• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • DIY Projects
    • Homemade Bath and Body
    • Sewing
    • Flower Crafts/Decor
    • Thrift Store/Vintage
  • Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Container Gardening
    • Houseplants
    • Indoor Gardening
    • Landscaping
    • DIY Garden Art
  • Decorate
    • Room Makeovers
    • Spring Decor
    • Summer Decor
    • Fall Decor
    • Winter Decor
    • Home Decor Projects
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Dessert
    • Salad Recipes
    • Soups and Stews
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Healthy Recipes
  • Holidays
    • Valentine's Day
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
Hearth and Vine
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About Hearth and Vine
  • DIY Projects
    • ...Flower/Gardening Crafts
    • ... Bath and Body
    • ...Sewing/Fabric Crafts
    • ...Thrift Store/Upcycle
  • Gardening
    • ...Flower Gardens
    • ...Container Gardening
    • ...Indoor Gardening
    • ...DIY Garden Art
  • Decorate
    • ...Home Decor Projects
    • ...Spring Decor
    • ...Summer Decor
    • ...Fall Decor
    • ...Winter Decor
    • ...Room Makeovers
  • Recipes
    • ...Appetizers and Snacks
    • ...Dinner Recipes
    • ...Side Dish Recipes
    • ...Salad Recipes
    • ...Dessert
    • ...Drinks
  • Holidays
    • ...Valentine's Day
    • ...Easter
    • ...Mother's Day
    • ...Halloween
    • ...Thanksgiving
    • ...Christmas
  • Subscribe
  • Instagram
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » DIY Projects

    DIY Modern Wood Hanging Rope Shelf

    June 9, 2021 by Patti Estep Leave a Comment

    Jump to How-to Card
    diy rope shelf with plants
    Two wooden shelves hanging with rope.
    Two shelves hanging on wall with rope. Plants, a ceramic white bird and a wood box are on the shelves.

    This DIY wood hanging rope shelf is easy to create and makes a beautiful statement in the home with natural elements for an updated look. Just a few supplies and about an hour of your time are all you need.

    DIY wood hanging rope shelf. Plants and a ceramic bird and a watering can are on the shelves.

    The look of natural wood and rope as a hanging shelf is something I have admired for a while now. Of course, you can buy these floating shelves online but as it turns out they are pretty easy to make too.

    Two equal pieces of wood stacked on top of each other with 1 inch white paper squares taped to the corners.

    We had some decent looking scrap wood in the garage that was perfect for this project. I did stain it with Old Masters Gel Stain in walnut though you could paint them or use any number of stains or just a clear coat.

    Newsletter Signup
    Join Our Newsletter List!

    Be the first to receive new posts and get access to our Subscribers Only Page.

    One inch paper squares taped to the corners of stained wood board.

    To make it easier to drill the holes in the right spot, I marked each corner with a 1-inch square of paper taped to the top and stacked the two boards on top of each other.

    Drill with small drill bit drilling through two boards at the corner of a 1-inch paper marker.

    The rope is 3/8 inch thick so you'll need a 3/8 drill bit. However, to make it even easier, start with a 1/8 drill bit and drill a small hole first. That way when you drill the large holes it will be much easier to go through both boards.

    Sisal rope end taped with painters tape.

    This rope is quick to fray and unravels so once you cut it you need to tape the ends. I used painter's tape but any tape will work.

    Underside of wood board with sisal rope thread through and tied into a knot.

    Decide on the distance you want your shelves to hang from the hooks and the distance between the two shelves. I used about 8 inches for my shelves.

    Also, when you cut the two lengths of rope make sure that you give yourself way more than you need at least an extra foot. This way you will have plenty to work with and can cut away the extra rope when the shelves are complete.

    Brass picture hanging on the wall.

    How to Hang the Wood Rope Shelf

    I used 10-pound picture hangers for this project. You can use other kinds of hooks, just be sure that they can hold a decent amount of weight so that they can hold the shelves and anything you might place on them.

    Wood board hanging with rope from picture hanger and a level on top of the board to straighten it out.

