Make Your Own: Rope Side Tables

Around two weeks ago, the newest Ballard Designs catalog showed up at my house. As I flipped through it, I immediately noticed a woven garden stool that could also work beautifully as a small side table in a living room or den. The design was exactly what I had been looking for, but the price stopped me in my tracks: $160 for one stool.

Since I needed two of them, buying both would have meant spending $320 on a pair of relatively small accent pieces. That seemed like far more than I wanted to spend, so I started thinking about whether I could create something similar myself.

After a little brainstorming, I came up with a simple alternative that would serve as an accent table while also recreating the appearance of woven rope. The DIY version would cost considerably less, so I decided to give it a try.

A Quick Note Before Starting

Before getting into the construction process, there is one thing worth mentioning. These rope-covered tables probably aren't ideal for homes with cats. The texture and rope surface would likely be far too tempting for a cat looking for something to scratch, and the tables could quickly turn into oversized scratching posts.

For homes without that concern, however, this project is a relatively straightforward way to create decorative and functional tables.

Materials You’ll Need

For the two rope side tables, I gathered a concrete forming tube, E6000 adhesive or a hot glue gun, a utility knife, rope, foam board, and a pair of scissors.

For my project, I bought one 4-foot-long concrete forming tube from Lowe's for approximately $13. I also purchased eight packages of 50-foot-long, 3/8-inch-wide manila rope, with each package costing $9.

Because I already had some of the remaining supplies on hand, my total out-of-pocket expense came to about $85 for both tables. It wasn't an extremely cheap project, but compared with spending $320 on two finished tables, the savings were significant.

Cutting the Table Bases

I started by cutting the concrete forming tube with a utility knife. I divided the tube into two equal 20-inch sections, which would eventually determine the finished height of the two tables.

Next, I placed two sheets of foam board on my work surface. Using the ends of the tubes as a guide, I traced and cut four circular pieces altogether. Two circles would become the tops of the tables, while the other two would serve as the bottoms.

Attaching the Tops and Bottoms

Once all four foam board circles had been prepared, I spread E6000 adhesive along the rims at both ends of each cardboard tube. I then positioned the foam board circles over the openings and pressed them into place.

I allowed the adhesive enough time to set before continuing with the next stage. If E6000 isn't available, a hot glue gun can also be used to secure the foam board pieces to the tubes.

After the tops and bottoms of both table frames were firmly attached, the basic structures were ready to be covered with rope.

Wrapping the Rope Around the Table

I began with the first table by securing the end of the rope along the bottom edge with a hot glue gun. From there, I carefully wrapped the rope around the outside of the tube, keeping it pulled tightly so that the rows stayed close together.

As I worked my way around the table, I added small amounts of hot glue every few inches. A glue gun works especially well for this portion of the project because the adhesive sets quickly once it cools, allowing the rope to stay firmly in position as you continue wrapping.

The key is to keep the rope snug and maintain even rows. Taking your time during this stage helps create a cleaner, more finished appearance.

Covering the Tabletop

When the rope reached the upper edge of the table, I didn't stop. Instead, I continued winding it around the tabletop, gradually working from the outer edge toward the middle.

I kept coiling the rope until the entire top surface was covered. The process did leave a few places on the side where one length of rope ended and another began. Ideally, it would have been possible to use one uninterrupted length of rope, but the small joins were surprisingly difficult to notice once everything was finished.

After completing the first table, I followed exactly the same procedure to cover the second one.

How Long the Project Took

The entire project required several hours of work, although I didn't spend that entire time working continuously. I took a number of breaks during the afternoon, so the process was spread out over several hours.

Even though cutting, gluing, and wrapping the rope required some patience, I was very happy with the finished result. Once both tables were complete, I felt that the time and effort had been worthwhile.

The Final Cost

In total, I spent an afternoon cutting the materials, assembling the table frames, and wrapping them with rope. The final cost was approximately $85 for the pair.

That was still more than an ultra-cheap DIY project, but it was substantially less expensive than purchasing two similar rope-style tables from Ballard Designs or another retailer selling comparable pieces.

The biggest advantage was that I was able to achieve the general look and function I wanted without paying the $320 retail price for two tables.

Where I Plan to Use Them

For the moment, the new tables are staying in the living room, where they can hold a drink, book, or other small items. They are also sturdy enough to provide an extra seating option when needed, which makes them even more useful.

Eventually, I think I'll move both tables into the den. I suspect the natural rope texture will look especially attractive against the dark navy walls there.

What started as an expensive catalog find turned into a practical afternoon DIY project. With a few basic materials, some patience, and plenty of rope, I was able to create two functional accent tables for a fraction of the cost of the originals.