They come flat. You simply open them up one point at a time and tie the two cords together to form a perfect star.

Instructions are provided with each lantern and you can watch a video which shows you how to open and hang it.

Use as a lampshade over any pendant light fitting.

Or as a lantern with a set of battery operated LED fairy lights inside – either hang the star, or invert over a lamp stand for stability. Make sure the fairy lights are battery operated - electric wouldn't be recommended due to the heat output and contact with the star. Many of our customers have been in touch to say they’ve used stands available from JYSK.

Our stars also look fantastic unlit as 3D decorations.

To preserve materials, we encourage using our stars over a light source you may already have – but we do supply cable kits and fairy lights just in case you need them!

Our stars are perfect for use indoors, or in dry outdoor environments.

Sure.

Your star will arrive flat packed.  You simply open the star up one point at a time and tie the two cords together to form a perfect star.

Instructions are provided with each lantern and you can watch a video which shows you how to open and hang it.

The stars are designed to tie over a light source of your choice. The light source can either be battery operated or mains power, and can be purchased separately. Here are some ideas and recommendations below (you might already have some fairy lights!)

1.  As our stars are British Standard tested as lampshades, you can use them as you would a lampshade with electric lightbulbs and LEDs over a standard pendant light fitting (as shown in the video). And you could also use an electric plugset with flex, light fitting and plug for hanging in the window. The maximum wattage for the stars is 40W – and they are recommended for use with LED bulbs up to 7 watts, or low energy lightbulbs up to 16 watts.

2. You could insert battery operated fairy lights. These look really nice and the light will twinkle through the perforations in the star. Make sure the fairy lights are battery operated - electric wouldn't be recommended due to the heat output and contact with the star. 

3. You could use other types of battery operated LED lights, such as a portable ‘bulb-on-a-rope’ camping/ closet light.

They have been tested to use with a maximum wattage bulb of 40 watts. 

However - LED lamps between 1.5 and 5.5 watts are the best – the higher the wattage and lumens ( e.g. 5.5 watts ), the brighter it will be. For a more ambient glow, use a set of battery operated LED fairy lights or a lower wattage lamp ( e.g. 1.5 watts ).

The effects of the star will be different depending on which colour star and which type of light you use inside.

Don’t take our word for it - here is some feedback from some of our customers, on some of the imaginative ways they’ve lit up their stars:

“The perfect thing to hang in my office window for Christmas. I used a small string of battery fairy lights to light it, and it's subtle but really effective. Thank you so much. :)”

“Easy to put together and looks fab :) have mine over a multi colour changing bulb”

“Arrived quickly and are absolutely beautiful! I’ve put a string of fairy lights inside mine and have them hanging in the windows. They’re just the thing to brighten up the winter months!”

For more info, please see our light bulb guide here.

Our stars conform to the British Standard for luminaires BS EN 60598

Every star is a one-off creation entirely handmade from natural materials - take care when you open it, carefully following the instructions enclosed.

Your star can be folded flat and safely stored in its protective wrapper. Treat it gently and it will shine for many years !

If it gets dusty, wipe with a clean, dry cloth. 

The structural design of the lanterns is very clever. Don't be put off by the fact they are made from paper. They are thick and sturdy, and the weighted paper is perfectly cut, pasted, and constructed, so that when assembled the lantern is very strong. 

For many years if you don't treat them mean! We have customers who have had their lanterns in daily use for years. They may get a bit dusty over time, but can be cleaned using a dry cloth. Some colours may fade a bit in direct sunlight over many years due to the use of natural pigments. However, hung indoors and according to the instructions, they really will last for years.

Please note that your lantern isn't suitable for wet weather conditions or for bathrooms as the steam will spoil the paper. 

In this store you will find stars of different sizes and geometries, ranging from 42 cm diameter, to 60 cm, and up to 87 cm diameter.

We also supply larger stars for decorative installations. Contact us for more info. 

