For those of you looking to turn a house into a home, the first room you will likely want to begin with is the kitchen. In this guide, we’re going to be looking at the best library ladder for the kitchen, if chosen right, a library ladder can really enhance the appearance of your kitchen.
Not only do these ladders look fantastic, full of character, and functional as well.
Whether you’re looking for a ladder for kitchen use purely for aesthetic purposes, or one for functional use, I.E for reaching those jars of spices stacked high on the top shelf, you must choose the best library ladder for you.
Here’s a look at 5 of the best library ladders for the kitchen in 2024.
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What are library ladders?
If you’ve ever seen a Disney cartoon, a period drama, or the interior of an English country manor, you’ve likely seen library ladders in use in, well, the library.
You know the rooms we mean, right? The wooden cladding rooms, complete with a roaring open fire and fine leather chesterfield sofas and armchairs, surrounded by shelves upon shelves of books, reaching far into the air.
Library ladders are decorative ladders in these rooms, often attaching to a rail system that blends effortlessly into the décor, and are designed to allow users to scale them and reach books which are located high on the shelves, out of arm’s reach.
Despite being known as library ladders more and more households are using these ladders in the kitchen. Not only do they add character to the kitchen and enhance the aesthetics, but they’re also very useful for reaching items stored in cupboards which are located out of arm’s reach.
A library ladder for kitchen use will make a great addition to any home, as long as you go with the best ladder to suit your needs and requirements.
Things to consider before buying a library ladder
When choosing the best library ladder for kitchen use, you must choose the right ladder for you and your home. The last thing we want is for you to head down to your latest hardware DIY store and come back with an ugly set of aluminum ladders built for use on a construction site because that’s not what library ladders are.
To ensure you choose the nicest ladders, here are several things to consider before buying.
Is there sufficient support for the ladder?
The great thing about library ladders is the fact that there are so many different varieties to choose from.
From ladders on rails and castors to free-standing ladders, there’s certainly plenty of choices. However, when choosing a library ladder for kitchen use, one of the most important considerations is whether or not there is sufficient support.
Say for example, you want to install a rail for your ladder, you need to ensure that the surface the rail will be attached to will be sufficiently supported. Just remember, not only will the surface need to support the rail, but also the ladder, and the weight of the person scaling the ladder.
The material of the ladder
Another consideration is the material of the ladder.
As mentioned, different ladders come in different designs and as a result, different materials are used.
When you select your library ladder, you need to consider what it’s made of. Pine ladders are popular entry-level ladders as the material is attractive and is fairly sturdy. For a sturdier and stronger ladder, you may wish to consider something like red oak.
The surface of the floor
When using library ladders in a kitchen, free-standing ladders are not recommended for safety reasons. This is mainly because most kitchen floors are either tiled, or wooden, and these surfaces can get slippery.
If you were to fall from a library ladder and come crashing down onto a hard-tiled floor below, you’d certainly know about it.
If you live in a charming and quirky cottage with a sloped and uneven kitchen floor, library ladders wouldn’t be suitable until you had the floor leveled out.
The appearance of the ladder
Again, whether you’re purchasing a library ladder for functionality, or decorative purposes, the appearance of the ladder must be considered.
If for example, you’ve got a kitchen with oak worktops and cupboards, a red oak ladder would blend in flawlessly and would look great.
Basically, because your kitchen library ladder will be so prominent and will be such a focal point in your kitchen, you need to make sure that it looks attractive to you and that it complements the décor.
5 best kitchen library ladders for 2024
Okay, so now that you know what library ladders are and have decided that one would look great in your kitchen, now is the time to decide on which ladder to buy.
We can’t make the decision for you, but we can certainly help. With that said, here are 5 of the best library ladders currently available on the market today.
Enhance Your Kitchen with the Natural Knotty Pine Wood Sliding Ladder
The first kitchen library ladder we have for you today is the Natural Knotty Pine Wood Sliding Ladder.
Made by SNYUAN, this is the perfect library ladder for those of you who are new to library ladders and want a blank canvas, as it were, to decorate however you like.
This pine ladder is unpainted so you can paint it whatever color you like, or stain it if you wish, and install it in your kitchen.
The ladder is available in several sizes, starting from 6ft, ranging all of the ways up to a whopping 26ft.
The ladder comes with a 5-year factory warranty and is free-standing, but can easily be attached to a sliding rail.
Key features:
• 5-year warranty
• Natural knotty pine wood material
• Unpainted
• Straight structure
• 8 steps
• Attractive yet simple design
Pros:
• Affordable at just $329.99 as of this writing
• Ready to be painted or stained based upon the décor of your kitchen
• 5-year factory warranty
Cons:
• Knotty pine isn’t the strongest of materials
Make Kitchen Life Easier with the DIY HD Knotty Pine Wood Sliding Library Ladder
The next kitchen library ladder we have for you today is the DIY HD Knotty Pine Wood Sliding Library Ladder.
