Our Blanket Ladder is used every day of the year to hold throw blankets and as a quilt ladder. I use it for seasonal decorating too. It is perfect for holding Christmas stockings.
DIY Blanket Ladder
I hung my DIY Hoop Wreath about the ladder for a romantic touch. You can see how I made the wreath here. The gorgeous live edge table was made by my daughter (see how she made it HERE).
Extra blankets stored on DIY lad
How to Build a Blanket Ladder
A blanket ladder is not just for blankets and quilts, but it is also perfect for displaying home decor.
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Materials and Supplies
2, 1 x 3 x 6 pine boards (ladder rails)
3, 1” X 36” wood dowel (ladder rung)
Tools
Drill, drill bits, and countersink bit
Instructions
DIY blanket ladder dimensions are 60″ by 19″; however, it can be any size you would like. A taller one Cut I x 3 boards (ladder rails) at a 15 degrees angle at each end for a finished length of 60 inches.
Cut 1” dowels (ladder rungs) to 18” or desired length.
Sand all the parts with 100 grit and then 220 grit sandpaper.
Layout drill holes from the top: Spacing 8” 11” 11” 11” 8”. Make sure you identify in insides, so your angles match.
Drill holes in the ladder rail with a bit the size of your screws at each ladder rung location and countersink each hold on the outside of the ladder rails.
Using a 1” Forstner or spade drill bit drill halfway through the board on the inside of the ladder rails.
It is a good idea to mark the drill bit with a piece of tape with the depth you want to achieve.
Rustic display ladder cutting a 15-degree angle cut
Drilling holes for the ladder rungs
Cutting the rungs to length
Pre Drilled for rung install
Drilling a countersink hole in the side rails for rung install
Staining the Ladder Pieces
Easy blanket ladder ready to stain
The best stain applicator I have found is a piece of upholstery foam dipped into the stain and applied in the direction of the grain.
Homemade stain applicator
Check the angle for your ladder
Assembling the Ladder
Everything needed for ladder blanket holder assembly
Lining up the pre-drilled holes in the rung
You can add a little wood glue to the recess hole.
Placing the next rung in place on the same side rail
Install the second side rail
The last screw in the ladder
Finished display ladder
Another DIY project that I displayed on my ladder was my handmade Christmas stockings. The living room blanket ladder had gray and white stockings, and the dining room had black and gray ones.
Christmas tree, ladder with Christmas stockings, tree stand
Quilt ladder with handmade Christmas stockings
You might also enjoy these woodworking projects too:
One board bench with deer and wreath; see the post here.
Deer and wreath bench
DIY Lanterns with Solar Lights is one of my favorite projects. I enjoy them all year!
Solar Lantern DIY
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See you soon,
Kippi
Kimberly Snyder
Monday 28th of November 2022
Love this ladder, Kippi! Thanks for sharing the step by step!
Diane
Tuesday 26th of April 2022
Love this and I’ve been wanting to know how to make them!
Natalie
Saturday 10th of April 2021
Oh I am definitely pinning this! This is something I have always wanted! And it's so much cheaper than going out and buying one already made. I love posts like this. I posted about my coffee table my husband made. I found his next project!!!
Cindy@CountyRoad407
Friday 11th of December 2020
Such a great tutorial. We all love the ladders and I especially love how you've used and decorated yours for Christmas. Mine always just has blankets as it sits in a hidden corner of our bedroom. You've inspired me to get it out and do something different. Thank you for linking up at the Farmhouse Friday LP. Hope you link up again! Merry Christmas!
Bridgette Loxton
Tuesday 18th of August 2020
thank you for the lovely idea of the ladder, i am new at DIY so this is so educational for me.
Roze
Saturday 21st of November 2020
Hi! Love it! Where did you get the tan/white stockings from?