diy blanket ladder

well, given that this is the 10th time i've tried to load this, hopefully it works this time.

i don't know about y'all but i love a blanket.  well actually a bunch of different blankets all for different seasons but also for different feels.  the most annoying thing however, is having them lay all over the house, on couches, beds, anywhere they get left.  makes for a not so tidy house.  and in my current nesting stage...that just won't work for me.  insert blanket ladder diy here.  :)

you'll need:

two 6 ft 1x3 pieces of whitewood
two 3 ft 1 inch dowels
1 inch saw drill bit
screws
stain of your choice (i recommend a darker stain)
paint of your choice (i recommend a vintage white, antique white something of the sort to create contrast)
drill
sander or pieces of sandpaper (your preference)

cut your dowel pieces into 3 even sections based on it's measurement and place to the side = 6 pieces, you will only use 5

measure out 1x3 into 5 even sections as to where you would place the dowel with space left at the bottom and top.  obviously you don't want the blanket dragging on the floor.  trace the outline of the dowel at each of those 5 markers and make sure it is centered on the wood.  

using your saw bit, drill a hole where your mark is.  it will look like a recessed drill hole.  i don't have a picture of it except for  with my stained pieces below.  look there to see what i mean.  obviously i didn't take enough pictures for this project and i apologize. :(  i also, took a smaller drill bit to drill the small hole where your screw would go through to the outside of the 1x3.  that way you aren't guessing where your screw needs to go from the exterior to meet the interior.

do the same with the other 1x3.  but making sure you measure the same distances between dowels as the first 1x3.  you're not going to be hanging anything with substantial weight butttt you don't want it falling apart or with slanted dowels.

once you've made the holes and cuts, stain your pieces, including the dowel.  wait 24 hour and paint over them with your vintage/antique white and let dry for additional 6 hours.  once dry,  you can take your sander or paper and start to antique it the way you like.  heavier in places you want the stain to show through and lighted in other areas.  after you have completed that portion, you will start to assemble the pieces.  

screw your 1 1/4 inch wood screws through the exterior of the 1x3 to the dowel that is placed where you drilled with the saw bit.  you will see how it will fit nicely in the drilled hole.  do this with all 5 pieces.  then apply the other side and voila.  you now have a ladder. some would want to fill in the screws holes with wood filler.  i left mine open.  i like the industrial look of it.  

honestly, you can use this for anything in any room.  i've thought of making smaller ones for bathrooms for magazines, or towels.  it is completely up to you but adds such a nice touch to any room.

i am sorry that i don't have more photos to go with this tutorial.  i will make sure that i do moving forward but i hope you enjoy it as much as we do and don't hesitate to reach out any with any questions. 

happy diy'ing!

sarah