If your old step ladder is no longer as sturdy as it once was, it’s a good idea to buy a new one – but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to throw away the old one or leave it to rot at the bottom of your garden.
Why not repurpose it instead?
Upcycling is a terrific way to get the most out of your belongings while also helping the environment.
There are so many ways to reuse a step ladder, even if it’s broken.
If you need some inspiration to help get you started, keep reading – we’ve compiled this list of our top 5 fun uses for an old step ladder.
1) Turn it into a bookcase
Step ladder treads make perfect shelves for books. Depending on the size of your step ladder, you could display a handful of books or several shelves’ worth.
If you have a wooden step ladder, why not sand it down and paint it to match your home’s décor or even paint it a wacky pattern to make it really stand out?
If you have a metal ladder, you could simply give it a clean and leave it plain to create an industrial look, or add some decorations like fairy lights or a plant or two.
2) Use it as a towel/blanket holder
Get creative and store some blankets or bathroom towels on your old step ladder. This tends to work best for small step ladders as they take up less space, but it can work with larger ladders too.
Either keep the step ladder as it is or remove one side to create a leaning ladder shelf.
To display your towels nicely, we suggest simply folding or rolling them neatly on each step. If you go for a leaning design then you could fold them once and hang them over each rung.
3) Display your flowers and plants
Brighten up your space with a unique flower and plant stand. Give your plants the love they deserve by creating a gorgeous plant display using your old step ladder.
You could position potted plants in an alternating fashion on each step or utilize the top platform as a tabletop to display a beautiful vase of flowers. If your ladder is big enough, you might even have enough room to store accessories like watering cans and plant misters.
4) Design a unique side table
An old step ladder with 1 or 2 treads would make a great side table next to your bed or sofa.
In your living room, you could use it to store trinkets such as candles, coasters, and ornaments. Or you could display a few of your favorite books on the steps and use the top platform as a table to hold drinks or snacks.
In your bedroom, you could design a rustic nightstand and use it to store books, electronic devices, jewellery – you name it.
If rustic isn’t your vibe, simply paint it to match your décor or add a funky design or some pretty fairy lights.
5) Create outdoor storage shelves
If you don’t want to bring your old step ladder indoors, you can still put it to use as a gorgeous piece of garden furniture.
If you’re into plants, you could train one or two to grow and twist throughout the ladder. Or you could position a hanging plant in a pot on top of the step ladder and allow it to hang down gracefully.
You could also store gardening tools and other accessories to create a lovely little outdoor storage space.
Use your ladder to house watering cans, trowels, spades, gloves, shears – the list goes on.
If you’re not an avid gardener, you could turn your old step ladder into a beautiful home for garden birds.
Try hanging a few bird feeders from the top treads and/or positioning a birdhouse or two on the top platform. Your local wild birds will greatly appreciate the hospitality, and they’ll make a vibrant addition to your garden in return.
Final thoughts
We hope you found some inspiration in this list and decide to take our advice to give your old step ladder a new lease of life!
Upcycling has a hugely positive impact on the environment because it lessens the amount of waste going to landfill sites. It also reduces the need for new materials and, in turn, decreases air pollution, water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
On top of helping to keep our planet healthy, upcycling promotes craftsmanship.
With modern life becoming busier and busier, it can be nice to have an excuse to get crafty – and if you’re helping the environment in the process, it’s a win-win!