easiest DIY blanket ladder

A blanket ladder is a lovely touch in any space. It provides a place to display blankets and throws and other décor elements. But the price tag for a blanket ladder is often close to $100. This easiest DIY blanket ladder post walks you through how to make one in about an hour. This project will cost you only $20 if you happen to have a small amount of stain or paint. This post is part of my summer series on easy DIY projects. I hope you’ll check out my post, Easy DIY Painted Terra Cotta Pots.

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The directions here are for a 62” tall, 12 ¾” wide, 2 ½” deep ladder with 4 ladder rungs. It’s easy to adjust the directions to make a smaller or larger ladder. A larger ladder works well with 5 ladder rungs, and a smaller ladder could use 3 ladder rungs. I’m including a few stain and paint options here. For a stained ladder, I love Homestead House in Driftwood for a greyish brown or Cappuccino for a rich brown. For a distressed, painted finish, stain the ladder first, then apply a coat of paint. These are the ladders I sell in my Etsy shop, so they are well made, sturdy, and have a high-quality finish. Yours should last for years and years.

Materials

• Two pieces of 6’ select pine boards: 2 ½” by ¾” (commonly referred to as 1 by 3 boards)
• One 1” diameter wooden dowel, at least 48” (4’) long
• Eight 2” long black floor screws (I use 8×2 flat socket head screws)
• Stain (I used Homestead House stain- Cappuccino or Driftwood)
• Paint, if you want a painted finish (I used Fusion Mineral Paint in Raw Silk)

Tools

• Saw (I use a compound mitre saw for everything) or have your pieces cut to size in the store
• Pencil
• Awl
• Drill and drill bits
• Screwdriver
• 320 grit sandpaper
• “Chip” brush for applying the stain
• Clean, lint-free cotton rags for removing excess stain

Directions for the easiest DIY blanket ladder

Cutting and Assembly

• Cut each 1 by 3 board down to 62” in length.
• Cut dowel into 4 pieces, each 11 ¼” long – it’s critical to ensure the dowel pieces are exactly the same length!
• Mark the location of the dowels on your 1 by 3 boards- the first mark will be 20” from the bottom and each of the 3 remaining marks will be 12” apart. There should be 6” between the top mark and the top of the 1 by 3 board. Drill through all 8 markings, using a piece of scrap wood underneath.
• Use an awl to mark a hole in the ends of each dowel. You’ll want the hole to be precisely in the middle of the circular cross-section. The hole will act as a guide and prevent your drill from slipping. Drill about an inch into the marked holes.
• Lightly sand all pieces using 320 grit sandpaper. Wipe clean.
• Fasten screws into the 1 by 3 board and then into the dowel. You can save the final tightening for when all the screws are in place. Complete one side of the ladder before moving on to the other side.
• Finish screwing all pieces together and then tighten all the screws so that the screw heads are flush with the wood surface.

Finishing

• Apply stain using a chip brush and allow to sit for 10 minutes (or follow the directions of the manufacturer). Then wipe gently with a clean, lint-free cotton cloth in the direction of the wood grain.
• Allow to dry for about 2 days before using or applying a painted finish (if you are doing that step).
• For a distressed, painted finish (optional), apply two coats of paint 12 hours apart. Allow to dry 24 hours, then sand along the edges and in strategic places to allow the stain to show through. Try to avoid over sanding and revealing the raw wood under the stained finish.
• Note- Homestead House Stain and Fusion Mineral Paint do not require a topcoat. If you use another type of stain or paint, you may want to apply a protective topcoat.

Styling Ideas

The traditional way to style a blanket ladder is to display quilts or blankets. I like to display blankets and throws in a similar colourway (usually neutrals). A beautiful blanket ladder looks lovely even with just a single blanket on it. I like to fold the blankets before hanging them so that they fit neatly into the width of the blanket ladder.

These are some of my very favourite blankets:

I use a blanket ladder in our master bathroom to display towels. It’s very functional and adds a pretty, rustic touch.

I also like to add other accessories to our blanket ladders, like hanging baskets, wood signs, and faux flowers or preserved greenery.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this easiest DIY blanket ladder tutorial. I’d love to see how yours turns out!