Transform your outdoor space effortlessly with a charming DIY arbor crafted from ladders, paired perfectly with a rustic cable reel table and wooden bench for rustic charm outdoor seating!

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It’s been an epic year for backyard projects! So much so, I pulled together all of my favorite backyard upcycle ideas you can check out HERE!

However, there was one project that never did feel quite complete…

See the bench garden being built HERE

Garden bench last summer

 

Last summer, I landed an old wooden bench that quickly became part of a small but mighty garden space.

It started with the bench. Then after being gifted with the plants by generous neighbours, it was looking really cute! But something always felt like it was missing. Was it a backdrop of some kind, like a trellis? Or perhaps a garden arbor of sorts? 

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We’re about to find out, along with my friends from the Thrift Store Decor Team! Be sure to take in all their thrift store flipped projects too at the end of this post!

The wooden ladder stash

 

And that’s when my eyes landed on 3 old wooden ladders I had in my stash.

I landed the two a-frame ladders from the thrift years ago, but they’ve just been taking up space lately. And upon recently dismantling my 20 year old blog desk, that freed up yet another wooden ladder!

I’ve recently been on a mission with some major purging lately and wanted these ladders used for something more fun than just storage! So I carted all three to the backyard to see if my new brainstorm could help enhance that lonely looking bench…

Not only did the wooden ladders do the trick, it was so much easier than I thought it would be! The bench now looks complete with added shade, plus with the ability to stage or hang even more plants and flowers to this garden area!

Oh, and I whipped up one other cool project to complete my mission for the perfect outdoor space!

But don’t even blink… because this one’s gonna go fast! Here’s what I did:

Easy DIY arbor made with ladders

 

Supplies I used:

 

2 wooden a-frame ladders

1 long flat wooden ladder

Large wood garden bench used for support

Bosch cordless drill

Olympic Waterguard in Natural

Large paint brush

Cable spool reel top only

4 table height metal pin legs

Dry-fitting 2 a-frame ladders beside a bench

 

1. Two a-frame wooden ladders were propped up on both sides of the wooden bench.

Both ladder sides had been previously painted white. I liked the 2-tone effect so I left them as-is!

If you don’t have a wooden bench for support, you can simply open and reposition the ladders as desired so they will self-support!

Adding a wooden ladder across 2 a-frame ladders

 

2. Place a long flat wooden ladder across the tops of the two a-frame ladders.

I first dry-fit all the components to make sure they looked ok or needed any modifying. I decided I liked this look!

Attaching the side ladders to a bench

 

3. Attach the a-frame ladders to the bench sides. I noted where the ladder was touching the bench, then attached them together with screws.

Attaching the top ladder to the side ladders

 

4. Attach the top ladder to the 2 a-frame ladders with screws where they joined together.

I only used minimal screws so I could dismount the arbor before the winter weather set in for extra longevity.

Adding a plant shelf on the top ladder

 

6. Create an additional shelf along the top of the ladder for added plants.

I used a few scrap wood boards to cover up across one opening of the top ladder, then placed a huge, beautiful fern on top. The scale was perfect!

Creating an outdoor table with a cable reel top and pin legs

 

7. Attach 4 table height metal pin legs to the underside of a cable spool reel top.

The cable reel spool top has been in my stash for years! In fact, I used it as a Christmas tree cable reel skirt one year HERE! The pin legs were recently acquired from a generous neighbour… what timing! I liked that they were table height, however I would have also used coffee table height for this project as well.

Adding a pillow, blanket and table accessories

 

Then after adding a few other hanging baskets, along with a cozy pillow and blanket, my new ladder garden arbor space was ready to enjoy!

Protecting wood for outdoor durability

 

After everything was set up, I painted on a coat of Olympic Waterguard in Natural to all the wood components to better protect the wood from the elements! I love this product because it’s easy clean-up being water based and doesn’t leave any yellow tone.

Completed DIY arbor with ladders, bench and table

 

And just like that, my new ladder garden arbor space was complete! This garden bench now has all the elements of added shade, more plants and flowers, cozy accessories plus a place for my coffee!

This ladder garden arbor bench area fits in so well with the backdrop of the green hedges. It’s like this area needed that little extra interest to make it really sing!

And with the large fern placed on the ladder shelf, the look is lush while adding extra shade! Perfect for a quiet read.

Cable reel table with added pin legs

 

With the table pushed to one side, it creates a cozy nook of sorts in one corner, while leaving plenty of space to enter and exit without moving the table around at all. It’s honestly perfect.

I’m really glad I added the cable reel outdoor table. The rustic top offers a casual ambiance only crates can offer and this one does it to the hilt!

Get this look:

• Black LED touch lamp
• White pottery mug
• Pottery style cream vase
• Small faux feverfew (mini daisies)

I’m thrilled how 3 simple ladders added so much whimsey and charm to this bench garden!

Read many more rustic shed tutorials HERE

Garden shed details

 

And it blends in perfectly with the rest of the nearby garden features, such as the garden shed. The flowers in the window box planters are in full bloom, including the newer tire window box planter addition looking super cute too!

All I know is, the DIY garden arbor was one of the most useful, coolest, easiest garden projects to-date! I’m so glad to see those ladders come out of hiding and doing something that also beautifies my yard as well.

Now all that’s left to do is enjoy it! Don’t mind if I pour a fresh coffee while I’m at it…

Before the arbor…

And after! What a difference, huh?

Are you now enticed to try a simple DIY arbor with ladders? Where would you put yours?

View other unique garden arbors HERE

See many other unique and easy backyard upcycles HERE

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Now it’s time to join my creative friends from the Thrift Store Decor team to see what thrift store items they flipped! Which idea inspires you?

1. See how to refresh a thrifted classic ginger jar lamp by Our Southern Home.

2. Repurpose a vintage glass water jug into something practical for any room with Shop at Blu.

3. Turn thrifted light shades into the cutest Halloween ghost lights with this easy DIY tutorial by Our Crafty Mom.

4. Create a lovely brown paper pumpkin from a leftover roll of brown craft paper with this DIY tutorial by Marianne Songbird.

5. Transform an outdoor space with a charming DIY arbor crafted from ladders by Funky Junk Interiors.