Earlier in the week when I was searching online for a few more lights to add to my post on nautical rope lighting fixtures, I came across all sorts of creative ideas for using rope in home décor. Want to see my favorites? (post includes affiliate links – full disclosure statement available {here})
One of my favorite ideas is suspending kids beds from the ceiling with rope! I’m not sure about the practicality of this but is looks absolutely darling:
Rope is also the perfect material to use for hanging a collection of lanterns:
Morgan of The Brick House came up with the creative idea of making a rope wall in order to create defined areas in a large warehouse space without sacrificing the open feel:
Check out her tutorial and more pics of this amazing space {here}.
Another creative use of rope is seen in Traditional Home’s Alys Beach Designer Showhouse where hanging shelves were created using jute rope and driftwood – check it out {here}.
Restoration Hardware used a similar idea on a larger scale to make a creative display for pillows. I love how they used a pair of antique pulleys at the top – I may just have to attempt to DIY this for shelving in our bedroom…
To incorporate rope into your home’s decor on a much smaller scale, use Martha Stewart’s example of a rope towel holder and mirror – check it out {here}. Or make it really simple and pick up a pair of Restoration Hardware’s Dakota Rope Drapery Tiebacks:
Which idea is your favorite??
Heather Moore Grahling | Vivid Hue Home says
September 10, 2012 at 6:45 pmwhat incredibly creative ideas! I would love to have one of those extended beds in my house…talk about swinging to sleep every night…I don’t think i’d ever want to wake up!
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
September 14, 2012 at 9:30 pmI’d love to hear from someone who has actually slept on one of those swinging beds – I don’t know if it would be relaxing or nauseating 🙂
John says
February 11, 2015 at 9:31 amAs a long time sailor, but recent fan of ‘driven by decor” (my first blog) I’d like to say that the gentle sway of the bed, along with salt air wafting thru the room, would be nirvana !
Anna says
September 13, 2012 at 9:48 amThanks for the collection. I’m pinning it.
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
September 14, 2012 at 9:30 pmGlad you enjoyed the post Anna!
Anonymous says
September 16, 2012 at 11:11 pmThank you for posting this. I saw the rope shelves at Restoration Hardware a few months ago and forgot to snap a pic. The shelves are mounted to the wall and the rope is just threaded through the corners. Brilliant.
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
December 10, 2012 at 11:12 pmOops – I mistakenly deleted this comment from “Captain Will” since it went into my spam comments – He has some great points so I wanted to make sure it got posted:
“To anyone who uses these (wonderful) ideas: Please make sure the connections are done by someone who knows what they are doing if you support people or weights overhead or precious posessions. Some of the knots shown are not safe. Use hardware of adequate strenth, and make sure any cieling connections go through the drywall and are firmly supported by the joists above! Note that at least one of the beds shown also has feet on the floor.”
Linda Leyble says
February 3, 2013 at 2:52 pmHi Kris – I have been collecting images of rooms with ropes also – been thinking about doing a blogpost on it. You have some images the same – and a few that I hadn’t seen before. nice post. You beat me to it!!!
Thanks,
Linda Leyble
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
February 10, 2013 at 10:27 pmThanks Linda – I’d love to incorporate some of these ideas into my own home, wouldn’t you?!
Anonymous says
February 10, 2013 at 10:14 pmLove the use of ropes for decorating…where do you find the really thick roping…I’ve looked everywhere!?
Thanks for sharing!
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
February 10, 2013 at 10:26 pmLowes and Home Depot have rope of varying thicknesses but if you want something thicker than they sell, google “climbing rope” and you’ll find some. Also, a marine/boat supply store should have it.
John says
February 11, 2015 at 9:51 amA couple of add’l ideas for the nautical rope theme:
When you’re at a marine supply store, pick up a Ship’s Bell – they are made in different sizes – hang outside next to the back door so it can be used to call your family/guests to the waiting Shore Dinner. The rope pull can be made inexpensively (but with some time and effort) with designs perfected over many sea voyages by the sailors who wanted to dress up their ships with “fancy work”.
Books such as “The Marlinspike Sailor” get into the details of how to transform a small section of rope into something both beautiful and functional.
Same approach to make Stair Mats, rope handles for:Sea Chests (toy chests for the polywogs) and Rope Mats to hang vertically for either a play area or a privacy fence.
I wish you all “fair winds and following seas”.
Kris @ Driven by Decor says
February 15, 2015 at 8:41 pmGreat ideas! Thanks John!
Anonymous says
August 21, 2013 at 1:44 pmLove this site, where can I buy the rope lamps!!!
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
August 21, 2013 at 9:28 pmIf you go to the post on rope light fixtures (http://www.drivenbydecor.com/2012/05/nautical-rope-lighting-fixtures.html), there are clickable links for where you can by each of the fixtures.
Mary Ann at classic•casual•home says
June 5, 2014 at 6:34 pmLove this…I added rope to an IKEA pendant. Great texture.