Old ladders (or new ladders made to look old) have great design potential. They perfectly embody rustic, farmhouse chic with an industrial twist. You might even have an old wooden ladder in your garage or shed — it could be the perfect time to upgrade to an aluminum one from your local Co-op Home Centre and upcycle your older one.
Head into your local Co-op Home Centre before you start to grab supplies (like sandpaper and paint), and chat repurposing or paint strategy with our pros.
If your ladder is new, you can make it appear rustic with this chalk-paint method. You can also easily white-wash a wooden ladder with a white acrylic exterior latex paint like Co-op Imagine Exterior. First, make sure your ladder doesn’t have a shiny varnish — if it does, simply sand it off. Next, mix two-thirds paint and one-third water in a bucket. Using a brush, paint the ladder in the direction of the wood grain. Don’t let your paint dry. Take a damp rag and wipe the paint away, giving it the appearance of a whitewash.
This list is perfect for beginners or those looking to complete a project in an hour. Here are our top easy wooden ladder decor ideas:
Towel or blanket hanger
One of the simplest ways you can repurpose an old wooden ladder is to turn it into a blanket or towel hanger. Lean the ladder against a wall, drape towels or blankets through the rungs. They look great in your bathroom or living room.
Storage shelf
In the same vein as the towel or blanket hanger, a ladder can easily be turned into a shelving unit. For this project, you will need to have a stepladder with an A-frame shape. Next, place a board that measure a few inches longer than the distance between the ladder’s rungs. Screw the board securely onto the top of the rungs to create the shelving.
Pro tip: These ladders look great white-washed and used as a plant-shelving unit with hanging green vines.
Alternate modification: Adding old drawers to your ladder shelf can increase your storage space greatly. To do this, find old drawers that can slide easily onto the rungs of your ladder, resting on both the front and back rungs. Then, secure the drawers onto the rungs with screws.
Side table
Again, this project is as simple as repurposing a small step stool or ladder to be used as a nightstand. Having “new” bedroom furniture is as simple as a fresh coat of paint on an old piece of furniture.
Lantern stand
Your repurposed wooden ladder can act as a stand for your DIY Lanterns. It can provide ambiance and mood lighting to your yard. Hang lanterns directly from the ladder rungs with an S hook. Alternatively, you can use the method from the storage shelf instructions above to create a shelving unit to set your lanterns on.
Wall-mounted corner bookshelf
For this project, you’ll need four L brackets, a saw, an old ladder, and a level.
To start, measure twice then cut your ladder in half. Use a level to draw a straight horizontal line. Attach two brackets to the wall, using the line to ensure they’re at equal heights. The brackets should be wide enough apart to fit your ladder. Then hold your ladder horizontally against the wall, resting on the brackets. Mark the wall at the top of your ladder for your top two brackets.
Once everything is in place, slide the ladder onto the brackets and screw it in place. Repeat for the second piece of the ladder on the adjacent wall, creating a snug, corner bookshelf. You can then place your books between the rungs of the ladder.
