How Many Paper Lanterns To Cover 40M Squared

[fairycakes69]

Hi folks could do with some help.
Daughter is getting married and decorating her reception with paper lanterns to cover 40 meter squared, we could do with help on roughly how many she needs. They will be three different sizes. Can anyone help?
Cheers

[Buenchico]

A good starting point might be to look through the photographs here to see which comes closest to the result which you're seeking to achieve:
http://www.hanginglanterns.co.uk/inspirations
Then you'll hopefully be able to do a rough count of the number of lanterns in the picture, scaling up to your required area if necessary.

[fiction-factory]

First thing to establish is do you really mean 40m² as that is only the size of a smallish room- say 8m x 5m.

[fiction-factory]

^ or do you mean an area 40m x 40m which is more like the size of a sports hall

[fairycakes69]

We have looked on that site, liking the Orange/yellow theme.
It's just to cove the middle of the hall above the dance floor, so it is 8m by 5m.

[Buenchico]

That's 40 square metres then (and not 40 metres squared, which is 1600 square metres). Sorry to be pedantic but that's what happens when you get two maths teachers posting on a thread ;-)

I've been trying to imagine paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling of my living room and then adjusting to fit your measurements. 50 would seem to be rather too many too me, as it would look a bit crowded. However there are around 3 dozen visible in this photo, with perhaps a few hidden from view:
http://www.hanginglanterns.co.uk/inspirations/weddings/complementary-coloured-paper-lanterns-warm-white-wedding-marquee
So around 40 (which, of course, is one per square metre) might be the right number but it obviously depends upon the look which you're seeking to achieve.

[fairycakes69]

Thank you Buenchico, you've been very helpful, maths has never been my strong point. I'll pass what you've said onto my daughter, we don't want overkill with them. We did think of marking out the area in the garden and using balloons to see if that helped.