Yes, all Paperstarlights' lanterns are British Standard tested and comply with BS EN 60598-1: 2008.

Each star light comes with full assembly instructions and there is also an instructional video here 

Just make sure that the wattage of your light bulb does not exceed 40 watts - we recommend LED lamps between 1.5 – 5.5 watts. As they are paper stars, your star light should not be used with a candle and should be kept away from naked flames.

In India.

For over 25 years the people behind Paperstarlights have worked closely with a small family business in India to develop exclusive ranges of these wonderful and simple paper lanterns. The product of a long and happy working relationship, each piece is equitably traded and made by people who work in a happy, secure and supportive environment. Find out more here.

Originally produced to celebrate 'Diwali' the Hindu festival of light, star light lanterns lift the mood and bring a spirit of light and celebration to any occasion. 

Each star light is handmade with great pride using good quality weight paper, with a superior finish. The production process is traditional and non-mechanized; each section of the star is printed using traditional methods, the perforations in the design hand punched, the tissue paper cut and fixed in place by hand and the star assembled using geometric skill and accuracy. Each star is then carefully checked before being packaged. 

Due to this non-mechanized process, there may be tiny inconsistencies in shade and design, which should not be viewed as flaws, rather as evidence that they are hand-made by real people not machines! 

A Star Lantern doesn't just have to be for Christmas! They can be used all year round as a lampshade or for parties.

They also make cool camping lanterns and stunning wedding lights.

However, if you want to use your star light as one of those special Christmas decorations that come out every year, your star will fold perfectly flat for storage and can be used again and again, year after year. 

Many people have known and seen paper stars, or star lanterns or paper starlights for years. We think our stars are some of the loveliest anywhere, and made to an exceptionally high quality. 

There is a depth of colour, luminescence, and beauty to them that is unmatched in others.

“I ordered 2 of these paper lanterns and was very pleasantly surprised of the quality- even better than the ones I had before from a different supplier. These lanterns are strong and well made, and I know will last for years. I am super happy.”

“You can see these are superior quality. It shines through in every way“ 

The paper card and materials are robust, and the design and making process is done by hand with experience and care. 

The artistry and attention to detail behind each lantern cannot be beaten, and each star is rigorously checked and tested to the highest standards before despatch.

Paperstarlights are handmade by really nice people, and fairly traded, and have been for over 25 years.

Every star is a gift, whoever receives it, and we pack them accordingly.

For environmental reasons we do not offer the option of extra gift wrapping - please see our “Transparent about Packaging“ guide here.  This doesn’t mean our stars don’t arrive in an enticing way, and we have great reviews for our packaging from our customers. What it means it that we choose to conserve materials so do not offer extra ribbons and bows. We know that the best gift we can give each other is a more sustainable future. 

That depends on the design. As a rule, the lighter the colour of the paper, the brighter the light, e.g. white and ivory would give out more light than, say red or violet. Then you need to consider whether you select a design with tissue inserts or punched-out perforations. The perforations create a bright twinkly effect, and would give out more light than the tissue inserts. So - on a scale, Starry White, Venus White, North Star White, Prosecco - (white paper, perforations) will give out the most light and Fantasia Montana will give out the least.

Sustainable packaging may be a contradiction in terms, and the increase in e-commerce presents us all with new challenges. For a full breakdown of the packaging materials we use please see our "Transparent about Packaging" guide here. 

Our stars are packed carefully, well, functionally, with full instructions and using minimal materials.  

Yes.

We aim to process and despatch all orders within 2-5 working days. 

For the UK we use standard delivery services with estimated delivery times of 2 – 3 days.  

International delivery is expected to take 3-5 working days. 

Please note that delivery times may take longer during busy periods.

See our delivery policy for more.

The buyer is responsible for paying additional costs such as duties, taxes, and customs clearance fees. These charges can vary widely and are often based on the price and type of item, package weight and dimensions, origin country, and the taxes, duties, and fees of the destination country.

Please note that we have no control over these charges and cannot predict their amount.