Get 20 paper plates at the store and follow this adorable concept

The secret to a cozy living room? A few well-chosen pieces of hanging decor. Three-dimensional accents like paper lanterns or macrame art add depth and interest to a space in a way that paintings alone simply can’t. Plus, you can make your own unique decor for a fraction of the cost of pricey paintings.

To make this DIY hanging decor, all you need are paper plates, macrame cord and hot glue. It mimics the look of a classic paper lantern, while the macrame cord adds a bit of contrast and texture. Keep the plates white for a clean and minimalist look, or paint them before assembling to feature a favorite color.

- Paper plates, 20
- Macrame cord, gray
- Scissors
- High-temperature glue gun
- Hot glue sticks
- Fishing line

1. Trim the edge off a paper plate. Fold the plate in half. Repeat with all the plates.

2. Roll out a piece of cord that’s about 2 feet long. Double back, then double back two more times. Cut the end of the cord. You should now have six 2-feet lengths of cord.

3. Hold the folded end of the cord in your hand. Tie an overhand knot with the loose end of the cord, so the folded end is now a loop. You'll use this loop as a hanger. Cut the bottom of the cord to form a tassel.

4. Put a line of hot glue along the folded edge of a paper plate. Glue the folded edge of another plate to it. Repeat until you’ve glued five plates together.

5. Hot glue the cord to the folded edges of the plates. Position the loop above the plates and the free end of the cord below them. Hot glue the cords together along the edges of the plates.

6. Continue hot gluing the folded edges of the remaining plates to the cord. This should fill out your hanging decor.

7. Hang the finished artwork from the ceiling with a length of fishing line. Or, you could cut a longer length of cord in step 2 to hang the decor with.