Trash to Treasure DIY Step Ladder Shelf

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Let’s play “You Know You’re a DIY’er When . . .”

. . . Sunday is one of your favorite days because Monday is trash day! This is the best time of the week to drive around my neighborhood looking for other people’s trash that will become my next treasure!

. . . Your friends text you a pic from a local thrift store excitedly sharing what they KNOW will be your next makeover!

. . . There’s a bumper sticker on the back of your 20-year-old minivan that says “I brake for yard sales!

. . . You cry when you sell that beloved old minivan because you KNOW there’s not enough room in your  “new to you” Jeep Cherokee for all the free roadside treasures you’ll find.

. . . You ask your husband to be on the lookout for an old step ladder. 

Not a new one, mind you. Nothing pristine or shiny and unused.

Something old, rickety and definitely wooden.

You’d think this would be an easy task for my former painting contractor hubby but surprisingly it wasn’t. 

All his ladders were perfectly sturdy since he used them every day. We wouldn’t want him to fall off or have any more catastrophic life events happen!

Persistence won out, though, and a few months after I requested his help Tim brought home this lovely specimen of a ladder.

A chair sitting in front of a house

In just a few minutes my DIY hubby turned it into this amazing DIY step ladder shelf!

A corner of a room

Before now this little corner next to my favorite rocking chair held another yardsale table but it just wasn’t working for me.

A brown leather couch in a living room

Once Tim found the ladder he had to adapt it to fit our dimensions. First he separated the step side from the support side and determined the desired height we needed.

A living room filled with furniture and a fireplace

He then cut the two remaining legs off at an angle to give us a flat base.

A clock sitting on top of a wooden cabinet

Finally, he screwed two fence board slats to the top and then fastened them securely into the wall. How much easier could it be?

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Ladder and Shelf

The ladder was already scuffed up and perfect for my shabby chic decorating style.

A wooden table

Next to my well worn, comfy chair is yet another freebie!

A living room

This brushed metal magazine rack (at least I think that’s what it was originally) was also found on the side of the road.

A stack of flyers on a table

Here’s a closer look at where I store my magazines and book reading essentials.

Ladder and Shelf

Yes, I have a lot of catching up to do on my magazine reading!

Ladder and Shelf

I love the details and can’t believe someone just threw it out in the trash!

Ladder and Shelf

I’m not gonna tell y’all where I live (no stalkers lol) because you might try to get all the free stuff before I do!

A close up of a metal object

Above the table is a $2 yardsale clock, a $4 Goodwill lamp and candles my hubby made out of a curtain rod.

A clock sitting in the middle of a room

A lamp that is sitting on a table

Ladder and Shelf

Here’s a look at how easy it is to change a couple of accessories on this step ladder shelf for quick decorating at Christmas.

A room filled with furniture and vase of flowers on a table

Now that Tim works in management for another painting company he has his own ladder in his office that could use my decorating touch. Would y’all like to see what I can do with that one? Leave me a comment if you would!

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6 Comments

  1. Love the ideas!! The clock is so neat and the lamp is a definite winner. And the metal magazine rack is solo my taste!! Tha his for sharing

    1. Hi, Susanne. Thanks so much for the compliment. I love when my yard sale treasure comes together to create something beautiful. Don’t you? Have a great day!

  2. This is a great idea. Takes up little room, but holds a lot. Next time I am under the house I will drag out an old orange ladder that was my husband’s. The orange color means it was OSHA approved so I was told. It is right where I can walk upright under the house for a few feet thank goodness.

    1. Hi, Janet. Luckily my hubby goes under the house for me because ours is just a crawl space and I couldn’t handle that! Good luck with your ladder project!

  3. I loved that ladder idea. That way a lot of things which don’t have their own place can be store there. It will ease the weekly cleaning process as well. Besides, it will add a pop of style and color to any room 🙂