FOCAL POINT STYLING: rope

Including some type of rope into your home's decor has become increasingly popular over the past three years. It's a key textured element in another decor trend, which has increased in popularity this Summer as well: Nautical. I happen to really like the texture rope can add to a space. Rope can be applied in so many ways, in form and function, from something as simple as a rope trimmed lamp shade to a rope wrapped occasional table to even a stairway balustrade or railing. Rope is also very transitional - It can work as a nautical element in Spring and Summer, but it can also work as rustic treatment in Fall or Winter. Rope can work in a coastal home - or a home in the southwest just as well. If you like the look of nautical style for summer, but you don't want to get as themed as displaying anchors or life savers, consider layering in a rope decor detail or two into your home...

R O P E

20 ideas of where and how rope can work for you in your home...

1. This simple vignette is probably on of my favorite ways to layer rope details into home decor. I actually tried this for a rope globe on our coffee table (Fall 2012)

2. You can make your own rope accented lanterns and vases like these from Made In A Day...

3. Or you can buy them already made from several stores online, such as wayfair.com or find locally at decor stores such as HomeGoods...

4. With so many people pickling and canning, mason jars can get yet another life with rope and become a rustic light fixture like above found on Etsy...

5. Love the simplicity of these rope wrapped side tables - Also a great way to transform an old existing table or a thrifted wicker find...

6. Rope can add a wow factor as a unique top treatment to window panels - Excellent for panels with grommets and also a great no-sew solution to extend panels and create height in a small space...

7. Wrap bottle in a textured pattern using both rope and string twine...

8. Update old hardware with paint and twine rope wrap like these from House Rivals...

9. Create a rope handled caddy, or simple switch out drawer handles for the rope pulls - Could be fun on a kids dresser or a night stand!

10. Wrap the chains of your porch swing with rope!

Besides decorative accents, another creative idea for using rope in your home decor is to incorporate rope into the design of your stairway...

11a. LOVE these rope railings from Belk Farm, a rebuilt farmhouse in Chester, South Carolina...

11b. Perfect for a beach house, more themed, but still functional is to use rope as the balustrade (also known as a banister - the uprights holding the railing) such as this unique staircase using rope + boat cleats designed by C Designs...

11c. Love the texture mix in this gorgeous stairwell, published in House Beautiful Magazine, which shows how Thom Filicia used heavy sisal rope in place of a traditional railing. I especially love how the rope ends, wrapped around a large cleat and tied in decorative knot at the bottom of the stairs!

12. Based on the idea of a childhood rope swing, 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...

13. Layer in a touch of rope texture as a fruit bowl for the kitchen like this one from Kate at Centsational Girl...

14. Recycle coffee cans and grow your own herbs in these rope wrapped herb pots from My House and Home

15. Or simply wrap tired terracotta pots in rope for your porch or patio - and even add color with a painted stripe. Very nicely done from House by Hoff!

16. Upcycle an old lamp you have (or one you picked up thrifting) by wrapping it in rope like Martha Stewart did - shown above. The same process can also be applied to a glass vase you may not want to part with because you like its shape - but maybe don't use as often because it's stained inside. (I'm guilty of having a few and would like to try this trick for them!)

17. Or just simply rope wrap a basic white drum shade with rope for a new look...

18. Rope can also be added in a powder room - Add a touch of rope in this small space, using Martha Stewart's example of a rope towel holder and mirror...

19. A simple rope wrapped mirror may be all you need - Check out all of these you can DIY at Completely Coastal, a tutorial at Shabby Creek Cottage or you can also find rope mirrors at Bliss Home & Design...

20. And last but 'knot' least - go all out nautical and wrap that life preserve in rope, and stencil the call to the BEACH! See how to make this personalized life ring at Rustic Crafts - Chic Decor

Speaking of nautical knots...

BONUS Rope Decor Idea: This tie back is a nautical knot called a 'Monkey Fist' - You can watch a video called "How to Tie a Monkey's Fist - Nautical Knot" and apply to making a few of these rope knots to add to a bookcase, a bowl, or a console table.

Rope railing - Kate Jackson Design - featured at Decorist!

Ship-tastic hanging beds!

Do you use rope in your home decor?
HOPE you're inspired to give ROPE a try!

Thanks for stopping by!

After living in one space for five years, and then moving to another, it can take some time to learn the new space. Seeing what familiar piece can fit into a new space in a refreshed way, but still have that familiarity can be a challenge. Something else that can also be a challenge is dealing with smaller space, especially an entry. For our entry in our previous Florida town-home I was able to create seasonal vignettes to welcome guests, set the tone for our home, and flow the dining room space into our great room off the kitchen. But I can't do that here because our layout is different. I had to come up with another way to create an entrance - but in a small space.

One element we did have that I am able to reuse in a similar way were the floating shelves stacked in the stairway. One the Florida floating shelves I was able to create a rotating display of photos, decor, wall art - even a Hitchcock inspired "Vertigo" Halloween hallway. Since we don't have an open entry, but a narrow stairway, I utilized the floating shelves concept for our entry. As we come down the stairs from the living area, it's still open, with only two stacked mirrors reflecting the shelving. The shelving was slim enough (same width as the handrail) that it was able to work with the railing wall. I would have liked to have had a table, but it would have interfered with our walking pattern, especially bringing up groceries.

Using mirror helps open up a small space.

Shelf bracket repuposed for hanging.

Rope was I used to hang the lanterns was from Home Depot,

but you can also get it at Big Lots.

No space for a table in this narrow area.

Narrow shelves work great in a small space.

The shelves, I set in May with a few summertime memories from Florida: Photos I've captured in Key Largo, photos Jeff has snapped of us going to Key West, a beach shot I captured in St. Augustine, and a few starfish I also picked up on one of our travels. The newness in blending what we had came from adding in a few rustic elements, like the squared & galvanize lanterns (I got here at Homegoods for $16 ea.) I hung from rope. The brackets are actually shelving brackets I spotted in Home Depot (for only $6 each.) I love the look of a woven grass rug, but since that is out of the budget right now (to do in the living room), I opted for this oval grass rug in the entryway. It's texture not only relates to the rope, but it picks up on the rope detail on the frames (Habitat for Humanity ReStore - FL) and an oval mirror I scored here at the Goodwill ReDesign Store up in Scottsdale (only $5). Since I collected a few baskets here to work into my summer decor elsewhere in the house, I also added one here to keep the flow (another Goodwill score for only $1.99!)

Photos I shot in Key Largo - edited to B&W - printed & framed.

Merging East Coast memories into the Southwest.

The rustic lanterns & rope details will transition nicely into Fall, as well as holiday - since I had added that type of detail to our holiday decor. On the shelves, I'll be able to switch beach photos for Ansel Adams cacti photos, or other AZ details I've shot on my travels. Do you have a small entrance in your home, apartment, or rental? And you're at a loss of what to do with it to create a welcoming entrance? Try stacked floating shelves. I think I had gotten these online at West Elm back in 2006, but I'm sure other sources are available. These shelves are 48" length x 4 1/2" width from the wall x 1 1/2" thick. Just enough to lean frames or fit a few collectibles or even bottles.

Thank you to those who responded with feedback to my 10 questions I posted (just before this post). I greatly appreciate your input as well as enjoyed reading the comments.

Thanks for stopping by!