DIY Contemporary Blanket Ladder (West Elm Knockoff)

Winter is coming… and no, that’s not a Game of Thrones reference (even though I do love me some Jon Snow), but the cold is definitely creeping in! With cold weather comes lots of snuggling up on the couch with some hot cocoa and Netflix… so, it’s only natural that I’ve been wanting a blanket ladder in my apartment! Well, lucky me, because I was able to team up with my besties at DAP Products to make a simple-stated, DIY contemporary blanket ladder for $17 in material! PS. Did I tell you that I modeled it off of a West Elm blanket ladder that was selling for $100? Yeah… #sorrynotsorry West Elm…

When it’s chilly I’m a sucker for curling up on the couch with a blanket and hot chocolate, so I’ve been in the market for a blanket ladder to make accessing my throws easier. The problem is, most blanket ladders are rustic and cozy, but our apartment is contemporary and bright! That’s when I came across these amazing blanket ladders from West Elm.

I’m a sucker for West Elm… but I am not about to spend $100 for a blanket ladder! So… in true DIY Huntress fashion, I made my own! I created a knock off of the West Elm blanket ladder for $17 in material! Best part? I had my favorite blanket hanging on the ladder within a couple of hours!  Here’s my version…

Not too shabby, if I may say so myself. Wait until you see how easy this ladder was to make!

This post contains affiliate links. DIY Huntress receives commission through these purchases. These commissions help to keep things free around here! For my full disclosure policy, click here.

What You’ll Need:

Tools
Miter Saw
Drill Press (or Drill)
Jig Saw
¾” Forstner Bit
Sand Paper
Compass
Measuring Tape

Materials
DAP Rapid Fuse Wood Adhesive
(2) ¾ x 48″ Round Dowels
(2) 1 x 2 x 6′ Boards
Painter’s Tape
White Spray Paint
Golden Oak Wood Stain

The Steps:

1. Cut your 1 x 2 pieces to 5′ tall.

2. Cut your ¾” dowels to 18″ wide each.

3. Tape your two 1 x 2 x 5′ pieces together. This will make drilling the holes extremely easy!

4. Use your measuring tape to mark where your holes for the dowels will be. I started from the bottom and worked my way up. I placed the first dowel 20″ from the bottom of the ladder, and then spaced the rest out at 10″ each.

5. Use your drill press or drill and ¾”  to drill your holes. I used painters tape to mark how deep I wanted my cuts. Because I wanted to cut through one entire piece, and only partially into the other, I marked my depth at 1 ¼” deep.

6. Once the holes are cut, it’s time to round the edges. With the pieces still taped, use a compass to mark a rounded edge.

7. Next, use the jig saw to cut the rounded edges.

8. Once cut, use a sander to sand down the edges of the ladder as well as the holes.

9. Next, remove the tape and separate the pieces.

10. Paint the side of the ladder with the shallow holes with spray paint and stain the other side with wood stain (the side with the holes that go all the way through).

11. Use painter’s tape to stain and paint the dowels in two separate colors. I stained first, allowed the stain to dry, and then taped off the area for painting.

12. Once your pieces are dry, attach the painted side of the dowels to the painted side of the ladder first with DAP Rapid Fuse Wood Adhesive. I chose to use this adhesive because it has a strong bond and dries fast.

13. Slide the other side of the dowel through the holes of the stained piece.

Now, brace yourself for winter by hanging your favorite blankets next to your couch!

I’ll be honest, this is my first time making a blanket ladder and I may or may not be completely obsessed with it! I am so excited to have a place to hang my favorite blankets for myself and for my guests. It’s about to get real cozy up in here.

Want to wait until the next season of Game of Thrones is here to create this project? No judgement here! Just remember to Pin It for later!

In the meantime, stay warm my friends… and as always…

This post is sponsored by DAP Products Inc. All project ideas, style choices, and taste in television shows are my own. For my full disclosure policy, click here!