Are you running out of cabinet space? Did you just splurge on a designer set of cookware but have no room to put it? This DIY project transforms part of a wood stepladder into a rustic yet stylish pot hanger. The most important thing is to hang it from hooks screwed into ceiling beams or studs; if you don't use studs, the holder could come crashing down — and take some ceiling with it.
The tutorial uses an untouched ladder piece, but if you want a specific color, go ahead and paint it. Use a semi-gloss or gloss paint for easy cleaning later. Avoid black or dark colors as they will make the kitchen seem smaller and will show dust and grease stains.
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Materials
- Piece of ladder with five 8-inch by 8-inch openings
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Eight medium eye hooks
- Drill
- Drill bits to match eye-hook size
- Needle-nose pliers
- Four large eye hooks
- Braided jute or burlap rope
- Scissors
- Wood screw and appropriate drill bit
- Eight S-hooks
- Piece of ladder with five 8-inch by 8-inch openings
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Eight medium eye hooks
- Drill
- Drill bits to match eye-hook size
- Needle-nose pliers
- Four large eye hooks
- Braided jute or burlap rope
- Scissors
- Wood screw and appropriate drill bit
- Eight S-hooks
Instructions
1. Place the ladder piece flat and horizontally on a work surface. If there are perpendicular pieces at the ends of the first and fifth openings, remove them (not shown).
1. Place the ladder piece flat and horizontally on a work surface. If there are perpendicular pieces at the ends of the first and fifth openings, remove them (not shown).
![](https://sftimes.s3.amazonaws.com/7/d/b/b/7dbba99ca34b9803281641d768699b6a.jpg)
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2. Measure and mark 1 inch down from the top where each vertical piece meets the ladder's side, centering the mark in the vertical piece. Measure and mark 1 inch up from the bottom where each vertical piece meets the ladder's side.
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3. Drill a shallow hole at each mark.
![](https://sftimes.s3.amazonaws.com/0/f/e/1/0fe1b3f0bea3c724cf718599df8bd448.jpg)
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Screw in a medium eye hook at each mark until the hook is snug.
![](https://sftimes.s3.amazonaws.com/9/c/5/b/9c5bf5c15577ecc7f4c7ddb8603c95ea.jpg)
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![](https://sftimes.s3.amazonaws.com/8/f/6/4/8f64ed8cf1cbd91038cdb8e132630f34.jpg)
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Flip over the ladder. Make sure it still is horizontal and flat.
![](https://sftimes.s3.amazonaws.com/6/a/0/8/6a08b76609f75a5f82d0b9f64c873838.jpg)
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![](https://sftimes.s3.amazonaws.com/4/1/b/4/41b44fa854eb81389cce810ecc5cea51.jpg)
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4. Locate the second opening. Measure and mark at the halfway point along the top of the ladder edge. Drill a shallow hole at the mark. Screw in a large eye hook until it is snug.
![](https://sftimes.s3.amazonaws.com/e/d/5/2/ed527ef388abb17949011092827f85f7.jpg)
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5. Measure and mark at the halfway point along the bottom of the ladder edge at the second opening. Drill a shallow hole at the mark. Screw in a large eye hook until it is snug.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for the fourth opening.
![](https://sftimes.s3.amazonaws.com/6/9/4/0/6940eb56fb48c89e42c68a9ab4b246ed.jpg)
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7. Cut off two 36-inch lengths of rope. Slide one end through the top large eye hook on the second opening. Tie a knot so it doesn't slip through the eye hook. Slide the other end through the bottom eye hook on the second opening. Tie a knot.
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8. Slide one end of the second piece through the top large eye hook on the fourth opening. Tie a knot so it doesn't slip through the eye hook. Slide the other end through the bottom eye hook on the fourth opening. Tie a knot.
![](https://sftimes.s3.amazonaws.com/c/6/b/8/c6b8d3be2990d9d94fbf4f33e6d79233.jpg)
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9. Pinch the center of one tied rope piece and slide your hand down the gathered pieces until you have 8 inches gathered. With the pieces together, tie a knot. This should make a loop.
![](https://sftimes.s3.amazonaws.com/e/4/d/1/e4d1f44d3d73cce0ae7435e071bfdc64.jpg)
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10. Repeat step 9 for the other piece of tied rope.
11. Drill two holes in a ceiling beam. Make sure they are the same distance apart as the two rope loops. Hang sturdy S-hooks from the ceiling hooks.
![](https://sftimes.s3.amazonaws.com/9/b/a/a/9baa37df143227a2f6a65f3d434d5939.jpg)
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Hang the ladder.
![](https://sftimes.s3.amazonaws.com/9/5/2/5/9525c339eba1471f122580f90600fa7f.jpg)
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Pro Tip: Use S-hooks on the smaller eye hooks to hang the pots.
![](https://sftimes.s3.amazonaws.com/5/2/2/1/5221950fe8224f32f50e08c7a41060e7.jpg)
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