This Designer Shows How to Turn a Cheap Table Into a Pretty Rope Bench
If you haven't heard already, Next Wave designer (and Murder House Flip star) Mikel Welch is something of a DIY aficionado: He's shown us how to create a glam mirror using plastic spoons (yes, really!), and make our own version of an expensive Tibetan wool chair. Now, Welch is at it again, this time using a cheap coffee table and some inexpensive rope (available at any hardware store) to make a woven rope bench that looks like it would belong in an upscale home decor boutique. Once again, Welch's technique is ingeniously simple. Follow along as he shows us the ropes (heh heh).
Supplies:
Wood bench (Welch used this one from Wayfair, though this would be a great way to repurpose an old or damaged bench or jazz up a boring one picked up at a tag sale)
Rope
THAT'S IT!
Step 1: Prepare coffee table
Disassemble the table, removing the top from its legs. (If you opted to rescue a broken table, you may be able to skip this step!)
Step 2: Begin stringing rope
Tie a couple knots at one end of the table, ideally at the joint where the leg attaches, to keep the rope in place.
Step 3: Wrap rope
Wrap the rope around the entire frame, pulling it taut on each wraparound.
Step 3: Secure other end
When you reach the end of the bench, ensure the rope is taut and tie two more securing knots.
Step 4: Weave rope
Now, weave your rope through the already secure rope longways. Welch reccomends bringing the rope through every 5 strands, alternating over and under the rope that's already secure.
Step 5: Cover screw holes
If your table has visible screw holes from the removed top, tie additional knots at the end to cover them.
And voilà—your completed bench. All it took was "some rope and a lot of patience," says Welch. A pretty good deal if you ask us! Now style it with books and decor, or pull it up to your dining table for pretty seating.
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