This knotty pine wood sliding ladder is an unfinished rolling ladder kit that is perfect for those of you looking for a simple, affordable, and effective way of enhancing the appearance of your kitchen without spending a fortune and investing hours upon hours of DIY in the process.
The pine is unpainted and untreated, so again, you can stain, paint, or decorate the ladder to suit the décor of your kitchen and give it a lift.
When combined with the sliding rail, not only does this knotty pine wood sliding rolling ladder look great, but it also becomes very functional and is ideal for kitchens with high ceilings and tall units and shelves.
Key features:
• Sleek and attractive design
• Unpainted so ready to be decorated your way
• Easy to assemble
• 87 inches high
• 18 inches wide
• Screw hardware offered for installation
• Sturdy construction
• 17.66 pounds in weight
Pros:
• Easy to install
• Wide and grippy steps
• At less than 20 pounds in weight, it can easily be moved
Cons:
• Though simple, installation is still required, so not ideal if DIY isn’t your forte
Boost the Ambience of your Kitchen with the Red Oak Quite Guide Library Ladder Kit
For those of you looking for a sliding kitchen library ladder kit, this Quite Guide Library Ladder Kit in red oak is perfect.
Made by Wenzhou Topson Construction Materials Technology Co Ltd, from gorgeous red oak wood, once installed, this library ladder kit is as sturdy as it is beautiful.
Available in a variety of different sizes, ranging from 8 feet to 10 feet, you can either purchase the ladder by itself or the entire kit, including the side rails and top rung.
The ladder is very sturdy so you can rest assured that once you scale it to reach that cookbook hiding on the top shelf gathering dust, you’re perfectly safe and secure.
Key features:
• Beautiful red oak wood material
• Attractive design
• Package includes 2 side rails, 1 top rung, and 7 steps
• 15.4 pounds in weight
• 96.45 x 5.31 x 4.52 inches
Pros:
• Attractive oak design
• Lightweight so easily movable
• Functional and sturdy
Cons:
• The kit does require self-assembly
Build the Ultimate Kitchen Library Ladder System with the Rockler Classic Rolling Library Ladder Kit
Coming in at number 4 on our list today we have the Rockler Classic Rolling Library Ladder Kit.
Rockler has a reputation for building durable, sturdy, and dependable hardware for affordable prices, and this rolling library ladder kit is no exception.
Available in several different sizes, you can select the right size ladder based upon your kitchen and your own specific requirements.
Offering a classic look, this ladder kit is ideal as you can easily store it by lifting it and sliding it up to store vertically against the wall.
Easy gliding wheels allow the ladder to effortlessly slide from left to right with minimal effort.
You can even remove the ladder from the rails and store it away out of sight if you do need extra space.
Just to note, this is just the rolling library ladder kit, rather than the ladder itself, which does need to be purchased separately.
Key features:
• Easy-glide function
• Fully removable
• Available in different sizes
• The classic look of platinum black hardware
• The kit comes with all the fasteners and hardware need to construct a sliding kitchen library ladder system
Pros:
• Classic and attractive design
• Made by a reputable company with years of experience
• The kit comes with everything needed
• The ladder can be removed and stored away when not in use
• Can also be lifted and stored flush against the wall
Cons:
• Some confusion when ordering this kit, as the ladder is NOT included
Add a Touch of Luxury with the Kinmade Rolling Ladder Hardware Library Sliding Ladder Hardware Kit
And last, but by no means least, we present to you the Kinmade Rolling Ladder Hardware Library Sliding Ladder Hardware Kit.
This is the premium kitchen library ladder kit that we have for you today and is perfect for those with an eye for the finer things in life.
Featuring the track and rail with top rollers and optional bottom rollers that can be purchased separately, this kit will make lift the appearance of any kitchen and will prove to be an incredible talking point.
Again, just to emphasize that this is purely the hardware kit required to construct a sliding library ladder, which will need to be purchased separately.
Key features:
• Top rollers
• Optional bottom rollers
• 28.6 pounds in weight
• 157.48 x 4.92 x 2.95 inches
Pros:
• Kinmade is a reputable and established company
• The kit itself is very well made and very sturdy
• Can be used with a variety of different library ladders
• Aesthetically pleasing design
Cons:
• As noted in the description, the ladder is not included and will need to be purchased separately
• Bottom rollers are not included, so if required, they too will need to be purchased separately
Final thoughts
Okay, so, with that, now would probably be a good time to wrap things up and bring this guide to a close.
We hope that you’ve found this look at the best library ladder for kitchen use, helpful and informative.
Remember, kitchen library ladders not only look great, but they’re also functional and can serve a very useful purpose.
Whether you’re buying a ladder, the kit, or both, be sure to remember what you’ve read about today, and we’re sure you’ll have the perfect ladder for kitchen use in no time at all.
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