I spent last week in Portland visiting my sister while my son and nephew attended camp. One of the highlights of the trip was antique shopping at a few favorite stores. I came home with several fun finds, but I was particularly thrilled about an old, rickety green ladder I discovered.
Ladders have been showing up everywhere lately as decorative pieces—used as towel hangers, pot racks, plant stands, and more. I imagined countless uses for mine, but ultimately decided to hang it on the wall. The ladder is more of a step stool than a full-length ladder, but when opened it takes up a lot of floor space. Mounting it on the wall was a practical and attractive solution for my smaller home.
Moving into a new house for the first time has left me craving the character and texture that come naturally with older homes. I miss plaster walls, wood wainscoting, and original hardwood floors. While I don’t have the time right now for major renovations or carpentry to add vintage character, bringing in authentic old pieces is an easy way to introduce that warmth and history.
This little antique ladder adds a burst of color and a touch of aged charm to a corner of my home—two things I adore. It also offers a unique way to display small items and trinkets. Best of all, the paint and distressing were exactly as I found them; I didn’t do any faux aging or repainting. That felt like a small victory and made me do a little happy dance.
I also picked up a few other treasures at thrift stores and HomeGoods while I was away—I’ll share those finds soon.
Do you have an old ladder?
An antique ladder can do more than help you reach high places. Hung on a wall, it becomes a decorative focal point, a display surface for plants or collectibles, or a creative storage solution for textiles and lightweight items. In small homes, repurposed ladders are especially useful because they save floor space while introducing texture, color, and history. If you enjoy mixing old and new, an authentic vintage piece like this ladder can bring instant character without extensive work or renovation.