When did backyard lighting get so serious? An outdoor lamp that looks like an indoor one is chic because it’s unexpected alfresco, but it can also read a bit like dressing a small child in a suit. At first, it's amusing, then it's... overly austere. You start wanting to swap the tiny lapels for a unicorn T-shirt.
Joanna Gaines, calling a spade a spade, is bringing a bit of whimsy back with her new outdoor lantern for Target. Rather than pretending to be something it’s not, it leans fully into its open-air identity, with a rustic woven silhouette offered in two sizes, designed to be nested, clustered, and set an ambient scene on tabletops – or, more interestingly, in those awkward in-between outdoor living room corners that need light but don’t quite suit an empire shade.
With a 4.75-star rating, this outdoor lantern trades wicker for ABS and polypropylene, meaning it can handle a rainy day without issue. It runs on a single solar bulb and features a top handle for easy carrying.
If the word ‘lantern’ gives you pause – it did for me – trust that Joanna has taken every measure to revamp the category. Between the bell shape and the monochrome weave, which casts a darling decorative pattern, it's aesthetically more analogous to an outdoor sculpture or avant-garde basket, and very much exists in its own garden lighting lane.
The handle says everything. This is lighting meant to move, to follow the evening as it unfolds, adding texture wherever you need it. Think porch corners, doorways, the edge of a seating nook. It embraces the reality that you’re outside, under the stars, instead of pretending otherwise. That honesty feels refreshing.
So, if your portable lighting hasn’t been hitting, you’ve probably been barking up the wrong tree. Want an outdoor living room that mimics an indoor one? Stick with a portable lamp. But if you're after something that actually feels like summer, I'd argue Joanna's lantern is a more enchanting place to start.
How I'd Style It
Here’s everything I’d pair with Joanna Gaines’ new lanterns (I’d be buying several) to stage a memorable evening. I’m thinking movie night.
I can see it now: your favorite film, friends and family sprawled across outdoor sofas, wrapped in blankets beneath the night sky, with Joanna’s lanterns flanking the screen for a cinematic ambience.
Those who want to get in on the action might opt to sit a little closer – say, directly on the grass. For this, Joanna has debuted a lineup of chic picnic blankets that match the lanterns’ rustic tone but feel fresh and modern, with a mostly beige palette and a hit of orange.
Lighting isn’t the only thing that’s portable this summer. While you may already have categories like outdoor serveware covered, there's a good chance you're missing the charm of an analog-style radio – an unnecessary essential for setting the scene as guests trickle in ahead of the screening, socializing and sipping sangria.
Additional Outdoor Lanterns
Fellow lantern lovers: these are the styles I’m eyeing next.
This little light could be the more bohemian cousin of Joanna’s design above. The open weave is so chic, so mesmerizing, it almost doesn’t need to light anything at all. I’d line a few along a set of patio steps for a grand entrance.
If you’re after something more polished, this all-white take on rattan stands out against wood or wood-look outdoor furniture. There’s also a taller blue version, for a bit more oomph.
It’s one of Target’s best-selling outdoor lights for a reason. This woven lantern looks fabulous on its own, but once lit, casts an even chicer decorative shadow. Some reviewers are even hanging them as makeshift outdoor sconces.
Everyone wants a more whimsical backyard right now. You may have the lighting down, but when it comes to seating, it's all about the bistro set, adding an air of Euro-style romance to even the smallest patios.
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