Rope Decor: 16 Cheap & Easy DIY Projects for Your Home or RV

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Using rope is a cheap and easy way to dress up common items to match rustic, nautical, bohemian, or farmhouse decor.
Sisal rope can be purchased online or at just about any hardware store.
1. Storage Ottoman
This footstool with removable padded lid was made from a plastic file crate. Not only would it make a great place to store linens, shoes, or toys, it could also double as a coffee table or extra seating for small kids. Get the full tutorial here.

by Amanda via dwellinginhappiness.com
2. Storage baskets
Baskets, especially large ones, can be pretty expensive. These homemade ones look great, can be made inexpensively, and can be a good way to reuse items that might have otherwise been thrown away.
This storage basket was made from a cardboard Amazon box. This video demonstrates how to make it, including a clever way to make the fabric liner (no sewing machine required!).

by Alisa Popova
On her blog, Amanda shares how she repurposed a popcorn tin to make this toy basket.

by Amanda via homemadeintheheartland.blogpost.com
While it looks like something you might purchase at a pricey home decor store, this ombre basket complete with fabric liner was made from a cheap plastic laundry basket. Find out how to make it here.

by Lydi via lydioutloud.com
3. Mirror
This DIY mirror would look great in a beach themed RV. Get the instructions here.

by Kate & Eric via mountainmodernlife.com
4. Curtain rod
A rope can be used as a cheap and cute alternative to curtain rods. You can see how this project was done here.

by Jen via vintagehomelove.blogspot.com
5. Towel rack
Instead of purchasing a towel rack, why not make your own like this one?

by Lori via grecodesigncompany.com
Don’t want to put screws in your wall? Maybe you could mount it on a board instead like this and attach it to the wall with Velcro or some other adhesive.
6. Decorative trim
This idea has so many possibilities: along the top of a slideout, around the inset panel of cabinet doors, around a door frame….see more photos of this project here.

by Jesse via ninered.blogspot.com
7. Clock
If you like Western themed decor, you could use a lariat rope instead of sisal rope for many of these projects, like the one used in this clock project.

by Allison via theidahorancherswife.com
8. Candles
If you are not comfortable burning candles, you could put flameless battery-powered ones in these homemade candle holders made from PVC pipe couplings. (If you love beach or nautical themed decor, be sure to check out some of the other projects from this blog, Sand and Sisal!)

by Kim Wilson via sandandsisal.com
You can also just wrap rope around candle holders you already have, like in this DIY project.

by Yvonne via Stone Gable
9. Wall Sign
I love this DIY rope sign. If you didn’t want to hang the wood on the wall, you could probably attach the letters directly to the wall with clear acrylic mounting tape.

by Doreen via hymnsandverses.com
10. Hanging shelves
Learn how to make this shelf in this tutorial. (In an RV, you might want to use museum putty to secure decorative items.)

by Caroline Burke via burkatron.com
If you would rather pay somebody else to build one for you, there are several similar shelves for sale on Etsy. This one would be ideal in an RV since its “walls” would keep things in place.

by Megan Meritt via CreativCollectionsMM
11. Fruit bowl
Watch this video to see how to make this bowl using only rope, a hot glue gun, and a glass mixing bowl.
Maybe you could connect three of them together to make a hanging fruit basket similar to this one?

via World Market
12. Bar stool (or chair) makeover / (cat scratching post?)
The great thing about the bar stool project demonstrated in this video is that it could probably be done in a way that would be reversible. Instead of glue, perhaps you could cover the stool legs with removable acrylic mounting tape before wrapping them with rope. If you don’t have bar stools, how about wrapping chair legs?

via Home Made Simple
13. Drawer pulls
This rope handle was actually added to a vintage box but would also look cute on kitchen or bathroom drawers. Learn how to make it here.

by Michelle Hinckley via 4men1lady.com
14. Drink coasters
These coasters are for sale on Etsy, but you can also make some like them yourself.

via LoveAndHands
15. String Lights
I love the dried herbs hung with sisal twine from this pretty DIY strand of lights made from ping pong balls! This string of lights would also look nice hung outside from an RV awning.

via ledworld.com.au
16. Planters
Learn how to turn empty cans into cute flower pots, succulent planters, or an herb garden here. (Be sure to check out some of their other cheap DIY projects!)

by Carol & Randi via Frugelegance
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I LOVE rope projects (obviously) and these are so inspiring. Thanks for including my ombre rope basket… have a great weekend!
Thank you again! I am just wishing I had found your project a few years ago when I was regularly scouring Craigslist looking for cheap used baskets to store a throw in!