I had been looking online for affordable rustic ladders just that I could use for decor in our house! I didn't want a ladder that I could climb, I simply wanted one I would lean up against the wall and use as a blanket rack! I searched high and low and the cheapest I could find was $60 and was only 4 ft! I finally said "we will build it ourselves...How hard can it be?"
The next day I took my measurements to the hardware store and said I need this size board cut at this length and this size dowel cut at this length. I then went home and started to put the pieces together! It is such a simple project, I was kicking myself that it had taken me this long to build my own decorative ladder. We glued the dowels to the side boards and then added a nail to securely attach the dowels to the side boards!
Within 20 minutes we had a ladder!!! However, I wasn't done! I wanted it to look weathered and rustic. So that is what I did, I grabbed my apple cider vinegar and steel wool and did just that... I weathered the wood!
I soaked the steel will for 30 minutes in a bowl of apple cider vinegar! The apple cider vinegar will turn black and that is exactly what you want! I then took the steel wool and scrubbed!! **side note wear a pair of thick rubber gloves when doing this step! I didn't and boy did I regret that!! Your fingers will hate you, and you will a week or sore fingers! Never underestimate the power of vinegar!!** Now the longer you soak the steel wool the darker the color will get when applied on the wood! So you can wait as long as you want depending on the darkness you desire! I scrubbed the ladder about 3x... Allowing it to dry between each application. Then I was DONE! At the point I had this weathered ladder that I has desired and my fingers were so sore it was time to be finished!
I absolutely love our DIY rustic ladder! Now that I know it is so easy I want to make more, but where would I put more ladders!! 😀
I didn't take pictures while making it but I will for the next ladder that I make but here is the final product.
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