If you have a room that is a little drab or in need of a little pizzazz, some decorative lighting just might do the trick. You need not spend much money to give the room a little something. With a DIY approach to rope light tray designs, you will discover just the right look for your room.
Start with an Angled Brace
Cut a 45-degree angle into lengths of 2-by-4 inch boards on your table saw. Run the boards through your table saw to cut off one corner, and then flip over the board and do the same with another corner. Cut the board in half, so you will be left with two angled braces. Continue making these braces until you have enough to go around the exterior of the room.
Mount the Braces to the Wall
Decide the height where you wish to mount your angled braces for the DIY rope light tray designs. Use wood nails to secure the angled braces all the way around the room at the height you have chosen. The angled braces will form the tray upon which your rope lights will rest.
Mount Crown Molding to the Angled Braces
Attach the crown molding to the angled braced with finish nails. The bottom of the crown molding should touch the wall and the top, thanks to the angled braces, should be angled away from the wall.
Install the Rope Lighting
Lay the rope lighting on top of the angled braces. Because they will be hidden behind the crown molding, they will only appear as a soft muted light around the top of the room, giving the room an illusion of added height.
Tip
Stain or paint the crown molding to match the rest of the room's decor and molding. Fill any nail holes with wood filler before painting.
Rope Lighting
Since you are working with rope lighting, it is a good idea to consider the various types of rope lighting available. The basic or least-expensive style of rope lighting is incandescent. This can come in different wattages. The downside is that incandescent rope lighting does not last as long as other forms of rope lighting and can run hotter as well. While LED rope lighting is more expensive, it does have the advantage of not only running cooler but requiring less electricity to run. The cost up-front will be balanced out by the savings in the cost of the electricity it will take to power them. The actual installation of the rope lighting should also be considered. For safety sake, installing a dedicated plug in the ceiling near the tray for the rope lighting or in the tray itself not only allows your DIY rope lighting tray designs to conform to code, but allows the house's future owner to remove or install other lighting should he wish.
Tags: angled braces, rope lighting, rope lighting, crown molding, tray designs, around room