Learn how to transform an old wooden ladder into a stylish coat rack complete with entryway shelving and basket storage, perfect for organizing your space with rustic charm!
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For some reason, my front entry always seems to turn into a major dumping ground! It’s as if I enter through the front door with stuff, then drop it. Then when I want to get rid of more stuff, I also pile it there for an added enticement so I don’t forget to get it out the door.
Entryway before
From shopping bags, backpacks and furniture, plus my son’s bike, and this was the most recent result. Bahaha! This is also a bustling, busy floor space serving also as a hallway into my photo studio, downstairs office, bathroom and laundry room.
Oh, it was cute enough back in the day when I first made the ladder shelving with the old sign coat hooks back in 2017! But as I slowly ‘borrow’ things I need for other projects, what’s left are remnants of what use to be.
Ah, the life of an upcycler…
Well, I was over this entryway mess. After tripping over crap one last time, I decided to pretty much gut the space aside from the bench, then just start over with a fresh, new look in my own unique style!
Today I’m teaming up with my creative friends from the Thrift Store Decor Team! Be sure to see what they flipped, listed at the bottom of this post!
Old wooden ladder before
This old wooden ladder I had in my stash would become the main event.
Shelving before
But since every entry needs handy storage, this old shelf found on the curb was a second bonus find! So here’s how I combined both the shelf and ladder to make the coolest looking coat hooks entry in the land!
I LOVE how this one came together. Here’s what I did:
Upcycled wooden ladder coat rack
Supplies I used:
Fusion Mineral Paint in Casement (get 10% off)
Staalmeester velour paint roller (these are the best!!) and roller frame
Old wooden ladder
Long reclaimed wood board
Bosch variable speed orbital sander
Standard metal coat hooks (with horizontally lined up holes to line up along ladder edge)
Repainting the entry storage shelving
1. Repaint the shelf with Fusion’s Casement (get 10% off).
This shelf was so nice and sturdy! It just needed freshening up. So I cleaned it well with hot soapy water, then wiped it down with Fusion’s TSP alternative (get 10% off) for the ultimate paint prep.
Then I cut in the corners with a small paint brush and rolled on the rest of the paint. Casement really brightened it up which chimed in perfectly with my walls!
I also repainted the bench, with plenty of wall touch-ups.
After the shelf was set into place, I also cut down some wood to fit inside each shelf to give it more of a woodsy base.
Cutting down the length of the ladder
2. Cut the ladder to your desired length.
Using a jigsaw, I measured how long I wanted the ladder to be, then marked the areas with a carpenter’s square and cut them using a jigsaw.
I also used an orbital sander to sand each rung down to bare wood again so it contrasted more so with the white distressed sides.
Attaching a board shelf to the ladder
3. Attach a board along one side of the ladder to create a shelf.
I had this long board in my stash, so I sanded it down, then cut it to the same length as the ladder.
Then with the ladder propped on one side, I attached the board along the ladder with screws. Easy as that!
I even worked with a chipped edge. With a little more sanding, it quickly took on the look of a live edge.
Attaching coat hooks to the ladder
4. Install coat hooks along the bottom part of the ladder with screws.
These specific classic coat hooks fit perfectly! I used a mesh of different ones I had in my stash for a neat eclectic vibe. You’ll want to be sure your coat hooks have holes lined up horizontally so they fit along the slim ladder edge.
Now it’s looking like an old ladder coat hook with shelf! Time to install…
Installing the ladder coat hook onto the wall
5. Install the ladder coat rack to the wall using L brackets along the top.
The coat rack was positioned where desired, then I lined up some L brackets along the board and batten wall strips for the best support. Then I drilled the L brackets to the shelf first, the raised the rack and attached to the wall with a carpenter’s level across the top.
If you are screwing into drywall, I recommend to attempt to drill the L brackets into wall studs, or at the very least, use screw anchors prior to installing. The brackets could also have been a little larger than what I used.
The completed ladder coat rack with shelves and basket storage!
Then after loading up the coat rack and shelf with rustic storage baskets and faux plants, my new old ladder coat hook entryway was complete! Isn’t it beautiful?!
Everything looks SO clean! I also purged a ton of old shoes so everything most needed easily fit inside the shoe storage baskets under the wooden bench.
Entry storage shelf with basket and crate storage
As for that wall shelf? The height it offers on top of the bench makes it feel even taller, making it a great eyegrab!
Adding wood planks to each shelf adds to the warmth, which can easily be lifted and removed if desired.
Then teamed up with wicker baskets and old crates, it offers attractive storage that’s still easily accessible for seasonal gear, such as mits, garden gloves, car essentials, etc.
Ladder coat rack with shelf and storage baskets
The ladder coat rack works fabulous! With the ladder structure super sturdy, it’s a great coat hook system you didn’t have to build from scratch!
And the added shelf along the top is just enough for a few more storage baskets, while adding a nice esthetic. Plus, smaller faux plants along the ladder inside was just the touch it seemed to need to feel like home.
Large IKEA baskets for shoe storage
The long bench with it’s newly re-painted finish to match the shelf now looks like new again! It really is the perfect place sit down while putting on shoes. Plus the added storage area for shoe baskets makes this entry bench a total win.
Here’s a similar Road Trip shopping bag very similar to mine!
And I’m proud to say, for the most part, I’m able to keep the entryway looking this nice! We just won’t mention what the other new dumping areas look like. I’ll work on those another time… ha!
Video tutorials of ladder coat rack and shelving on Hometalk’s YouTube channel:
Visit above to see the ladder coat rack tutorial in action!
And here’s how I created the shelving!
What do YOU think of the ladder and shelf combo? Aren’t they just the greatest together?!
See other unique ladder projects at:
Office ladder shelf with bulletin boards
Garden arbor made with 3 ladders
Quirky ladder shelving in a front entry
See 4 other NEW thrift store flips!
Now it’s time to visit the rest of today’s thrift store flips! I hope you’ll also support my friend’s projects with a blog visit to see them all below!
1. Marianne from Songbird got crafty with sheet music paper and made a Paper Star Wreath.
2. Kristin from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia turned a simple wine box into a thriving herb garden.
3. Donna from Funky Junk Interiors shares how to transform an old wooden ladder into a rustic coat rack.
4. Gail from My Repurposed Life turned a $2 thrifted basket into an easy fall centerpiece using candles, mini pumpkins, pinecones and colorful autumn foliage.
5. Michelle from Our Crafty Mom crafted a gorgeous lace pumpkin wreath from thrifted lace and a dollar store wreath form.
Upcycled wooden ladder coat rack with entry shelving and basket storage
Supplies:
Ladder Coat Hooks
- Old wooden ladder
- Reclaimed wood board for the ladder shelf
- Staalmeester velour paint roller for shelving
- Small carpenter level
- 2.5 inch L brackets
- Standard metal coat hooks
Storage shelf system
- Shelving found on the curb
- Fusion Mineral Paint in Casement (get 10% off)
- Wicker baskets for storage
Instructions:
- Team up a long board with a wooden ladder. Cut both down to the same length with a jigsaw and/or miter saw.
- Sand or paint the ladder and board as desired.
- Flip the ladder along its side, then attach the long board to the ladder edge using screws to create a shelf.
- Slide ladder into position along the desired wall, then attach L brackets along the top shelf. Then attach to the wall with screws.
- Paint a shelf, then place it on a long bench for added height.
- Use plenty of storage baskets for hidden storage within view along the top of the ladder shelf, shelving beside ladder and below bench for the ultimate shoe storage!