DIY living room decor: How to make a rope basket

If you're interested in ways to create unique and budget-friendly DIY living room decor, consider upcycling a plastic laundry basket. With some simple materials, you can turn a plain round basket into a rustic woven rope basket for storing blankets and other items in your living room. Here is a short guide to creating your own DIY rope basket:

What you'll need

• A round laundry basket of any size
• Approximately 50 feet of Jute rope
• One yard of fleece or felt
• Hot glue gun & glue sticks
• Utility knife

Step by step

1. The first step in this DIY living room decor project is to attach your felt or fleece as a base layer. Use your hot glue gun to attach the felt around the bottom edge. Wrap the felt around the entire surface of the basket, making pleats as you go.
2. Trim off any extra fabric and fold the edges over the top. Glue in place.
3. Beginning at the base of the basket, carefully wrap the rope around it, gluing as you go. Try to keep the rope as neatly lined up as possible to prevent gaps in your basket.
4. Once you reach the top edge of the basket, tuck the end of the rope underneath to form a complete ring.
5. If your basket has handles, use your utility knife to cut the plastic away. Use caution and protect both yourself and your hard work while cutting.
6. If you're happy with your basket as-is, you're finished. However, if you want to add some additional flair, you can add color to your basket by dry-brushing the rope with paint. You can cover the entire surface, create an ombre effect or even decorate with metallics depending on your personal style.