A standard step ladder is a household essential, but if you live in a small space, an extra closet for storing such things is hard to come by. That?s why we?re profiling the most appealing, many of which are so slim they?ll tuck into tight spaces or hang unobtrusively on the wall. Here are our picks.

Above: Design House Stockholm “Step” Step Ladder, shown here in oak, comes with a peg for hanging on the wall. It starts at $400 at Horne.

Above: The Hasegawa Lucano Black 3-Step Stool is made by hand by Metaphys and Hasegawa Kogyo Co., the leading ladder and scaffolding manufacturer in Japan.

Above: The Small Step Up Step Ladder from Olby Design is available in oak or ash. Contact Olby for more information.

Above: Williams-Sonoma?s Ultraslim Aluminum Step Stool, shown in the three-step size, is $139.95.
Above: RISD grad Sina Sohrab of Visibility designed the Stepladder in ash wood and steel. It’s currently in development; contact Sohrab for more information.

Above: The Perigot Extra Flat Foldable Step Stool can slide behind a door or hang from a wall; ?230 ($255) at Perigot.

Above: The Summerill & Bishop Wood Stepladder will soon be available on the shop’s site. Contact Summerill & Bishop for more information.

Above: The Flo Folding Step Ladder in orange is designed by Marcello Ziliani and folds up to under four inches wide; $579 at Pop Mag.

Above: Williams-Sonoma’s 3-Step Wood & Aluminum Ladder is $119.95.

Above: Fr...