Decorating: 11 Stylish Ways to Use Ladders in Your Home
Much more than just a piece of equipment, ladders can be elegantly and creatively displayed in your home
Cathy Rebecca
29 October 2014
London-based freelance journalist
Used creatively, ladders are great for helping you to get the most from your space. They can enable you to exploit the full height of a room, act as a space-efficient alternative to stairs and can even be used for shelving. You can go vintage and upcycle an old ladder to create a towel rail, or get one specially made for your space to match your cupboards or shelving. There are many options to pick from and different ones will work in different homes. One thing’s for certain, though – ladders should not be banished to the shed.
Stay sleek
Opting for metal and wood keeps the contemporary feel of this bedroom. The black contrasts nicely with the lighter wood, making this ladder a feature of the room, and its small footprint ensures it doesn’t dominate.
Opting for metal and wood keeps the contemporary feel of this bedroom. The black contrasts nicely with the lighter wood, making this ladder a feature of the room, and its small footprint ensures it doesn’t dominate.
Pay attention to detail
Matching the type of wood inside the wardrobe to the wood of the ladder is an elegant and subtle detail that adds a touch of luxury to this bedroom.
Matching the type of wood inside the wardrobe to the wood of the ladder is an elegant and subtle detail that adds a touch of luxury to this bedroom.
Hang your towels
If your bathroom doesn’t have a heated towel rail, repurposing an old ladder to hang your towels might be the perfect solution for you. A ladder will have a very small footprint and, if stood at enough of an angle, it will allow each towel its own space to dry.
If your bathroom doesn’t have a heated towel rail, repurposing an old ladder to hang your towels might be the perfect solution for you. A ladder will have a very small footprint and, if stood at enough of an angle, it will allow each towel its own space to dry.
Go rustic
What better way to work the rustic vibe into your home than by upcycling an old wooden ladder? Here, it’s been used as a shelf to display autumnal ornaments.
What better way to work the rustic vibe into your home than by upcycling an old wooden ladder? Here, it’s been used as a shelf to display autumnal ornaments.
Double up
Using multiple ladders to create a characterful shelving unit is a creative and highly practical storage solution. This would be perfect for rented homes, where you may not be able to build in your own storage.
See more freestanding storage solutions
Using multiple ladders to create a characterful shelving unit is a creative and highly practical storage solution. This would be perfect for rented homes, where you may not be able to build in your own storage.
See more freestanding storage solutions
Get dreamy
Bunk beds aren’t just for children. Here, a white ladder teams with white bed linen and white frames to create an effortlessly chic and airy appearance.
Check out more smart bunk beds
Bunk beds aren’t just for children. Here, a white ladder teams with white bed linen and white frames to create an effortlessly chic and airy appearance.
Check out more smart bunk beds
Use your whole kitchen
The space above kitchen cabinets is often a tricky spot to use. It’s difficult to store things up there without it looking cluttered. Using a ladder in the kitchen enables cabinets to extend up to the ceiling, and the railing means it can quickly be moved around for ease of access and a secure footing.
The space above kitchen cabinets is often a tricky spot to use. It’s difficult to store things up there without it looking cluttered. Using a ladder in the kitchen enables cabinets to extend up to the ceiling, and the railing means it can quickly be moved around for ease of access and a secure footing.
Opt for chunky
A thicker and less refined wood gives a tree trunk-like feel to this ladder. Going for this chunky look brings a hint of nature into the room and makes for a sturdy set of steps.
A thicker and less refined wood gives a tree trunk-like feel to this ladder. Going for this chunky look brings a hint of nature into the room and makes for a sturdy set of steps.
Match your colours
Create a sophisticated and seamless look by matching your ladder to the paint colour of your shelves. It gives a bespoke feel, and in this room helps to create a library vibe.
Create a sophisticated and seamless look by matching your ladder to the paint colour of your shelves. It gives a bespoke feel, and in this room helps to create a library vibe.
Craft your own
Make your own ladder from branches for a truly authentic feel. Granted, you might not want to use it to support your full weight, but it doesn’t matter – its role is as a piece of art in the room.
Make your own ladder from branches for a truly authentic feel. Granted, you might not want to use it to support your full weight, but it doesn’t matter – its role is as a piece of art in the room.
Go for contrast
Make your ladder stand out from the background by going for a contrasting colour. It looks sleek and you’ll be sure not to loose sight of it…
TELL US…
Do you have ladders out on display? We’d love to see photos in the Comments below.
Make your ladder stand out from the background by going for a contrasting colour. It looks sleek and you’ll be sure not to loose sight of it…
TELL US…
Do you have ladders out on display? We’d love to see photos in the Comments below.
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