We are a little ladder obsessed. I'm not sure what it is but we use ladders for everything from reaching high places (duh, that's what ladders are for!) to using them as a stand to photograph recipe creations on. Elsie found this inexpensive ladder at a flea market and wanted to add some simple shelves for holding books or potted plants.
The paint color she choose is Golden Avocado (from Valspar). Adding shelves to the ladder was a similar process as this golden side table. Trying to retrofit a ladder for shelves proved to be a little bit more complicated than I anticipated. Here's why.
I thought simply adding a few planks of wood the appropriate length would be enough but then I found that the rungs on one side of the ladder were slightly shorter than the other. This caused our shelves to slope downward, so much so that I worried display items might slide if we didn't try to fix the issue.
Our quick fix solution was to add a short piece of wood to the edge of the shelf planks to try and give the shelf more height. We used wood glue to secure the pieces together. In the above photo I have the shelf laying upside down while the glue dried. After the shelves were completed we finished painting and put everything together.
From this angle you can see how many planks we ended up using for each shelf. The shelves are not perfect but they look great in this display and I love how you can easily remove them to either repaint or use the ladder for it's original purpose. xo. Emma + Elsie
How to use a Ladder as Decor
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I just finished painting my ladder and was at a stand still about the shelfs for the plants. Thanks, you nailed IT.
fantastic!!!
LINDO TRABALHO,PARABÉNS.:)) VALÉRIA.(BRASIL).
Great idea…Never thought of this one…I’m new to your blog but following it ever so closely now!! 🙂
Brilliant!! Usually the ladder is stored in hiding in the attic somewhere.. but you make it look so good, that I want to go get it out and give it a fresh bright coat of paint and then flaunt in the living room!!
Brilliant!!!
this blog is such a wealth of inspiration it’s crazy. i’m overwhelmed by all the projects you guys have inspired in my head!
abigail
www.farandwildjewelry.blogspot.com
I absolutely love this. And I love the colour! Pinning this for later!
this is really awesome. You make me want to make a ladder display.
So cute! I need to go find a ladder now.
I am definitely doing this. We have a step ladder that is so old I’m afraid to climb up it. I love the color of the paint. Great idea.
So charming! Yellow is such a fun color!
Nice idea to give the ladder a make over to use it as a board for plants. And I have to say you choose a nice colour!
Such a cool idea! Might head out to the flea market this sunday! Greetings from Berlin!
love the idea. 🙂
http://www.style-ettos.blogspot.in
That’s not a color that I would normally think of using but it looks gorgeous!
This looks beautiful and I love the mustard yellow color. Great idea 🙂 Visiting from Centsational Girl.
I don’t think its about perfect as long as you love the way it looks! Its a cute idea, and I love the idea of reusing what you have and making it different.
Sarah=)
www.etsy.com/shop/owleyevintage
I love this idea! I’m doing it today…can’t wait. Thanks for the inspiration. 🙂 I was wondering where you got your hanging chair. <3
Love the colour!
This is the most useful use of a ladder that isn’t being used.
That made sense.
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