How To Make A Boho Candle Lantern Out Of Wood And Macrame Yarn

It’s amazing what beautiful and interesting things one can make using only a few simple and accessible materials. With a bit of creativity you can make your home look absolutely charming. Here’s one of the little decorations you could add to it: a boho candle lantern made out of macrame and wood. Let’s take a closer look at it. 

Boho Candle Lantern Out Of Wood And Macrame Yarn
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43

Materials used for this boho lantern project:

  • 4 wooden slats
  • wood glue
  • saw
  • creme acrylic paint
  • paint brush
  • hook
  • small glass
  • macrame yarn
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43

How to craft this boho candle lantern:

Step 1: Cut the wood into four equally-sized slats

If you’re starting with a single wooden board, the first thing you need to do is cut it into 4 smaller and equally-sized pieces. You could also see if this can be done at your hardware store to avoid having to make the cuts yourself. Either way, you’re going to need 4 pieces of wood for the next step of this project. 

DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43

Step 2: Paint the wooden slats

After you have all your wood pieces cut and sanded, it’s time to paint them. We chose a light and neutral color because we didn’t want the frame to be the focal point of this project. Of course, you’re free to choose any color you want. You could also stain the wood instead if you prefer that look better. 

DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43

Step 3: Insert the hook into the center of one of the slats

Allow the paint the dry and then mark the center of one of the slats. That’s where you need to insert your screw-in hook. This will be what holds the lantern suspended once the frame is all put together. 

DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43

Step 4: Assemble the frame

It’s now time to assemble the frame. Go ahead and apply some wood glue on the short edges of the wooden slats, then put them together to make a small square-shaped frame. Hold them in place for a bit so the glue starts to harden and the slats don’t move around during this time. 

DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43

Step 5: Prepare 4 long strands of yarn

While you’re waiting for the glue to set on the frame, you can work on the macrame yarn basket that will hold the candle. Start by preparing 4 long double strands of yarn and cut them so they’re all the same length. Then tie them all in a knot at the top, where the loops are. 

DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43

Step 6: Knot the strands together 2 by 2

This is very similar to how you’d make a macrame wall hanging. You divide the strands in sets of two and then you tie them together in pairs, making sure to leave a bit of space at the top. Try to tie the knots more or less in the same spot every time so they line up. 

DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43

Step 7: Make a second set of knots 

When you’re done with the first set of knots you can proceed to add a second layer. For this one you need to take 2 strands of yarn from adjacent groups and to tie them together in a knot. The idea is to make this sort of diamond-shaped pattern and to have the knots evenly spaced out. 

DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43

Step 8: Add the glass 

Now that you have more or less completed the macrame hanger, take your glass and center it inside so that the main knot that ties all the strands together is at the bottom. Then measure the strands and decide how long you want this candle holder to be so it’s centered within the wooden frame. Then tie all the loose strands in a big knot at the top, then go ahead the make a tassel at the bottom, as shown in these images. 

DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43

Step 9: Hang the candle lantern

All that’s left to do now is to hang the candle holder and of course to put a small candle inside the glass. You can use a battery-operated one since it’s safer and you don’t have to worry about it. 

DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43
DIY macrame boho candle lantern 43