How to Make a One-Board Decor Ladder

Step up your style with a little ladder made from just one board. Learn how to make a decor ladder in this Lowe’s video:

One board and a few cuts is all it takes to get going on this DIY project. Get the complete tools and materials list and project directions here.

Start with a 2 x 6 x 16 and have your home improvement store cut two 60-inch long pieces so it’s easier to take home. These two pieces will become the legs of the ladder, and the remaining length is cut into for more pieces for the rungs.

Each of the legs gets a 15-degree angled cut on the bottom so it will lean, and those get sanded smooth.

Installing the rungs may seem tricky, but with a pair of jigs, scrap wood pieces cut with a 45-degree angle, and a 1/2-inch dowel cut in two, installation’s a snap.

1. Mark the locations of the rungs on the inside faces of the legs.

2. Clamp the jigs in place on the legs, and put the dowels between the legs.

3. Put the first rung in place, resting it on the jigs and on the dowels.

4. Put a second rung between the ladder legs to keep them parallel, and clamp that in place.

5. Attach the first rung by drilling pilot holes and then driving 3-inch screws through the legs, right into the rung.

6. Repeat this process for each remaining rung. Clamp the jigs, rest the rung, drill and drive. As you get to the last rung, you may need to use a spreader to adjust the legs just enough to slip the rung between them.

7. Now your ladder’s ready to apply your favorite finish. You can paint the legs and stain the rungs – or any combination you like.