I’ve always had a soft spot for the things most folks set by the curb without a second thought. Around here, an old window screen can sit in the shed for years before somebody finally decides it’s useless, but this little porch project proves otherwise. By cutting one old screen into four strips, you can turn it into a set of rustic luminaries that look right at home on a porch, stair step, or entry table.
What I love most about these is that they give you that cozy lantern glow without much fuss at all. The screen’s frame gives each piece structure, the mesh lets candlelight shine through beautifully, and a little twine and faux cranberry tucked around the top makes them look finished and seasonal. If you like easy upcycling projects that look a whole lot fancier than they are, this one is for you.
Materials
Instructions
1. Put on your work gloves and inspect the old window screen, making sure the frame is sturdy and the mesh is still attached well enough to hold its shape once cut.
2. Measure the long side of the screen and divide it into four equal vertical strips, aiming for strips about 6 inches wide if your screen is 24 inches across.
3. Use the tin snips to cut the screen frame and mesh into 4 long strips, keeping the cuts as straight as you can so each luminary sits neatly and looks uniform.
4. Bend each strip into a cylinder with the mesh curving inward and the framed edges overlapping by about 1 inch so the piece can stand on its own around a candle.
5. Wrap jute twine tightly around the overlapped seam from top to bottom, tying it off securely every few inches so the cylinder holds its shape without springing open.
6. Repeat with the remaining three strips so you have four matching screen cylinders, and trim away any sharp wire ends with the tin snips before moving on.
7. Set one flameless pillar candle inside each cylinder, centering it so there’s an even glow through the mesh all the way around.
8. Cut four generous lengths of jute twine, about 24 inches each, and wrap one around the top of each luminary two or three times to create a finished collar.
9. Snip the faux cranberry picks into smaller sprigs, then hot glue 2 to 3 sprigs around the twine collar on each luminary for a full, balanced cluster rather than just a tiny accent.
10. Fluff and angle the cranberry sprigs so some berries sit outward and some tuck close to the twine, which gives the top a fuller, more natural porch-decor look.
11. Turn on the candles and test each luminary in a dimmer spot; if a candle leans or sits too low, unwind a little twine at the base inside to make a small nest and steady it.
12. Group all four finished luminaries together on your porch, steps, or entry bench, spacing them a few inches apart so they read like a coordinated set and the glow shows from every side.
Variations & Tips
For a taller look: If your original screen is extra tall, cut the strips longer and make narrower cylinders for a more dramatic lantern shape that still uses the same method.
For winter decorating: Swap some of the cranberry picks for faux evergreen sprigs if you want these to lean more Christmas than fall; I think that little mix looks especially pretty by a front door.
For safer handling: Old screen wire can be sharp, so I never skip gloves, and I always check the cut edges twice before placing these where hands might brush against them.
For a fuller finish: Don’t be stingy with the faux picks at the top. A generous cluster is what makes these look styled and intentional instead of like a quick scrap project.
For evening glow: Use flameless candles with a warm amber flicker rather than bright white. That softer light shining through the mesh reminds me of old porch lanterns on cold country evenings.
For uneven surfaces: If one luminary rocks a bit on the porch floor, wrap a little extra jute around the lower edge on the inside to create a steadier base without changing the look.