My mischievous Jack Russell “terrorists” inspired this week’s project: Upcycle a Bamboo Steamer into a Macramé Wall-Mounted Toilet Roll Holder. Our toilet rolls used to sit on a floor pole—easy pickings! Moving the spare rolls onto the wall solved the problem, and a big bamboo steamer made the perfect, budget-friendly base. The basket looked plain at first, so I gave it a quick macramé rope makeover. The result is a tidy, dog-proof toilet roll holder that looks like it floats on the wall.

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Upcycle a Bamboo Steamer into a Macramé Wall-Mounted Toilet Roll Holder

Materials Needed

• Large bamboo steamer base (about 36 cm Ø x 15 cm deep) recycled
• 5 mm macramé rope (approx. 30 m total)
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Craft knife or strong scissors
• Thin MDF sheet for a hidden backing
• Pencil, measuring tape, jigsaw
• Small nails or brads and a hammer
• 3M self-adhesive hook-and-loop (Velcro-style) strips (rated to 7 kg)
• Optional: clear matte sealer, masking tape for rope ends

Find and Prepare the Bamboo Steamer

I used the bottom of a 36 cm steamer and set the lid aside for a future project. Remove the woven base so the rope can pass around the rim and sides.

Use a craft knife or scissors to slice the thin bamboo ties that hold the base to the walls. Work slowly so you don’t splinter the frame.

Add the Anchor Ropes

Measure the steamer’s outer circumference (mine was about 1.2 m). Cut eight rope lengths at roughly 2 m each. I prefer extra length to avoid coming up short.

Touch the rope ends with a bit of hot glue or wrap with masking tape to prevent fraying.

Glue the eight lengths onto the rim in pairs, spacing the pairs evenly around the steamer. Clear glue looks neater than black (ask me how I know!).

Weave the Macramé Rope

Cut two working lengths at 5 m each. Rolling each length into a loose ball stops tangles. Begin by wrapping over your glue spots to hide them, then weave an over-under pattern across each pair of anchor ropes, carrying the working rope around the back before repeating.

Keep the inner spans neat—no twisting or crossing—so the weave sits flat inside the basket.

Tension, Tidy, and Continue

After weaving about 15 cm, pause. Straighten the anchor ropes, pull the weave snug, and push rows together for an even pattern.

Continue around the steamer until it’s fully covered.

If you must join rope, make the join on the underside so it disappears once mounted. Got leftover rope? Here’s a simple rope wall hanging you can make in an afternoon.

Make a Hidden Base (Floating Look)

I wanted the holder to “float” without a visible hanging loop. The original base didn’t provide enough flat surface area to support the weight once mounted on the wall.

Trace the outside of the steamer onto thin MDF, then cut just inside the line with a jigsaw so the back won’t peek out.

Hot glue the woven underside to the MDF, trim any long fibres, then secure with a few small nails. This creates a clean, rigid back that sits flush on the wall.

Mount the Toilet Roll Holder

Stick 3M self-adhesive hook-and-loop strips to the MDF back and the wall. The 7 kg rating is more than enough for a full load of toilet rolls. Press firmly to bond.

If you prefer a visible hanger, you can glue a rope loop at the top and hang it on a wall hook—quick and easy—but I love the seamless look of the hidden base.

Use, Care, and Capacity

The finished holder keeps spare rolls high, dry, and away from curious pups. It comfortably fits multiple standard rolls (capacity will vary with roll size). To clean, use a soft brush or vacuum with a brush attachment. In steamy bathrooms, a light coat of clear matte sealer helps resist moisture while keeping the natural bamboo look.

More upcycled DIY home decor ideas

Made from scratch with mostly recycled materials, this chaise lounge started as a test and ended up a showstopper.

This handmade wind spinner would look great in any garden.

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