How to Make an Ottoman

Ottomans provide a place to put your feet up, they provide extra seating and they even double as a table with the addition of a simple tray. To make an ottoman, you need some basic sewing and carpentry skills. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Purchase or find wood crates or boxes to use as the base for your ottoman. You can purchase a wooden shipping crate, box or small chest for under $40. It can be round, square or rectangle and should be at least 2 feet high. If you can find a box with solid sides (not slats), that is best. See the Resources section for a link to the article How to Make a Wood Box if you want to make it yourself.

2

Measure the fabric to fit each side of the wooden box. The easy way to do this is to place the box on the fabric and draw around it, doing the same for each side. Leave a 1-inch border for seam allowance. Label each piece of fabric accordingly.

3

Sew the pieces of fabric together using a sewing machine. If you are experienced with sewing piping, you can add piping around the top piece of fabric.

4

Staple batting to your ottoman. Add the batting around all the sides and put a double layer on the top.

5

Pull your fabric covering onto your ottoman frame and staple the edges under the bottom of the frame to keep it in place.

6

Add gliders purchased at the hardware store to the bottom of your ottoman so you can slide it around the floor. These are like very large tacks with plastic or metal on the bottom.