This 1970s Plant Hanger Is Finding Its Way Back Into Homes
Macramé plant hangers were hard to miss in 1970s interiors, where knotted fiber brought plants off tables and into unused vertical space. The same combination of rope, wood, and greenery fits into current rooms without changing much about the original form.
Homedit contributor Stephanie Albares made this version from jute twine, a rattan ring, and wood beads. Instead of treating the hanger as decoration around a pot, the knots form the structure that carries it, with four long straps meeting in a fitted basket below.
Three Materials Bring the 1970s Look Together
The hanger starts with 4mm jute twine, wood beads, and a four-inch rattan cane ring. All three materials stay close in tone, so the pattern comes from knots and changes in thickness rather than strong color contrast.
Albares used eight long strands of twine, which become 16 after folding. That amount of cord allows the hanger to extend from a small top loop into four long supports and a basket large enough for a planter.
Square Knots Create the Repeating Pattern
Square knots use four strands, with two center cords held between the outer cords. Crossing the outside strands in opposite directions locks the group into a flat section.
The same four-cord structure appears across the hanger, giving the long suspension straps a repeated pattern instead of leaving them as loose rope.
Spiral Knots Break Up the Straight Straps
Repeating one half of the square knot causes the cord to turn around itself. The result is the spiral section seen farther down each strap.
Mixing flat square knots with spiral sections keeps the long cords from reading as four plain ropes running from ceiling to planter.
Eight Strands Become a Single Hanging Loop
The eight lengths of jute are folded at the center and secured into a large knot, leaving a loop at the top. From this point, the 16 loose strands carry the rest of the hanger.
The loop gives the piece a compact attachment point while allowing the cords below to divide into separate sections.
Four Cord Groups Establish the Hanger Structure
The 16 strands split into four groups of four. Each group becomes part of the suspension system, so spacing starts at the top rather than near the planter.
Keeping the groups equal matters because all four straps need to reach the basket at the same height.
Rattan Ring Spreads the Cords Around the Top
A rattan ring sits below the hanging loop, with strands attached around its perimeter. The circular piece separates the cords before they continue down the hanger.
Knots below the ring reconnect neighboring groups, creating an open diamond pattern between the ring and the four main straps.
Long Straps Mix Open Cord With Dense Knots
The straps alternate between knotted sections and exposed lengths of twine. Wood beads sit between some of these sections, held in place by knots above and below.
Rather than covering every inch with macramé, the gaps expose the cord and make each change in pattern easier to see.
Beads Interrupt the Repeating Macramé Pattern
Wood beads appear at intervals along the straps, breaking up long runs of square and spiral knots. Their pale unfinished surface stays close to the color of the jute.
Small touches of pale pink fiber also appear within some sections, adding another layer without replacing the natural material palette.
Four Matching Straps Carry the Weight
Once suspended, the four straps show how much length separates the rattan ring from the planter. Each follows the same sequence of open cord, beads, square knots, and spirals.
The long drop is part of what gives this type of plant hanger its 1970s association, placing the plant well below the hook while keeping the suspension system visible.
Knotted Cord Forms a Basket Around the Planter
Near the bottom, cords from neighboring straps connect to form the basket. Three tiers bring the strands closer together as they move under the container.
This net structure adapts to the planter instead of requiring a shelf or rigid frame. A large knot below the pot gathers the strands and closes the basket.
Macramé Becomes Part of the Planter Display
With the planter in place, the wood beads sit near its rim while knotted jute runs beneath the bowl. The container remains visible through the open cord structure rather than disappearing inside a woven cover.
Albares used an Easter cactus, whose spreading segmented stems extend past the planter edge. The green foliage, blue-green container, pale jute, and wood beads make the hanging structure as visible as the plant itself.
Hanging the Pot Brings the 1970s Format Back Into Use
The completed hanger keeps the basic formula associated with vintage macramé plant displays: a long suspension, natural fiber, wood accents, decorative knots, and a plant held in a cord basket.
What once filled 1970s interiors also solves a current space problem. The planter needs no floor stand, shelf, or table surface, while the long knotted hanger turns the space between the pot and its mounting point into part of the display.