• Home
  • MEET LIZ
  • contact
  • Blog
  • JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Love Grows Wild

  • Home
  • SHOP MY POSTS
  • Our Home
    • bathroom
    • dining room
    • entryway
    • exterior
    • kids bedroom
    • kitchen
    • living room
    • master bedroom
    • office
    • playroom
  • Project Gallery
    • diy decor
    • decorating advice + inspiration
    • furniture makeover
    • woodworking
    • crafts
  • Seasonal
    • spring
    • summer
    • fall
    • winter
  • Recipes
    • appetizers/snacks
    • beverages
    • breakfast
    • dessert
    • meal ideas
    • side dishes
  • SHOP
    • Grow + Gather
    • Shop My Posts
    • My Amazon Store
    • My Book
Decorating and Home, Tutorials

DIY Ladder Tutorial

September 14, 2013

Pin
Share
Post
Email
Print
Want a unique piece of decor that will add tons of character to a room? Learn how to build your own ladder with this simple, step-by-step tutorial!
Learn how to make a DIY Decorative Ladder with this simple, step-by-step tutorial! This is a great piece of decor that will add tons of character to your room! at LoveGrowsWild.com #diy #ladder #decor


I am SO excited to show you guys this project!! I have been pretty proud of some of my past DIY builds, but for some reason this one tops my list… I built a ladder. And not just any ladder, but a rustic, decorative, hold-my-pretty-towels kind of ladder!
Remember my little pantry area:
Learn how to make a DIY Decorative Ladder with this simple, step-by-step tutorial! This is a great piece of decor that will add tons of character to your room! at LoveGrowsWild.com #diy #ladder #decor
Next to our pantry we have this cute little wash sink, and I’ve never really known what to do with it. There’s not a lot of space, so my decorating options are pretty limited. Right now we don’t have anywhere to keep towels by the sink, so instead of hanging a boring towel bar on the wall, I decided to  build a ladder to hang our towels! How cool is that?? It takes up very little space and adds a ton of character. I just love it!
Here’s how I made my ladder:
Learn how to make a DIY Decorative Ladder with this simple, step-by-step tutorial! This is a great piece of decor that will add tons of character to your room! at LoveGrowsWild.com #diy #ladder #decor
1)  I picked up 2 – 6 foot 1 x 4 boards from the hardware store and one 6 foot 3/4″ dowel rod. I sanded down all edges of the boards to give them a worn, rustic look.
2) I cut the dowel rod into 4 – 18″ pieces.
3) I laid all the pieces out to find the spacing I wanted for the ladder rungs and marked where each rung would go on the 1 x 4’s. I ended up spacing mine 14 1/2 inches apart.
4) Using a 3/4″ paddle bit, I drilled a shallow round in the 1 x 4’s  for each of my rungs. *You only need to make a small groove for the dowel rod to set in.
5) I drilled long screws into one of the boards, securing the dowel rods in place.
6) Then I lined up the second board and screwed the other side of each dowel rod in place.
– Check out the stunning ladder tutorial I was inspired by from Jen of Tatertots and Jello! –
I wiped the ladder down really well and stained it with my favorite dark walnut stain. After it was dry, I applied a coat of paste finishing wax. And here’s how it looks next to my cute little sink:
Learn how to make a DIY Decorative Ladder with this simple, step-by-step tutorial! This is a great piece of decor that will add tons of character to your room! at LoveGrowsWild.com #diy #ladder #decor
Learn how to make a DIY Decorative Ladder with this simple, step-by-step tutorial! This is a great piece of decor that will add tons of character to your room! at LoveGrowsWild.com #diy #ladder #decor
Learn how to make a DIY Decorative Ladder with this simple, step-by-step tutorial! This is a great piece of decor that will add tons of character to your room! at LoveGrowsWild.com #diy #ladder #decor
Learn how to make a DIY Decorative Ladder with this simple, step-by-step tutorial! This is a great piece of decor that will add tons of character to your room! at LoveGrowsWild.com #diy #ladder #decor
I am so smitten with this new addition to my pantry/kitchen makeover, and I love the charm it brings to the space! These shabby chic tea towels I created look stunning hanging from the ladder rungs. You can find the tutorial for the tea towels here!
UPDATE: See this ladder used as blanket storage in our living room! Click here. 
So what do you think? Do you like unique storage ideas like this? What creative storage ideas do you use in your home?
Check out more unique decor ideas:
How to Make Rope Letters
How to Make Rope Letters
DIY Photo Clipboards
DIY Photo Clipboards
Let’s Keep In Touch!
Subscribe to Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter | Follow on Google+
Follow on Pinterest | Follow on Instagram | Subscribe to Newsletter
Pin
Share
Post
Email
Print
DIY Decor Woodworking
by Liz Fourez 
35 Comments

About Liz Fourez

View all posts by Liz Fourez

Related Posts

  • gallery wall artwork inspirationHow to Fill a Blank Wall with Art
  • Yarn Wrapped Christmas TreesYarn Wrapped Christmas Trees
  • Neutral Living RoomTone on Tone Woven Wall Art DIY
  • Are you curtains just a little too short? Home blogger Liz Fourez shares a few ways you can easily add extra length.How to Lengthen Curtains That Are Too Short
PREVIOUS: Now Accepting Contributor Applications!
NEXT: Sale Alert: 25% Off All Silhouette Consumables!

