While it isn’t a difficult task to do, a DIY rope shelf will go a long way to adding some character to any room. Unlike some of the DIY projects that you may have handled in the past, setting up a rope shelf is a simple project that almost anyone can do.
Perhaps you are thinking of adding a little bit of storage to a room, or you just want something different to add some visual appeal. In either case, a DIY rope shelf is the perfect project for you.
Today, we are going to take a look at how easy it is to make your very own DIY rope shelf. The great thing about this project is that you can make it fit the specific needs of your home, and it is something that you can do with materials that you probably already have around the house.
So, without further ado, let’s get started on this easy DIY project!
Contents
What You’ll Need:
– Rope
– Plank(s) of wood (According to the number of shelves you want)
– Drill
– Measuring tape
– Sandpaper
– Pencil
– Piece of writing paper
– Scissors
– Two screw eye hooks
As you can see, chances are you already have most of the materials that you need to make your very own DIY rope shelf.
Now, once you have all these supplies ready, it is time to get started on the project.
Step By Step Guide Of Making A DIY Rope Shelf
A Single Hanging Shelf
A single hanging shelf is easier to make than a set of shelves. Let’s take a close look at the procedure;
Step 1: Get The Measurements
Measure the distance between the ceiling and where you want the hanging shelf to end. That will be the height of your shelf.
For instance, if your ceiling is 2.4 meters (94.5 inches) from the floor and you want your shelf to stand 1.6 meters (63 inches) above the ground, The height of your shelf will be 0.8 meters (31.5 inches).
Then, multiply your desired length by two, to get the size of the hanging rope, and then add 30 cm ( 12 inches) for the knots. That means in our case, we will need a rope that’s (31.5 inches x 2), plus 12 inches, totaling 75 inches.
You can consider using a strong rope that won’t rot. Nylon, sisal, and cotton ropes are all good options.
Step 2: Drill Holes In The Wood Plank
Now, pick the rectangular wood plank and using a square-shaped piece of paper (cut it with the pair of scissors), align it at each 90-degree corner of the rectangular plank.
Then, using a pencil, make a small dot where the innermost corner of the paper ends. That’s where you will drill the hole. Repeat the same for the other three corners. Then, get your drill out and make the holes at the marked places.
Step 3: Sand The Plank and Paint (If Necessary)
Take your sandpaper and start sanding the plank. Start with the coarse side of the sandpaper and then use the fine side to smoothen it out. If you want to, you can also paint it in a color of your choice.
Step 4: Position The Screw Eye Hooks On The Ceiling
Here, you’ll want to ensure that the spacing between the two screw eye hooks is equal to the length between the holes you made on the plank. You may use a tape measure to get the ideal spacing between the two.
Step 5: Run The Ropes
Now, take your ropes and thread them in the screw eye hooks. Once that’s done, do the same for the plank. Ensure that each end of the rope goes through its hole on the plank. Then, tie the knots beneath the shelf. The knots should be strong and large to keep them from slipping when you load the shelf with indoor plants – or any other thing you’ll need to place there.
Step 6: Adjust Ropes To Balance The Shelf
Once you tie the knots underneath the plank, chances are one side of the rope will appear to be longer than the other, thus making the shelf hang unevenly. To fix this, pull the short side of the rope until both sides are equal in length.
You’re done! Pat yourself on the back, because you’ve just created your very own DIY rope shelf.
Multiple Hanging Shelves
Don’t panic! Making a set of shelves is pretty much the same as making a single hanging shelf, with a few small changes. Let’s take a look at the steps now;
Step 1: Get The Rope Measurements
Measure the distance between the ceiling and where you want the shelves to end. That will be the height of your shelves.
For instance, if your ceiling is 2.4 meters (94.5 inches) from the floor and you want your shelves to stand 1.4 meters (55.1 inches) above the ground, the total height of the shelves will be 1 meter (39.4 inches).
Assuming you go by that, you’ll need to multiply the total height of the shelves by 2 to get the total length of rope that will go into hanging. Then, add the total amount of rope that will go into each knot to get the total length of rope you need. You can add 6 inches for each knot. Keep in mind you’ll need to make 8 knots with each rope.
To bring you into perspective, let’s take the 1 meter to be the total height of shelves. Multiply this length by 2 to get 2 meters (78.8 inches). Then, assuming that you have four shelves, that means each rope will require a total of 8 knots (16 knots for the two ropes). Take 6 inches and multiply by 8 to get 48 inches, the amount of rope that will go to the knots. That brings the total length of rope you’ll need to 126.8 inches. You’ll need two ropes of this length!
Step 2: Refer To Steps 2,3, and 4 Above
Refer to steps 2, 3, and 4 above, with a few changes. For instance, you’ll be making more holes since you have several planks here – but the number of holes on each remains 4.
Step 3: Hang The Shelves
Once you’re done making all the shelves, it’s time to hang them! Tie a knot underneath each shelf. You’ll also want to ensure that the spacing between the shelves is equal.
There you have it – your very own set of DIY hanging shelves, perfect for any room in your home!
Final Word
Making your own shelves is a great way to save some space, cash, not to mention that it’s a fun DIY project. If you’re feeling extra crafty, why not make your own rope shelf? It’s simple, and the end result is definitely worth it.