Stepladder stools: purpose, design features, tips for choosing

The main problem of most modern apartments is their modest size. Unlike a rural house, it is very difficult to organize a good storage system for kitchen utensils, appliances or things in such housing. The more bedside tables are installed, the less free space will remain for residents, which is why in many apartments various suspended shelves and mezzanines are mounted almost under the very ceiling. To get a jar or mug off the shelf, you have to use special ladders or stands. However, they also need to be stored somewhere and taken out only as needed, and they take up a lot of space. To solve this problem, you need to purchase a step stool.

A stool or step stool is a special piece of furniture that combines 2 functions at once. On the one hand, this is an ordinary stool or high chair with a small back, and on the other, it is a small stable ladder. This design is completely independent and, unlike a conventional ladder, does not need additional supports. There is no need to keep a set of tools close at hand to change the functions of such a stool, since it is either made in the form of a ladder, or is unfolded exclusively by hand.

Outwardly, such a staircase looks more like a regular chair. She has legs in the form of legs and a small seat, and the steps are most often hidden either under the seat or behind the back. As with any lifting mechanism, certain requirements are imposed on all step stools.

• Stability. Even a very high stepladder bench should have increased stability, not swing or deviate from the vertical.
• Reliability. Such a chair must withstand even a very large weight, not bend under an adult and not break its entire service life.
• Clear fixation. Folding devices must have good position retention, especially when unfolded. Otherwise, a person runs the risk of falling from a height and getting injured.

There are two stories of the invention and creation of such a stool, but both of them indicate that originally such furniture was needed exclusively in libraries. According to the first version, this idea was first voiced by the American politician, inventor and journalist Benjamin Franklin. According to the second version, the authorship of the invention belongs to the Scottish researcher Robert Campbell, who patented it. At that time, many houses had extensive libraries with very tall bookcases. To get a book from the upper shelves, one had to use various poufs, benches and armchairs. After a similar chair was presented to a wealthy public, its popularity began to grow rapidly.

When ladder stools appeared in the libraries of wealthy gentlemen, similar designs began to spread among the common population. Today this furniture has many other uses, although it is still often used in large library rooms. Such a chair is an indispensable assistant in the kitchen and in the pantry, cellar or garage: wherever high shelves are available.In addition, they are very convenient to use for children who are still too small and cannot reach the desired item on the table or shelf. Despite the fact that such a stool can be seated, some people prefer to use it only for access to high shelves. The rest of the time, the chair performs a decorative function and often turns into a small cabinet for flowers, a candlestick or photographs.

In recent years, such furniture for children and adults can not only be made to order in the workshop, but also purchased in any shopping center. The spread of ladder stools is due to the fact that they have a large number of advantages over conventional ladders or ladders.

When assembled, these stools take up much less space than a regular ladder. It can be easily pushed into the corner of a room or placed next to a table next to regular chairs.

Lifting mechanisms, unlike ordinary kitchen stools, are more durable and reliable: after all, they are designed not for a calm posture of a person, but for his active movements. Even the most fragile-looking ladder chair is strong enough for an adult to climb.

Unlike a built-in ladder, the stool is easy to move or carry. Therefore, it is not necessary to have such a device near every shelf. It fits easily into the trunk of a car when traveling in nature, unlike a stepladder. It is for this reason that such benches can often be found in summer cottages and in country houses.

To push the steps of the step stool, 1-2 hand movements are enough. No need to keep a set of screwdrivers or a wrench close at hand. Even a person of retirement age or a teenager can easily cope with the task.

Climbing the stairs is several times safer than trying to get a glass or jar from the top shelf, balancing on a regular chair. Of course, you don't have to bounce on the top step of the stool. Leaning to the side or standing on tiptoe is also not recommended. However, subject to basic safety precautions, the risks of using such ladders tend to zero.

A large number of designs, shapes, colors and materials will allow you to choose the ideal model for specific needs and for a specific room.

