It’s that time of the year when you have to recollect all the forgotten blankets thrown deep in the closets.
The winter is fast approaching, and the weather will change, cool nights, and changing leaves. This is your perfect time to seize your blanket and binge-watch your favorite show on Netflix.
You’ll need some blankets and a place where you can keep them. But not to worry, a blanket ladder will make your organizational needs much painless. You will get a spot where you can put these blankets.
Blanket ladders are the perfect spot to put your blankets. Even more, these ladders can give your house a whole new look.
That’s what this article will be talking about – how to make a ladder blanket.
Table of Contents
Materials Needed to Make a Blanket Ladder
- Two eight-foot two by four inches premium boards
- Two four foot 1 ¼ inch of wood dowels. (You will probably need more if you intend to build 4+ rungs.)
- Clamps
- Drill
- 1 ¼ inch of the drill bit. (You can either use a paddle bit or anything similar.)
- Measuring tape
- Speed square
- Wood glue
- Miter saw
- Palm sander
- Stain (This can be optional)
Building the Blanket Ladder
Step 1: Measuring and drilling
You will need to keep a watchful eye on detail when building your blanket ladder. Carefully select your boards and make sure that they are cut evenly. You’ll need to look out for the knots (which are not usually common with high-grade wood types.)
Ensure that the boards you will be using are not warped, putting boards together and clamp. At this point, you will need a tape measure and a speed square to measure and mark the holes you will make along with the board.
It is important to note that all the holes need to be aligned perfectly to make it seamless for yourself to assemble and probably one of the reasons why most people clamp the boards together.
Get a drill and start drilling holes for the rungs. It would help if you could drill about ¾ through the top board you are using for this process. But why should you not drill through the boards in a single motion? Well, when the drill passes through, there are chances that the board could splinter.
You can avoid wood splintering if you have a drill press or a Forstner. However, there’s no need to panic if you don’t have any of those. Drill your holes while taking care not to go so deep. (Use the recommended – ¾).
Unclamp the boards and put down the drill once you have drilled ¾ through the boards (the spots where you marked.) At this point, you should now flip the top of your board, and you will see the holes you drilled. Once you have confirmed that you have drilled your holes perfectly, it’s time to cut the dowel holes.
Now, there’s a bit of clarification I need to put across. You don’t need to re-clamp your boards, except if you want to use them on a workbench. Use the previously top; flip and drill on the marked point to create a perfect hole for the dowels.
You need to repeat the process on your other board and follow the marks while cutting ¾ through your board. Flip the board and then finish the board.
Step 2: Cut and Sand Wood
Before anything, you need to secure your safety. Follow all the precautionary measures, put on eyewear, among other things, to ensure you are safe when working.
That said, start by cutting six-foot pieces of your ladder sides and eighteen-inch pieces for your rungs.
Next, position the bottom of your six-foot to a 10-degrees angle. This is important to make it easy for you to flush and level once you finish building the ladder.
Once you have cut the pieces of wood, you’d want to sand all the wood surfaces while taking great care of the ends you cut in the beginning. Make sure that those ends are smooth and looking good before you proceed. If you need a better look, make sure you round all your sharp edges using a sander if you have.
Use a tape measure to mark the spots you’d want to drill. This will be your ring spot, so make sure that you do them well. Measurements can range from twelve inches, but you’re free to choose another measurement, depending on your preferences.
You should apply some wood glue on the ends before you start nailing. This is what should hold the blanket ladder firmly after the wood glue has dried up.
Make sure that your ladder leans on the wall when your rungs are level straight. That will give you the freedom to sit knick-knacks and place your blankets in order on your blanket ladder when your rungs are level. Therefore, make sure that your rungs are positioned to a 10-degree angle.
Step 3: Trim Feet to Ten-Degree Angle
If you have an eighty-inch ladder, you will need a ten-degrees angle when cutting your feet. And because the height will most likely affect your cut, it would help if you start with a much lower angle as you gradually move up. Keep on adjusting the ladder until you’re sure that the ladder rests perfectly on your wall.
Step 4: Trim the Dowels to 22 inches of Length
You’ll need first to reduce forty-eight dowels into halves. Next, align these four pieces and then remove the rough ends by making an additional cut. You can choose to either paint the ends or even leave them exposed. Bare ends tend to be captivating to the eyes. Meanwhile, all four dowels should measure twenty-two inches each.
Step 5: Assemble Your Blanket Ladder Using Wood Glue
More often, no hardware is needed for assembling this ladder; you must have noticed that the only item used for assembling in the materials list is wood glue.
So once you have gathered all the wood pieces, start by applying a thin layer of wood glue along each board’s holes. The reason why I emphasize on applying a thin coat is that wood glue goes a long way into fastening your blanket ladder. You can also use a paintbrush or your finger to manage the application process. Additionally, apply a thin layer of wood glue on half an inch of the lower dowels but not at the ends. Place the dowels one by one onto the board as it rests on the workbench.
Because the drilled holes and dowels measure 1¼ inches, they should be firmly fixed for sturdiness. Twist the dowels while adjusting them to the right position. Make sure to monitor each progress, especially how the dowels are penetrating through the lower board. If you’re finding it a challenge to flush the dowels through the underside board, please sand them down to enhance the penetration.
With the dowels oriented vertically, prepare the other boards, and the dowels end using wood glue while sliding the pieces into their rightful positions. If the fit is too tight and needs some adjustment, incorporate a rubber mallet cushioned by a small natural wood piece. This will help manage the force while loosening the blow. Also, it protects the boards against any damage by the mallet. Finally, let the wood glue to dry.
Step 6: Include a Rubber and Decorate With Blankets
Let’s face it – unprotected ladder bases can lead to unnecessary sliding of your blanket ladder, and you wouldn’t want that. However, if safety is your primary concern, consider incorporating a small rubbery piece at the bottom of each foot. Alternatively, you can include a cushioned drawer liner or a thinly padded rug, which also works perfectly. Meanwhile, refrain from using fabrics and felt. Your blanket ladder is now all set. You can proceed to display your favorite blankets to your preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How tall should a blanket ladder be?
How tall should a blanket ladder be? This is a million-dollar question people often ask. Well, the standard height of a blanket ladder is 80 inches tall. Assuming you intend to build a blanket ladder with a height of 80 inches, then you should include four evenly spaced rungs measuring 16, 32, 48, and 64 inches, respectively. These measurements are often used for spacing wall studs, and as such, they are differentiated in a measuring tape.
2. What is a blanket ladder used for?
A blanket ladder is used for neatly displaying blankets. It can also be used for home improvement, space management, or even to enhance your room’s interior decor. Unsurprisingly, blanket ladders can also be useful in a farmhouse!
3. How do I keep my blanket ladder from sliding?
Like mentioned before, you can include a rubbery piece at the base of each foot. You may also want to add felt pieces at the very top to protect your wall against scratches. Or better still, place it on top of a padded rug to prevent unnecessary sliding in the future.
