Can’t find a vintage blanket ladder for a decent price? Make a rustic DIY blanket ladder easily with 2x4s and show off all your favorite throw blankets!


Did you know that I’ve wanted a Blanket Ladder for a long time? Dean and I saw one a while back at an antiques mall, but it was far too large (and much too pricey) for us. Then one of our lovely contributors made a 30 minute blanket ladder and I wanted to make one of our own too.

Finally decorate your own home – with confidence!

You’re so much closer to a beautifully-decorated home than you think. You just need a little help to get there!

diy blanket ladder

diy blanket ladder made with 2x4s for less than $25

DIY Blanket Ladder (for less than $25)

$25 diy blanket ladder

Supplies

  • 3 – 2″ x 4″ x 8′ lengths of wood
  • 16 –  3/8″ x 2 1/2″ carriage bolts
  • compound miter saw
  • drill
  • 23/64″ drill bit
  • sandpaper
  • measuring tape
  • hammer
  • bar clamp
  • pencil
  • sun bleached oil-based stain
  • dark walnut oil-based stain
  • foam brushes
  • old rag

Instructions

To make a DIY blanket ladder, you will need three two-by-fours. Cut two of them to 7 feet long for the side rails. Then from the third, cut four 16 inch long pieces for the rungs.  Attach rungs to side rails with carriage bolts. Sand and finish as desired.

1. Cut two of the 2″ x 4″ x 8′ (2x4s) down to 7′ each. These will be the side rails.

2. From the third 2×4 cut four 16″ long pieces. These will make the rungs of the ladder.

3. Sand any rough edges on the side rails and rungs.

4. Using a pencil on each of the 7′ 2x4s place a mark at 18″, 34″, 50″ and 66″ from either end. Using a square, mark a pencil line across the width of the boards.

measure and mark

5. Clamp the rungs in between the two 7′ side rails, centered on each of the pencil lines as shown.

clamp the wood together

6. To affix the rungs to the side rails, at each marked line, drill one hole 3/4″ from each edge. There will be eight holes on each side rail, for a total of sixteen holes.

drilling holes

drilling holes 2

drilling holes 3

7. Hammer one carriage bolt into each hole.

hammer in bolts

8. Apply sun bleached stain to entire ladder with foam brush. Let sit for 5 minutes and then wipe off excess with an old rag.

For a step-by-step tutorial on how to stain wood, check out this post.  

9. Apply dark walnut with another foam brush. Let sit for 5 minutes and wipe off excess with an old rag.

10. Let dry until no longer tacky, about 24 hours.

Home Made Lovely DIY Blanket Ladder

And now we have a blanket ladder of our very own, for less than $25!

2x4 blanket ladder

So there’s a super simple alternative to tracking down a vintage or antique ladder somewhere!


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shannon photo and sig oct 2022