How to Transform a Ladder Back Chair Into a Shelf

Follow along as I transform this ladder back chair into a shelf! From dilapidated to charming in a few easy steps.

I have had this old ladder back chair for years now. It was the sweetest little old rocker when I found it at an outdoor flea market. I knew I needed to take it home with me. It sat outside for years and years. Unfortunately, years of being outside took it’s toll. The seat broke, the rockers fell off, and the chair went splat. Pretty much just like that. I started to toss what was left of it out, but decided I could at least salvage the back. That’s when I decided to turn my old dilapidated ladder back chair into a shelf!

What I did…

My chair was already falling apart. This made taking it apart very easy. I decided I would cut the chair right where the back and the seat met. This was a pretty natural place to make a cut, and made the back of the chair just the right length to hang on the wall.

Once the chair was cut apart, I measured the bottom of the chair from spindle to spindle to cut a 1×6 board for the shelf.

After I cut the chair apart and measured for the shelf, I gave it a good sanding, and cleaned it good. Once it was dry I gave it a coat of paint in the color Boothbay Gray by Benjamin Moore. I love this color. It’s such a nice subtle shade of gray. Not too cool, not too blue. I like to order these little sample cups of paint in various shades and have on hand for small projects like this. It didn’t even use a 1/4 of the the container. I have plenty left for next time.

Once the shelf and the chair were completely dry after the second coat of paint, I put a dab of wood glue on the shelf board, and attached it to the chair. I decided to go ahead and put some nails in it too.

That’s it. Instant shelf.

This was such a simple DIY!

I love the way this little project turned out! I think it would be darling in a bathroom with some bath salts, and hand towel. It would also be so sweet in the kitchen with some hooks and a dish towel. You could also use it as a recipe holder with a little more tweaking. It would also be so sweet with a family picture and a little candle. Obviously, there are so many ways you could use it around the house. I can’t wait to find a spot for it here in our farmhouse.

I see these ladder back chairs in thrift stores from time to time fairly inexpensively. If you stumble upon one, snatch it up and turn your own ladder back chair into a shelf!

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a tiny part of your day with me! Talk to you soon!

Here’s an image to pin for later…