Despite such a large number of advantages, some people prefer buying a regular step ladder for home use. Most often this is due to one of the disadvantages of ladder stools.

• The need for careful use. Stools are not only useful, but also a decorative piece of furniture. During repair and especially painting work carried out on such a stepladder, there is a high risk of staining and ruining a beautiful bench. After that, you can't put it in the kitchen or in the living room.
• Cannot be left outside. Stools made of wood or iron do not tolerate moisture and sudden changes in temperature.
• It is not always possible to fit into the interior. In some cases, the kitchen design simply does not imply the presence of such simple furniture as a step stool. You will have to spend a lot of time in order to find an interesting design solution and at the same time preserve all the functionality of the staircase.

Most often, you can find several types of step-ladder benches on sale.

• On 6 legs. In it, 4 legs belong to a stool, and 2 to a small step. Such a step is connected to the stool with hinges or special rollers, on which it slides out.
• 4-legged. The steps of such stools are most often attached to the legs themselves.
• With solid supports. These are low benches, the steps of which have common sidewalls. The top rung is the seat of the chair.

Regardless of the number of legs or style, the whole variety of stools with steps can be divided into 3 types.

This design does not imply folding and unfolding the stool. Its steps are not removed anywhere and are not masked. They are installed from the bottom to the seat itself. This type of highchair has the highest reliability and safety. At the same time, it requires the most free space and does not look so beautiful in the interior of the kitchen or nursery.

This chair is similar to a regular stepladder, as it can be easily folded into a compact design and stowed away in a closet or closet. Most often, such pieces of furniture are made with the simplest design in order to lower the price. After all, no one will put extra furniture in a small room if it is easy to store it folded.

This type has the most complex design, and therefore has the highest price. There are retractable and reclining stools. In the first case, the steps are pushed up or sideways, and in the second, the back of the chair is thrown forward and forms a ladder. In this case, even a low small stool can be transformed into a step-ladder with a height of at least 1 m.

Before you go shopping for a hoist, you need to decide on the characteristics of the room and your own capabilities.

• Budget. The main role in the purchase of furniture is played by the amount of money that the client can afford to spend. The smaller the budget, the simpler and more functional the stool should be. In the case when money does not play the main role, you can take a closer look at expensive designer models or vintage staircase chairs from old libraries.
• Dimensions. You should not acquire a too massive structure if the dimensions of the room in which the installation is planned are very modest. In addition, the height of the stool should not exceed the height of kitchen chairs, otherwise it will be inconvenient to use it for sitting at the table.

Every furniture manufacturer, be it a small private workshop or a large factory, makes ladder chairs in their own sizes: there is no single model. However, there are certain standards that everyone tries to adhere to. The seat height should be 35 - 45 cm from the floor. For a person of average height, this will be most convenient. The depth of the seat must be at least 30 cm and not more than 40 cm.

Various materials can be used for the production of stepladders.

Strong and durable wood is very popular. It can easily endure even extremely high loads, and if it is made of natural solid wood, then temperature changes or humidity. The first stepladder chairs were made of wood.

Cheaper but less durable material. Suitable for people weighing up to 80 kg, does not tolerate contact with water or snow.

A great option for children's furniture. A lightweight plastic chair will not support the weight of an adult, but at the same time it can have bright colors and even a pattern.

Stepladder chairs of very high strength, capable of withstanding even very heavy loads. Most often, transforming chairs are made of metal, which can lengthen 2-3 times. In the event that it is planned to use the ladder in the country or in the garden, it is best to choose an aluminum structure.

In some stores, you can see products combined from wood and metal or metal and plastic. In this case, it is better to select them taking into account specific technical characteristics.

An important parameter when buying a step stool is the number of steps. Stools with 3-5 steps with a height of no more than 1.3 meters are considered optimal. Taller ladders with 6-10 steps take up more space and are heavier. They should only be made of metal or solid hardwood such as oak.

A detailed video tutorial on how to make a step stool yourself is presented in the video below.