In most rental apartments, for what ever reason—the over-head lighting is inadequate and unflattering or there's not quite enough outlets for table lamps—there's always that one dark corner. Our own dark corner is right above our dining table. And while we've had many a candlelit dinner, we're always looking for another way to brighten up the space. This method is simple, inexpensive and prepares you for any electrical outage.

All you need is a metal rod, a pot rack would work, to hang the lanterns. There are plenty of places to find oil lanterns, but we like the options available from Vermont Lanterns. (The option above is Brass Nelson, $89.97)

Photos: Marie Claire Maison