This week’s household hint really speaks to my inner interior decorator. As a college student, I am always on the lookout for little accessories and decorations to make my apartment feel more like home. This week, I found the holy grail of accessories. It is a light, and a decoration. It is even trendy and eco-friendly!
Let me take you back to October of 2010. I was walking with my friend down a shop-lined street in the Old Port area of Portland, Maine. To my left, a window display caught my eye. Behind the window hung 20 paper star lanterns. They were one of the most visually striking things I had ever seen. Each lantern was its own burst of color, illuminated by the light inside. Because I would be traveling, I did not purchase one, but knew I needed to at my next opportunity.
Fast-forward to last week in Madison, Wisconsin, where a similarly gorgeous window display struck my eyes. I immediately went into the store, and was surrounded by hundreds of the lanterns hanging from the ceiling. I purchased a Marrakech brown, blue, and green lantern.
This lantern, along with another one that I plan to get next week, will be the perfect accessory for my apartment. With hundreds of colors and design schemes to choose from, there is a lantern combination to fit any color scheme. Not only are the star lanterns beautiful, they are also eco-friendly and economically sustainable. Each paper star lantern is handmade by local villagers in regions of Southern India. They are handcrafted using locally manufactured materials, and recycled papers. Then, the stars are shipped to America and Europe and sold for fair prices, with the profits returning right back to the villagers in India. Also, once you are done using a star lantern, you may recycle it, as it is all paper.
To hang the star lanterns is quite simple. You unfold the star, insert an eco-friendly, energy saving light bulb, and then hang and pug into the wall. The stars can be hung in any area of any room, and some are even sold with table stands. Perfect as nightlights for kids, or for adding a touch of romance to a date space, the star lantern is one of the most versatile accessories I have ever come upon.
The star lantern also makes a great theme decoration for summer picnics, barbecues, and even pool areas. Also, for students returning back to college in the fall, the star lantern is a perfect addition to your design scheme. It can be a conversation piece with friends, the perfect amount of light to read a book by, or a substitute for the horrible fluorescent lighting of most dormitories.
The star lantern will add a dash of glamour and style to the most unattractive of spaces. From my inner interior decorator to yours, the star lantern is a beautiful, trendy, and ecologically and economically responsible way to decorate your space.
