Rope Lampshade: Quick Nautical DIY

by Little Yellow Couch (Karen Grant & Zandra Zuraw)

Don't you love a casual beach house vibe? Well this DIY couldn't be easier. As much as I enjoy sunshine when I'm at the ocean, I secretly love a rainy day at the beach so I can laze around playing solitaire and reading a good book. But I also like to get my hands on an easy project while I listen to the rain coming down. Here's a super quick way to add a little rustic, nautical charm to a side table, perfect for a waterfront cottage. And you can do it in under an hour!

Find an old lampshade at a thrift store. Using an Exact-o knife, cut off all of the fabric or paper and peel it away from the edges. You can soak it it warm, soapy water if you're having trouble removing it all. If you'd rather buy a new frame, you can order one online. We recommend The Lamp Shop. For about 10 bucks you can get a hexagonal frame like the one we've used here.

Using jute or other natural twine, tie off one end of your rope and start wrapping it around the frame, vertically. You'll need a LOT of rope so you might want to buy a new spool before you get started. If you have a drum shade, you'll probably just use one, long continuous piece of twine. If you have multiple sides like ours, you might choose to do each side with its own piece, tying off twice per side so that you have little knots around the bottom edge of your shade. Totally up to you!

xoxo Zandra