I seem to have this problem where I hoard blankets like there's a blizzard coming. What can I say? There's nothing better than snuggling up for the afternoon with a cup of coffee, good book, and a cozy quilt to keep you warm. But, not surprisingly, this means that there are blankets. All over my home. It was getting a little out of hand...
I started searching for a good blanket ladder DIY online, but most of the tutorials online I found were for rustic, shabby-chic versions, which isn't quite the aesthetic I was looking for. I wanted something more modern and customizable to the awkward space we have in the corner. After Nate made his pipe and flange desk, I was inspired to make something a little more industrial. After a trip to Home Depot, copper plumbing pipes were the obvious choice.
When I first started planning this project, it seemed like it was going to be pretty complicated and tricky to figure out. But you guys...this is seriously the easiest diy project. A quick trip to the hardware store and a few minutes putting everything together and that's it, you're set! Be warned-the ladder is somewhat wobbly once put together. It can easily be stabilized by using a basic soldering kit at the joints, but personally I'm not planning on moving mine very often, so it doesn't bother me too much.
The dimensions included below will build a ladder that's 5'4" tall and 2'2" wide, with 5 bars across it to hold blankets. You can easily adjust it to fit your own space by lengthening or shortening any of the dimensions given.
Most hardware stores sell copper pipes in lengths of 10 ft; two 10 foot pipes (one with a 1/2" circumference, the other with a 3/4" circumference) cut down perfectly for this project. We went to Home Depot and they had a pipe cutting tool for us to use, which made the entire process go incredibly quickly. You'll want to cut the pipes into the following dimensions:
5 24 inch pieces (1/2" wide pipe)
10 10 inch pieces (3/4" wide pipe)
2 6 inch pieces (3/4" wide pipe)
2 4 inch pieces (3/4" wide pipe)
In addition to the lengths of pipe, you'll also need the following hardware:
10 tees (3/4" wide on the ends with a 1/2" wide tee)
2 3/4" 45 degree elbows
4 3/4" caps
When you get home, it's simply a matter of putting the pieces together.
- Start by connecting the 10 inch 3/4" pipes with the tees to build the sides of the ladder.
- At the top of each side, add the 6 inch pipe, followed by the 45 degree elbow.
- Finish the sides by inserting the 4 inch pipe into the other side of the elbow, completed with a cap.
- Once both sides are done, you'll connect them with the 24 inch 1/2" pipes going across to create the bars.
- Complete the ladder by putting caps on the bottom of each side.
- Solder at the joints of the tees if you want to stabilize the ladder.
Lean your ladder up against the wall and start showing off those blankets! The 45 degree elbow allows you to easily adjust how far out from the wall you want your ladder to sit and is adjustable to take up more or less space depending on your needs. After all is said and done, this project took me about an hour and about $70 to make, and will live in our home for years to come.
