How to Make Your Own Nailhead Ottoman

Ottomans first appeared as humble footstools, but over time they have come to serve other functions as well. An ottoman could replace a coffee table or a side table in the living room. It could also provide additional seating when you have guests. Adding nailhead trim to the ottoman could make it appear more luxurious. It also allows you to create patterns and customize the ottoman. You could make your own nailhead ottoman in several different ways. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Create the frame for the ottoman. Simply screw four prefabricated legs into the corners of a square or rectangular piece of plywood. Instead of just a piece of plywood, you could also build a box with pieces of plywood, putting them together with wood glue, metal brackets and screws. Alternatively, you could use a ready-made item as frame, for example an old table or even an empty electrical spool.

2

Cut foam to match the size and shape of the top surface of the ottoman. The thicker the foam you use, the plushier your ottoman will be. Apply spray adhesive to one side of the foam and stick it onto the top of the ottoman.

3

Drape batting over the entire ottoman and wrap it tightly around the top and sides of the ottoman, folding it neatly at the corners. Staple the batting to the bottom of the sides of the ottoman until it is tautly attached to the ottoman. Cut off excess batting.

4

Cover the ottoman with a fabric of your choice. Lay the fabric on the ottoman and staple it as you did with the batting, except this time staple the fabric to the edges of the bottom of the ottoman.

5

Draw the nailhead trim pattern on paper. This helps you determine the appropriate design and the spacing between nailhead tacks.

6

Lay the paper on the ottoman and pre-drill shallow holes where you want to place the nailhead trim. This allows the nailhead tacks to enter the ottoman more readily. Remove the piece of paper with the nailhead pattern.

7

Hammer the nailhead tacks into the shallow holes with a hammer or rubber mallet.