Comments

  1. Lisa at Mabey She Made It says: September 14, 2013 at 10:19 pm

    That’s so awesome! I’d never thought to MAKE a ladder–I’ve been keeping my eyes open for an old one, but this is fabulous!

    Reply
  2. Tanya Runkle says: September 15, 2013 at 4:57 am

    I have always wanted a ladder like this, it turned out wonderful Liz!! xo

    Reply
  3. kelly says: September 16, 2013 at 5:14 pm

    You are very talented ๐Ÿ™‚

    I have a ladder in my barn inspired bathroom to hold towels. It was the very first thing I moved in! I found it in an old building and displayed photos on it at my wedding so it’s kind of special to me!

    Nicely done! Love the stain color. It goes great with your gray walls.

    Reply
  4. Kayla Janachovsky says: September 16, 2013 at 9:19 pm

    This looks so great with the grey walls! Good job. I’d love if you’d link up to The DIY’ers! http://homecomingmn.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-diyers-29.html

    Reply
  5. Tonia Larson says: September 17, 2013 at 4:20 am

    My sister has a ladder in her bathroom and I love how it looks! Thanks for the great tutorial!

    Reply
  6. Jenn Lifford says: September 17, 2013 at 9:24 pm

    Love this Liz! I have been looking everywhere for one – guess I might just have to build my own! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  7. Corinna Ashley says: September 18, 2013 at 12:27 am

    Ah! I’ve never liked a tutorial better than Jen’s before- until now! This is uh-mazing! I need one, you’ve made it sound irresistibly easy!

    Reply
  8. Eva Lennon@house removals bristol and frome says: September 18, 2013 at 4:52 am

    I am really gonna follow the instruction those have been provided by you to me to make a DIY ladder at home. I really love the DIY stuff and quite excited to get this one created here.

    Reply
  9. Jocelyn says: September 19, 2013 at 6:51 pm

    You seriously amaze me at the stuff you do! This is way too cute and is perfect for that little corner!!!

    Reply
  10. [email protected] says: September 19, 2013 at 7:58 pm

    I need one now! Such a great tutorial, too! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  11. Miranda Winslett says: September 19, 2013 at 9:38 pm

    This is too cute! I’d love it if you’d link this up to my blog hop party, DIY Weekend:

    http://mrandmrswinslett.blogspot.com/2013/09/diy-weekend-919.html

    Thank you!
    Miranda @ Mr. and Mrs. Winslett

    Reply
  12. Zuni, Chickadee Home Nest says: September 20, 2013 at 1:19 am

    I love it! I had an old ladder that I kept wanting to use, and finally came up where I could use it–to “frame” some pictures (you can see the post at my blog, if you’d like). That’s an invitation :). I like how you’re using yours, and think it’s awesome that you built it yourself! Wow! I’m glad I found mine made, LOL! ~Zuni

    Reply
  13. Mackenzie says: September 21, 2013 at 4:22 pm

    What a great idea for hanging towels; love it!

    Reply
  14. Lyuba @ Will Cook For Smiles says: September 22, 2013 at 12:21 am

    What a clever idea to use a ladder as towel holder! You did an amazing job with this ladder too!

    Reply
  15. Trish - Mom On Timeout says: September 22, 2013 at 1:02 am

    It looks just fabulous Liz! I would be pretty proud of myself too ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  16. Capturing Joy with Kristen Duke says: September 22, 2013 at 6:04 pm

    I love the look of ladders but had never thought of making one! This one looks great – thanks for the tutorial!

    Reply
  17. Capturing Joy with Kristen Duke says: September 22, 2013 at 6:05 pm

    I love the look of ladders but never thought of making one myself! This turned out great – thanks for the tutorial!

    Reply
  18. kristi dominguez says: September 24, 2013 at 3:09 am

    Could you be any more AWESOME? I love this. I had an antique ladder that I used as a pot rack at our previous home…the buyers asked that we leave it and I’ve missed it ever since! I would have never thought to build one! How smart is this?!? Great job, friend!!

    Reply
  19. Dear Emmeline says: September 25, 2013 at 4:41 pm

    My husband was just brainstorming making a ladder that starts wide and gets skinnier on top. I’ll have to show him yours and see if he can modify it. Looks great!

    Reply
  20. Carissa Rasmussen says: September 26, 2013 at 2:10 pm

    pinning! i love the multi-purpose uses of a ladder in the house. soo gorgeous and cheap! you are fabulous!

    Reply
  21. Jill says: September 28, 2013 at 3:15 am

    I love this! Thank you so much for the tutorial.

    Reply
  22. Gaby {lifeineight.com} says: September 28, 2013 at 9:24 pm

    I love how the dark wood looks with the white pieces and the grey walls. Beautiful!

