Every home needs a step ladder.  Without one changing light bulbs and accessing high cupboards and shelves means balancing precariously on a chair, trying not to fall off while you carry out your tasks at height.  Using a step ladder makes this much safer, and it is far easier to climb the rungs of a step ladder than step straight up on to a chair seat. 

Unfortunately, those who prefer a minimalist look to their homes may eschew a step ladder if there is nowhere to keep it, or if it must be on display all the time, in favour of maintaining the look and feel of their home.  Designers know this and have responded with some beautiful step ladder designs for the aesthetically minded homeowner.

Online interior design store Wayfair has a lovely three tread stepladder made from aluminium with a red powder coated finish.  Another Wayfair bargain is the Slim Step two tread step ladder with a matte black finish and a slimline construction that means it can slide under the counter next to a washing machine or fridge.  Ikea also has a small two step ladder in baby blue that is ideal for a nursery or child's room.

American website www.allmodern.com has a wooden step stool that uses a side by side construction rather than the traditional A frame step ladder, which means it can be used as a side table or a stool and stay on display all the time thanks to its clever design and multiple uses. 

Core Distribution features a slim line folding step ladder that will stow in the smallest of spaces – it can even hang on the back of a door without taking up space inside a cupboard.  The deep treads make it easy to use while the construction has shades of industrial architecture about it.  This ladder is ideal for offices, homes and retail stores where space or aesthetics are important.

These stylish ladders can cost from £20 at Ikea to £200 for the designer labels, but they are designed to appeal to those who want to achieve a certain look in their homes without having to compromise on safety.  At Midland Ladders we do appreciate the beautiful sleek lines and clever construction styles of these step ladders, but the core of our business is functional and safe ladders for everyone from homeowners to industrial construction firms.  We at Midland Ladders also have two modern looking step stools at a decent price that will provide the functionality you need and fulfil the requirements of a limited amount of storage space.  They are much cheaper than the design led solutions we mentioned here but provide the same functionality, which we think is a great compromise.