1. Measure
First, measure your wood pieces. You'll need two pieces measuring 6'. and four pieces measuring 18". Mark your cut lines with a pencil, pen, crayon, or whatever writing utensil you have on hand- we'll be sanding away any imperfections later! Remember what your dad said, "measure twice and cut once!"
2. Cut
Once you have all the measurements made, it's time to cut! Use whatever type of saw you're most comfortable with - we used the Genesis Circular Saw with Rip Guide.
3. Sand
Now it's time to get sanding! Let your sander do the grunt work - smooth out any imperfections in the wood or rough-cut edges. Sanding is vital because it creates a smooth base for your stain to be applied to.
*This step can also be done using sandpaper or a sanding block.
4. Drill
Get excited - assembling your blanket ladder is the next step! Measure and mark your drill points to ensure all your "steps" are the same distance apart.
*To prevent the wood from splitting, make sure to pre-drill holes.
5. Stain
Staining is the fun part! Put on your gloves and grab the Minwax Wood Finish (we used Jacobean), a brush, and a rag - an old t-shirt does the trick! Dip the brush into the stain and dab it over a section. Use the rag to evenly distribute the stain over your working section - a little goes a long way! Continue this until your entire ladder is covered! Give it a second or third coat if you think it's necessary.
6. Protect
After the stain has dried, protect all your hard work with a few coats of Minwax Clear Aerosol Lacquer. The finish is completely up to you - we used Clear Satin!
***Give your blanket ladder some time to dry completely! We know you're excited, but don't use it prematurely - you could end up with wood stain or lacquer on your favorite blanket!
Lastly, once your ladder has had time to dry, to prevent it from slipping or damaging walls or floors, add some wall grips and felt strips to each end.
Admire your hard work! A blanket ladder is perfect for displaying your favorite blankets or handmade afghans and would make an excellent, unique gift! Make a smaller version for the bathroom towels, or maybe a PVC pipe version for drying pool towels - but those are DIY's for another day!
All the tools and materials used for this project can be found at your nearest Valu Home Center. Tried this or another DIY? Tag us on social!