- For an unexpected use of a ladder as a bookshelf, hang it on the wall instead of setting it on the floor. Take half of the ladder off so that you are left with only the side with the widest rungs. Hang it on the wall so that one edge is parallel to the floor to give your books a steady surface on which to rest. Use heavy duty nails at regular intervals to give the ladder and its contents stability and to spread the strain on your wall. Place books standing up between the rungs; the varying heights of the spaces and the books will create an interesting geometric pattern.
- If you have two identical ladders or two ladders that have rungs at the same levels, use them to make a large bookshelf that will make a strong visual statement. Arrange the ladders against the wall with the rungs facing to either side so that they form an M shape. Find planks of wood and place them through the ladders, allowing them to rest across the four rungs; do the same at each rung level. You can choose boards that are the same length for a more symmetrical shape, or use different lengths for an eclectic look.
- When you want to use a ladder as a bookshelf without making it immediately recognizable, go with a leaning style. Close your ladder and lean it against the wall so that it forms a slight space underneath; experiment to get an angle that will make the ladder stable and allow it to hold books without their falling. If your ladder has very narrow rungs, you can nail boards to the rungs to make the shelf space wider.
- For a simple ladder bookshelf, open the ladder and set it against the wall so that it forms an A shape. Cut lengths of board so that they reach across each set of rungs and terminate just beyond the frame of the ladder; you will end up with varying sizes. Place the boards across the rungs, nailing them in place if you have a wooden ladder, and set books on top of the planks. If you want a more unified look, paint the entire assembly a single color.
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