C.J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
Beachy Rope DIY Pendant Light
In trying to find a way to light up a dark area between our bedroom and closet areas, I came up with an inexpensive way to make a pendant light with a lot of style. I saw similar pendant lights fully constructed for purchase on websites like Wayfair for $300 and up, but I knew it could easily be recreated for under $100! After a quick walk on our local beach, I found the stick and the project came together quickly.
Read on to learn how to make a DIY driftwood and rope pendant light.
DIY Pendant Light Supplies
This DIY driftwood and rope pendant light comes together in about 2 hours or less, depending on your skill level. It’s definitely a beginner-style project because you don’t have do have any major tools or artistic skills to create it.
Best Light Bulbs for Pendant Lights
Because I found the driftwood on the beach and already had some jute string, this light cost me $73. You can make it for a similar cost too!
Here are the exact items I used for this project:
One piece of driftwood (mine was approximately 30 inches in length and about 1 inch in diameter, but if you can’t find driftwood, a piece of 4”x4” would work or any natural wood or stick piece around the same size)
One set of 3 pendant lights with a rope cord (Amazon)
Five button-style swag hooks (Amazon)
jute string (I had some on hand, but you can find it on Amazon)
three light bulbs of your choice (we used a wattage recommended by the pendant light)
drill (we used this to attach the screws that held the swag hooks)
pencil
one smart plug (optional)
How to Tie Rope On Driftwood Light
Watch the 30 second video tutorial on our YouTube channel “Carolyn Braden” or view it below!
If you can’t find a great stick or driftwood piece, you could create it using a 4”x4” from your local hardware or wood supply business. You can have the business cut it down to the 30” inch size (in length) I used. You could also stain the wood to match your decor if desired. A thick, sanded stick would work too.
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Pendant Light Measurements
I first cut some jute string into four 36” inch pieces. I doubled them up, wrapped them around each end of the stick (at about 4 1/2 inches in from the ends of the stick) and knotted them.
Driftwood for Pendant Light Pre-Hung
I knotted them at the base of the stick and at the top of the rope to form a loop. This is what I used to hang the stick from the ceiling. If you don’t want to use rope, you could also use some chain and eye hooks or some other hanging method.
Hanging the Driftwood and Rope Pendant Light
My husband then held the stick up in the area that we wanted to hang the light so I could visualize exactly where I wanted it. He marked the area with a pencil.
Modern Black Button Swag Hooks
We then screwed two of the button style swag hooks into the beam. A screw fits into the base, then screws into the ceiling or wall.
How the Rope Will Hang From Swag Hook
These particular hooks are in two pieces; one you drill into the wall (you can see in the photos how the rope fits into the hook base), and the other is the cap that conceals the hook part.
Mounted Modern Button Swag Hook
We hung the knotted portion of the rope into the swag hooks, cut off the excess string, then placed the caps over the hook base.
This Hanging Driftwood Could Be Used to Hang Plants Too
If you don’t want to hang lights from this, you could also use it to hang plants for a cute decor addition in any room!
The Wood Before Stringing the Pendant Lights On
After the stick was hung, we looped the light sockets around it. This took a little bit of maneuvering. Start with the “end” pendant light, then loop the other two until you get the look you want.
Stringing the Pendant Light Around the Wood
My husband got it started, then I completed it. I ended up hanging the lights in a sloped way. It was design decision that I liked for our room style. You can loop the lights onto the stick however you like. After stringing it onto the stick, we added the bulbs and the wire pendant shades.
Adjusting the Pendant Lights on the Wood
The excess cord did not look right simply hung straight down the wall. It’s a rope, and seemed like it wanted to curve, so we used the rest of the swag hooks to curve it down the wall to secure it.
Weaving the Cord Into More Swag Hooks
This light has a switch to turn it on and off, as well as switches on each light. To make turning it on and off even easier, we used a smart plug that allows us to turn it on and off with our Amazon Echo Dot (or with the smart plug app OR the Alexa app).
Completed Coastal Rope and Wood Light
We named ours “beach light” because I found the stick on the beach and tell Alexa to turn on the beach light whenever I want. I love it!
Completed Driftwood and Rope Pendant Light
There are so many options for this light. You can order pendant lights with more lights and use a larger stick if you have more area to light. This DIY driftwood and rope pendant light would be perfect hanging in a bedroom or over a kitchen island. I could also see it looking nice on a porch or above a dining table.
The Wood and Rope Pendant Light at Night
Having three lights may be too bright for you, so you could alternatively add a dimmer plug to it. I enjoy it being bright, as our island home gets very dark at night. It adds a great bit of warm light since we used a warm light bulb.
Wood and Rope Pendant Light at Night
Did you make this DIY driftwood and rope pendant light or one like it? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
Minnie Pearl and Johnny Cash Love Our DIY Driftwood and Rope Pendant Light
C.J. (Carolyn) Braden is a regular contributor and editor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Little Ways to Get Back To You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.