I always like the look of ladders and wooden tools around these shabby vintage homes. I have also seen them in more modern homes on occasion and thought how they add interest to a stark wall almost looking more like art than antique. I put a small ladder with books in my husbands office. It is a really cute old vintage ladder with some red paint on natural wood. I also have an old wooden shovel in the same office that gives the room a kind of old world feel. Lots of examples here of great ways to use a ladder in different rooms!