There are certain items that people seem to routinely be in sore need of, but require a push to actually obtain. (Why is it that so often the most obvious needs are ones to which we’re slowest to attend?) Non-hideous filing cabinets are among this list, certainly. Following closely behind are step stools. If I had a spoon for every time a client revealed that they were in desperate need of a step-up, I would have so many spoons. Bushels of spoons. Bouquets of spoons!

It isn’t that step stools are hard to come by. Only, people would rather, I find, have a cute one if they’re going to have one at all. Otherwise, the unsightly appearance of the stool will require that it be stowed away, out of sight. This defeats the purpose, which is to have a step stool that’s always within reach, which, more often than not, also means in plain sight.

Right, then: step stools that aren’t immeasurably ugly. (See what I did there?)

1. white folding step stool

2. Lucano white step stool

3. 3 step acrylic step stool

4. pivot reversible step stool

5. Jenny lind white step stool

6. 2 step wood stool

7. woodgrain 3 step ladder

8. teal step stool

9. Lucano 3 step stool