My husband and I were walking up to the porch the other day and he said, “You forgot to decorate your lantern for spring!” I was surprised he noticed, but he was right. It had slipped my mind among all the other tasks around the house. Inside the lantern was only a flameless candle leftover from winter. He knows how much I love that lantern and how I like to keep it filled with seasonal touches, so I was eager to freshen it up.
I had only a few minutes before my parents arrived for Mother’s Day, so I ran into the backyard, clipped some spring flowers, and placed them in small bud vases I had on hand. I put the vases into the lantern just as my parents pulled into the driveway.
When I stepped back, my first thought was, Ah, it’s so pretty! Then a familiar second thought crept in: Oh dear, it’s not good enough. I could do better with different vases and fuller flowers. The candle and flower placement could be improved. I should have planned more, taken more time, or styled the whole porch. What if it’s not “Instagram worthy”?
That kind of second-guessing shows up almost every time I create, even though I know better. I’m naturally spontaneous with decor: I see flowers, put them in a vase or basket, step back, and enjoy the moment. It brings me joy—until someone or even I point out that it isn’t arranged perfectly. Then I start to critique it and myself. Sure, improvements are possible; any creative person can refine a design. But that urge to constantly perfect can steal the simple pleasure of creating.
I think the habit of self-critique began early for me. In third grade our teacher let us design Christmas mugs. We were handed stencils and supplies and told to wait for her help placing them. Excited, I started designing my mug before she came around. When she saw my placement wasn’t perfectly aligned, she scolded me and insisted she would “fix it,” writing “Merry Christmas” across the sides. That moment stayed with me.
Now, when I see that mug, I feel mixed emotions. Instead of only pride for my small act of creative rebellion, I’m reminded that my spontaneous joy—my imperfect design—wasn’t enough for someone else. I still have that design rebel inside me, but I also carry a voice that doubts whether something imperfect can still be beautiful.
Attention to detail and striving for improvement are valuable—especially for big projects like designing a kitchen. Learning new techniques and refining your work can be rewarding. But the lesson I keep reminding myself of is this: not everything we make needs to be perfect to bring joy.
If everything had to be perfect, imagine how little joy we’d find in life. It’s a real challenge to savor simple creative pleasures when we immediately critique them. And it would be sad if we never created until we could do something “perfectly.” So this spring, don’t let perfectionism or fear stop you from adding beauty to your home. Enjoy the simple things and let them be enough.
My lantern is now styled for spring. If you want a similar wall-hung lantern, there are options available that give the same look. My lantern was designed to hang on a wall, but you can also use a freestanding lantern on a hook or a floor lantern hook if you don’t have a place to mount one. A simple lantern and a few seasonal stems are all you need to create a welcoming porch accent.
Here are other simple ways I’ve decorated my lantern for the seasons:
FALL:
WINTER:
SPRING:
SUMMER:
Show me your lantern styling!
If you style a lantern, I’d love to see it. Tag @theinspiredroom on social or share it in The Inspired Room Community Facebook group. I enjoy seeing lanterns, ideas, and seasonal inspiration throughout the year.
Want more lantern styling ideas? I shared additional inspiration on previous posts and galleries that showcase non-electric outdoor wall lantern styling and seasonal arrangements.
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