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How to Make Rope Shelves

Skill Level How to Make Rope Shelves Estimated cost $250 Time How to Make Rope Shelves Download PDF How to Make Rope Shelves How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnnCarter

Tools and materials

  • pierce
  • 1/2" Forstner bit
  • 1/2" sisal rope
  • painter's tape
  • 6' railing
  • pencil
  • scissors
  • stain
  • rags
  • construction adhesive
  • caulk gun
  • tape measure
  • miter saw
  • (optional) drywall anchors
  • 1/2" plug
  • 1 box of 3.25" hardwood flooring
  • orbital sander
  • 40 grit sanding pads
  • polyurethane
  • search engine
  • level
  • Table saw
  • ratchet assembly
  • gloves
  • safety glasses
Find all the tools and materials for this project at Lowes.com. How to Make Rope Shelves

Shop this look

How to Make Rope Shelves

Wolf Handrail 1.9 in. hammered black painted aluminum railings 1.9 in. X 6 feet

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Minwax 32-fl oz Oil-Based Polyurethane Satin

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0.5 inch Wellington twisted sisal rope (by the foot)

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Kobalt 12 in 15-Amp Dual Bevel Sliding Laser Compound Miter Saw

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Bruce Frisco - 3.25 Inch Gunstock Oak Solid Hardwood Flooring (22 sf)

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Kobalt 2-Tool 24-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Combo Kit

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FrogTape 1.88-in painter's tape

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Kobalt 25 foot tape measure

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Kobalt 10in Table Saw 15 amp carbide tipped

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Minwax Wood Finish Jacobean Oil Oil-Based Interior Oil (Current Net Content:32 fl oz)

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Step 1:Remove the tongues

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter


Find several floorboards that are roughly the same size. We use two boards per shelf. Use a table saw to rip the tongue out of one of the boards. This board will be at the front of the shelf. Tear off the groove of the second board. This will be the back of the shelf that goes up against the wall. The remaining tab on the back plate will lock into the slot on the face plate.

Step 2:Cut boards to shelf lengths

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter


Cut the boards to the length you want your shelves to be. They can be any size to fit your space. Our three shelves are 5', 4' and 3'. (Again, each shelf is the width of two floorboards.)

Step 3:Preparation for finishing

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter


If you use prefinished floor boards, you can leave them as they are or paint or paint them. (We chose to re-dye). If you keep the existing finish, go to the next step. If you want a custom look, use an orbital sander to remove the finish from all boards. Do this before the boards are glued together, this way you can access the sides and the groove.

Step 4:Glue boards

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter


Glue the same length boards together to make each shelf. Use a strong construction adhesive in the groove to lock the boards together with the tongue and groove. Clamp the boards together as they dry out if needed.

Step 5:Drill Holes

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter


After the boards have been adhered together, use a drill with a 1/2” Forstner bit to drill the holes for the strings. The drill bit used should be about the same size as the string used to hang the shelves. Drill two holes at each end of the shelves so they hang level. Start with the 3' shelf and continue to drill the 4' and 5' shelves, orienting them so they line up to hang from the same strings. Drill holes approximately 2" from end of board and centered from front and back.

Step 6:Stain or paint holes


If you are using the existing finish, skip to the next step. Once the holes have been drilled, stain the boards if necessary. While staining, remember to stain the front/back of the shelves where the boards were ripped, as well as any cut edges and drilled holes. Add polyurethane for a seal and shine..

Step 7:Cut and stain pegs

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter


Dowels will insert into the strings to hold the shelves in place. Cut a dowel into 3” pieces; Pending 8-14 rack orientation will be required. Color the taco pieces the same color as the shelves.

Step 8:Hang Rail

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter


Use a stud finder to mark the studs on the wall where the shelves will hang. Near the top of the wall, about 8" to 12" from the ceiling, hang the handrail on the studs. If the studs do not line up with the handrail, be sure to use drywall anchors to support the weight of the handrail and shelves with items.

Step 9:Prepare the rope

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnnCarter


Cut three lengths of rope to approximately 10'. This might be more than you need for the shelves, but starting with the excess will allow more distance between the shelves and make it easier to tie a knot at the bottom of the lowest shelf. To prevent the rope from fraying, wrap painter's tape around the ends of the rope until the final knot has been tied.

Step 10:Wrap the rope around the railing

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter


Loop the rope up and over the handrail, looping once around the handrail for more stability. The strings should hang at equal lengths.

Step 11:String Yarn Through Shelves

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter


Thread the ends of the rope through the holes in the shelves in the desired order from top to bottom. Tie a knot in the rope under the bottom shelf at each place where the rope goes through the holes.

Step 12:Adjust the shelf height

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnn Carter


Before attaching the top shelves, use the level to make sure the shelves are straight. When the remaining shelves have been spaced to the desired heights, split the rope braid and insert a dowel through the rope for the shelf to sit on. Use a level to make sure the shelves are straight. Repeat for all shelves and move the knot under the bottom to adjust the height of the bottom shelf. Once the bottom shelf is at the desired height, cut off any excess string and lay out your shelves.

How to Make Rope Shelves

MaryAnnCarter

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