individual lanterns in trees for a nighttime garden party. It is also possible to find battery operated paper lanterns which are attached to each other on a cable, ranging from tiny ornamental lanterns for accent lighting to large lanterns which can be fixed to the ground with stakes to line a pathway or lawn.
The advantage to battery power is that battery operated paper lanterns can be installed anywhere, and they do not need to be tethered to a power supply. Some lanterns use regular or rechargeable batteries, while others operate on power packs which can be plugged in and recharged. Some companies make solar versions of battery operated paper lanterns, using solar energy to charge batteries during the day and then emitting light at night.
Many people find these lanterns useful for outdoor decorating. Paper lanterns can transform a garden, patio, or deck into a magical space, especially when shades of different colors and designs are used to add visual interest. The lanterns can be hung or strung from poles, railings, and trees, and they can be arranged in a variety of ways. These lanterns can also be utilized to decorate the exterior of a home for a particular event, or as a source of emergency lighting in a power outage.
Paper lanterns can be fragile, so some care should be taken when handling battery operated paper lanterns. If they are going to be used at night, it may be a good idea to use sealed or varnished lanterns so that if the paper casings get wet, they will not start to disintegrate. This is especially true in the case of dyed or painted lanterns, which may bleed if they get wet, becoming quite unsightly. The lanterns should also be broken down and stored carefully. Most companies make paper shades which can be removed and collapsed for safe storage.