    Reply
  23. Rachael@LovelyCraftyHome says: September 29, 2013 at 1:17 pm

    Oh MY. I have been looking for a wooden ladder forever, and I never thought to make one!! Genius!! I would be so happy if you shared this on my weekend linky party!

    Reply
  24. Ronny Varghese says: January 1, 2015 at 10:26 pm

    I just got done building this … and while I love the way it looks, I have not stained it yet as none of my test samples are coming out correctly. I wanted to ask you … what kind of wood did you use for this?? I am using red oak … please advise! thanks!

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: January 3, 2015 at 9:52 pm

      Hey Ronny! I used pine boards, so the red oak will definitely change the look of the stain. What color stain are you using?

      Reply
  25. Ronny Varghese says: January 3, 2015 at 11:11 pm

    same as yours… the dark walnut

    Reply
  26. Ronny Varghese says: January 3, 2015 at 11:12 pm

    any advice as to what stain would be appropriate to re-create on red oak? I like the red oak as it’s very hard and a nice type of wood

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: January 5, 2015 at 10:34 pm

      You might try adding a more gray-based stain to counteract some of the warmth in red oak… maybe Classic Gray from Minwax? Here’s the Minwax stain color guide that might help: http://www.minwax.com/wood-products/stains-color-guide/

      I haven’t worked with red oak before, so I’m not sure the best advice to give!

      Reply
  27. Leah Johnson says: May 11, 2015 at 6:38 pm

    hey! LOVE this tutorial!! My hubby and I followed your tutorial and made this for my moms Mother’s Day gift! I have a question about the stain and drying time- Matt (hubby) stained it yesterday around 5:30pm and today (around 6pm) the stain is still not completely dry in some spots- so here’s my question(s) hehe
    -how long did yours take to dry before you did the finishing wax?
    -Will the finishing wax help to seal in areas that are still not completely dry or should I wait before doing this step?
    -And how long after doing wax was it ready to put blankets on?
    The wood I’m using is poplar board – not sure if that makes a difference but figured I’d mention just incase:)
    Thank you so much for this tutorial it was so easy to follow and can’t wait for finished product!
    Leah

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: May 14, 2015 at 10:19 pm

      Awe, what a sweet Mother’s Day gift! I am sure she LOVED it! I’ve run into issues like this with stain in the past, so here’s a few tips/ideas for you:

      When applying the stain, let the stain set for about 5-15 minutes (depending on how dark you want the color to be), then wipe away any remaining stain that hasn’t soaked in yet with an old rag. I think the spots you’re describing that look still wet probably just needed a little wipe down. I usually let the stain dry for a couple hours, then come back with a finishing wax. The wax will definitely help seal in any of those trouble areas. I hope this helps!!

      Your mom is one lucky lady getting a handmade gift like this!

      Reply
  28. Kaley says: January 2, 2016 at 4:04 pm

    Hi Liz,

    I just came across this project- this is exactly what I’ve been looking for! When you sanded down the edges of the boards, did you use an electric sander or just sheets of paper? I don’t have an electric sander, so I’m curious if I should look in to getting one for this project.
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: January 3, 2016 at 11:22 pm

      Hey Kaley! I have an electric sander, which is a HUGE help with larger projects like this. Sheets of sandpaper are fine for smaller projects, but if you use them a lot for projects I would definitely invest in a palm sander. You can find some that are relatively inexpensive and well worth the investment!

      Reply
  29. Veronica Landeros says: July 21, 2016 at 3:44 pm

    Hello,
    I wanted to know how many coats of the dark walnut stain was used on the ladder, and also which Minwax Paste Finishing Wax was used? I have 2 containers of the Minwax, one is Natural and the other is Special Dark. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: August 20, 2016 at 2:02 pm

      Hi Veronica! I only used one coat of the dark walnut stain, and the amount of time you leave it on really determines how dark it will be. I believe I used the natural finishing wax, but dark would be pretty too! It just depends how dark you would like the finish to be! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  30. Jessica says: May 6, 2017 at 4:21 pm

    Hi Liz,

    Can you tell me what kind of screws we’re used? We’re having trouble with the screws not going all the way through the dowel, causing the screw to show in between. Then the screw top keeps getting stripped. Any suggestions?

    Thank you!!

    Reply

Leave Your Comments Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Liz Fourez started Love Grows Wild in 2012 with a passion for interior design and homemaking and a dream to help others create a home they love.  From simple project tutorials, to holiday and entertaining ideas, to her journey renovating a 1940’s farmhouse, Liz demonstrates how to create a beautiful and inviting home with a handmade touch. She turned her signature cozy, neutral style into a best-selling book in 2016 and continues to inspire readers with her captivating photography and easy decorating ideas. Read more about Liz > > > >

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

FOLLOW ALONG

  • contact
  • MEET LIZ
  • advertise
  • privacy policy/disclosure
  • Blog

Copyright © 2025 · Prima Donna theme by Georgia Lou Studios

COPYRIGHT ยฉ 2017 ยท DESIGN + BRAND: BLISS AND TELL BRANDING COMPANY