    My husband helped me with this project as he has done with so many. Those are his hairy arms holding the level so we could see if the shelves were hanging straight. It's so nice to have an extra pair of hands, however, I do think you could do this on your own.

    Floating shelf with rope on picture hangers and extra rope below.

    Once you get the top shelf level you can repeat the process to hang a second or third shelf if you like. Then cut off any excess rope at the end.

    Rope shelves hanging on the wall with plants, a silver spray can, a white ceramic bird and a wooden box.

    Then comes the best part. Decorating the shelves. I added a couple of plants, a fun ceramic bird on a box, and a silver mister. The natural terra cotta and pretty green foliage from the plants look perfect on these natural shelves.

    The rope shelf is hanging next to a window in my husband's office. Prior to this, his wall was totally bare. The addition of the shelf and plants made a huge difference. Just a small reward for all his help.

    Patti signature

    More Indoor Wood Projects

    • Wooden Boot Tray for the Foyer
    • DIY Wood and Metal Shelves
    • Wooden Centerpiece Box
    Two wooden shelves hanging on the wall with rope.
    Print

    DIY Hanging Rope Shelf

    This easy DIY hanging wood shelf project makes a beautiful statement on any wall in your home and requires only a few supplies to make it yourself.
    Prep Time30 minutes mins
    Active Time1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
    Total Time2 hours hrs
    Course: DIY Projects
    Yield: 1
    Author: Patti Estep
    Cost: $20

    Equipment

    • Electric Drill (1/8 bit and 3/8 bit)
    • Scissors
    • hammer
    • Level

    Materials

    • 2 pieces of wood 7 in. x 18 in.
    • Manila rope 3/8 thick
    • Picture hangers - 10 pound
    • Paper
    • Pen
    • Tape
    • Wood stain or paint

    Instructions

    • Buy or cut two pieces of wood the length and width you like. Mine are 7 inches deep by 18 inches wide.
    • Stain or paint both sides of the wood. Let dry.
    • Stack the wood boards on top of each other.
    • Cut four 1 inch squares of paper and tape them to the corners on the top board.
    • Use a 1/8 drill bit and drill through the corners of the 1 inch paper squares.
    • Then use the 3/8 drill bit to drill through the same holes.
    • Measure out enough rope for the height you want plus extra to be safe. I used 2 pieces of rope at about 7 feet each. Tape each cut end to help with threading.
    • Measure the distance between the holes on the long side and hang the picture hangers on the wall at the height you want.
    • Open the picture hangers to fit the rope.
    • Start with one board and thread the rope through long enough for the second board and extra for tying knots. - 1 left about 12 inches or so.
    • Tie a knot under the board.
    • Then use the other side of the rope and hang it on the picture hanger at the length you like and thread it through the other hole on the same side and knot it underneath.
    • Repeat on the right side of the same board using a level to make sure it hangs straight.
    • Then add the second board, by threading the remaining rope, tying knots underneath and using a level to keep them straight.
    • Trim the ends of the rope.
    • Decorate as you wish, keeping in mind the weight limit of your hooks.
    « Using Perennials for Container Gardens
    Pickled Red Beet Eggs »

    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Follow Me

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Patti profile pic

    Hi! I'm Patti

    Join me to create lots of fun DIY projects including crafts, gardening, home decor and tasty recipes.

    more about me

    Popular Posts

    Blue jean crossover bag

    DIY Crossbody Bag from Jeans

    tabletop water gardens

    How to Make an Indoor Water Garden

    Echievera planter

    What to do With a Stretched Succulent

    Fabric bowl covers in 3 prints

    How to Make Fabric Bowl Covers

    Long blooming perennials including yarrow, geraniums, black-eyed susan, daisy, coneflower, coreopsis, and russian sage.

    10+ Long Blooming Perennials

    Chicken black bean tortilla casserole

    Chicken Black Bean Casserole Recipe

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About
    Privacy Policy
    Disclosure Policy

    Sign Up Here!
    for our
    newsletter &
    special offers

    • Shop
    • Web Stories

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. i.e. as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Hearth and Vine