Today I’m sharing 16 super creative boat cleat decorating ideas that can easily be a DIY project. We’ve been out on the water a lot already this year, and I’ve got boat on the brain. Actually we’ve been racing and I’m kind of in training for a position on a race boat but that’s a topic for another day 🙂
It’s been beautiful outside and I keep catching myself lost in thoughts of lazy beach days and cool evenings by the outdoor waterside fire pit.
Let me mention that makes it hard to concentrate and get work done! It hasn’t helped that Pinterest keeps flashing super creative boat cleat decorating ideas across my feed either. The only way to get this DIY boat cleat fever out of my head was to put it down on paper so to speak. With that said, I spent the better part of yesterday morning digging for and collecting fabulously creative boat cleat decorating ideas to share with you guys.
16 Creative Boat Cleat Decorating Ideas
Boat cleats are great for hanging things. I fell in love with the twin hanging mirrors in this guest room.
Who needs wooden balusters when you can use rope and boat cleats? I’d do this in a heartbeat if I had stairs!
Keep fresh herbs handy with an herb garden using cans and boat cleats.
You could make this darling towel rack with a piece of plywood and a few wood scraps! I LOVE this idea!
Source
The sailor in me swooned over these simple boat cleat bath towel holders next to this wallpaper.
Of course my studio half bath is done in a coastal theme. I added a boat cleat hand towel holder a few years ago. It’s a really old post but the projects are great. You’ll find the link below 🙂
This boat cleat and rope console table is kind of pricey at $549, especially when I know I could make it for so much less.
Boat cleat lighting is cool too. They used the cleat on the wall to hold the cord on a hanging pendant light.
Isn’t this cleated picture gallery fabulous?
Here’s another version of a boat cleat gallery wall.
Use a few boat cleats and rope for curtain tiebacks.
Source
Dress up an outside railing or dock with a little nylon rope on boat cleats.
They make fantastic cabinet pulls.
Make an inexpensive cleat toilet paper holder.
Look close and you’ll see the big boat cleats on this gorgeous hanging shelf unit.
Easy to make and loaded with personality.
Love these ideas? Pin for later!
Which one if your favorite? I’m having a hard time choosing a favorite but I’m so wanting to make a boat cleat project now! You can find boat cleats here (affil link). They look great painted too!
Love coastal decor and want more inspiration? Check out and follow H2OBungalow on Pinterest and my Coastal Decor and Craft Boards!
My Coastal Decorating Inspiration and Beachy Coastal Crafts are my 8th and 9th boards from the top on my Pinterest page 🙂
Shannon says
Hi. I was wondering if you had any suggestions on where to buy boat cleats inexpensively. I would love to reproduce some of these ideas, but the cleats seem fairly pricey.
Wendi Wachtel says
Hi Shannon,
Where to buy boat cleats is a good question! I find the nylon ones on Amazon are very well priced. Look through this listing (my affiliate link)
https://amzn.to/32kMuLD it has several sizes of sets of four for $10 or $11. Just paint them to look like metal. They are sturdy! Have fiun with your project!
Debbie says
I love all of things you have put on this page. I would love to see more. How do I sing up to follow you ? Deb
Wendi says
Hi Debbie and thank you! I love creating things for my home and I love even more sharing and teaching others how to make the projects too. Here’s a link you can use to sign up for my email newsletters http://h2obungalow.us8.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=246d347ccedf50ada4d8274e2&id=deede9a695. I’m also very interactive with everyone on Facebook, if you are too follow along here too https://www.facebook.com/H2oBungalow/ Thanks so much for your note and welcome!
Kimm at Reinvented says
I love the rustic/industrial look those give.
Thanks for sharing at Funtastic Friday.
Wendi says
Thanks Kim! It was a fun round-up to put together. Thank you for hosting!
Kim~madeinaday says
I love all these ideas! I grew up in a boating family and these all would be so cool! Pinned. Thank you for sharing on Merry Monday! Have a great week!
Kim
Wendi says
Hi Kim and thank you! We are a boating family too and I’m especially partial to boating decor. I thought these were all fabulous ideas too. Thanks so much for your sweet note & visit!
Mary-the boondocks blog says
Such a fun post Wendi! Very creative use of boat cleats indeed. I wouldn’t know what to try first. Do you have any in your home?
Wendi says
Hi Mary! I had a good time pulling these together. There were a lot of boat cleat projects but not a lot of original ones to pick. The boat cleat towel holder in the coastal bath with blue walls is mine. It’s in my studio. I’ve had it for about 3 years and it’s held up well. I’d love to do the dock ones and if I had stairs I’d do those in a heartbeat too! Which are your favorites?
TwoPlusCute says
Brilliant ideas and so unusual!
You really found great examples to show us. I’d use them with any home style, not only coastal or nautically themed. I see it in industrial, in modern, heck even in the shed, holding tools/heavy items.
Wendi says
Hi TPC and yes I did a lot of super-sleuthing to find really good examples of creative uses for the cleats. It wasn’t selfless though since I had a fun morning of digging through Pinterest. The biggest challenge was finding links that connected to real pages 🙁 That’s why several only ink to a pin on my page. I agree though, most of these projects would fit anywhere!
Christine says
I am seriously loving these ideas, I wish I still lived in Florida on the intercoastl. My home would be filed with each one!
Wendi says
Hi Christine! I love the boat cleat ideas too. In fact, I’m still looking around the house to find a place that I can use some of them. Living on the Intercoastal is a the perfect setting for these too. Thanks so much for your sweet note and visit!
STEPHANIE says
This roundup makes me want to buy a beach house to decorate. I’d love for you to join our link up To Grandmas House We Go. It’s Wednesday’s at abbottsathome.com
Wendi says
Thank you so much Stephanie! I love the ideas too! I will certainly try to visit on Wed! Thanks so much for your sweet comment!
Marie|The Interior Frugalista says
I could totally see so many of these fabulous ideas in your home, girlfriend! Love the boat cleat & rope stairs and dock. The gallery wall is pretty sweet too along with the boat-shaped towel holder. Makes me wish we had a water side home.
Wendi says
Hi Marie! Me too! I’m wishing I had stairs just to create that look. This was a fun round-up to make. I have boat cleat on the mind now and am dying to try a new project with some. You can always come visit down here for the waterside version my friend! We are way long over due for a catch up and wine 😉
Julia says
I seriously want to buy a two story beach house JUST so I can use the boat cleat stair railing! I ❤ boat cleats.
Wendi says
Oh my gosh Julia I agree! I wish I had a staircase to use that rope idea! I’m a boat cleat lover too. I’m still thinking of the perfect boat cleat project for my house. I’m glad you enjoyed the round-up and hope you’ve been inspired to create something too:) Thanks so much for your note!
Patty says
Love-m, some really great ideas, I just might have to look for some of these.
Wendi says
Hi Patty! You can totally do these boat cleat projects! Aren’t they inspiring? I still have the need to create a boat cleat project. If only I had two of me or 48 hours to the day I could get more done! LOL.. I totally want to hear what you come up with on the boat cleat idea:) Have a good week!