On to phase two of the entryway refresh! To help cover up that super awkwardly placed access cover on the wall of our entryway, I thought ottomans would be the perfect solution! Much like the table, I just never found anything that I loved or fit the small space, so I knew I needed to just create these myself! 🙂 You can find links to the supplies needed for this project here!
Supply List:
- 2 sheets of 2′ x 4′ plywood 3/4″ thick
- Circular Saw
- Kreg Rip Cut (or a straight board and clamps)Screws
- Drill
- Countersink drill bit
- Screws
- Wood Glue
- Orbital Sander
- 80 Grit Sandpaper
- Spray Adhesive
- 1″ Thick Foam
- Batting
- Upholstery
- 3/16″ Cording
- Staple Gun
- Staples
- E6000 Glue
- Dust Cover
- Plastic Feet
To build the base, I cut 3/4″ plywood into the following sizes:
- 4 Front / Back pieces: 14″ x 21″
- 4 Side Pieces: 10″ x 21″
- 2 Top Pieces: 10″ x 14″
I chose these dimensions so that the ottomans would fit perfectly under the console table and effectively cover up the access cover. That said, you can totally adjust these dimensions to fit your space / needs! If you’re unsure of the size you want, I always recommend using painters tape to help you visualize the piece in your space! This is what I typically do, and it helps a ton!
Since I don’t yet have a table saw, I used my circular saw and a piece of wood clamped into place as a guide, but you can also use a circular saw and Kreg Rip Cut to cut these pieces. I like both of these methods, so it’s really just a personal preference!
Next, I assembled the sides using simple butt joints that I secured with a little wood glue and screws with a countersink drill bit so the screw heads were just below the surface of the wood once tightened. I then added the top using the same method!
From there, I gave each ottoman frame a light sand using 80 grit sandpaper and my orbital sander to ensure I wouldn’t have issues with wood splinters once I began upholstering them!
Next, I began upholstering the process! While it’s better to use a pneumatic stapler, I simply used a heavy duty staple gun for this project (really it just boiled down to me being too lazy to drag out my air compressor 😆 ). Using spray adhesive, I added 1″ thick foam to the top of the ottoman frame, then wrapped the entire base in batting (also known as Dacron). I draped the batting across the top of the ottoman, then carefully flipped it upside down and stapled to the inside bottom of the base pulling the batting taut (don’t pull it too tight, though!). I then stapled along each of the sides as I folded along the angles, then cut off any excess batting.
Using a very similar technique, I started attaching the upholstery! Again I began by draping the fabric over the top of the ottoman, then carefully flipping it upside down and pulling the fabric taut, then stapling to the base of the frame. Note: If you are using fabric that has a pattern, take extra care that you do not shift the pattern as you pull the fabric taut or the design will be off once done! I attached the sides first, then moved on to the front. Since there’s a good bit of excess fabric, allowing for some extra on either side, I essentially cut out a big square from each side so that I was left with a rectangular piece of material to serve as the front panel (and I did the same for the back). I then stapled what was left of the fabric to the front of the frame (wrapping it around the corner from around the side), and did the same on the other side of the ottoman.
To add a bit of contrast and to help cover up the seam between the front / back and side panels, I used 3/16″ cording that I wrapped in black fabric. This can seem intimidating as it does involve sewing, but I promise it’s not! While there is a sewing machine foot specifically made for sewing cording like this, I don’t have one and I’ve always found that the zipper foot works perfectly as well! That said, using the zipper foot, you simply sew the material over the cording leaving about an inch or two excess on the side so you can easily staple it to the ottoman. If you don’t have a sewing machine or know how to sew, you might be able to get away with using the iron-on adhesive that is often used for hemming. I have not tried this method, and it certainly would not work for all upholstering projects, but it may work here. After sewing the cording, I attached them to the ottoman with staples under the sides of the front and back panels. After attaching the cording, I used E6000 glue to secure the sides of the front and back panels to the base.
After that, I added a black dust cover to the bottom. While it’s tempting to skip this step – don’t! Adding the dust cover helps your piece look a lot more professional and properly finished! I always cut the dust cover a couple inches bigger than I need on all sides, then fold the sides under as I staple so that there’s a perfectly clean edge all around. And lastly, I attached some plastic feet using a mallet to each corner of the base of the ottoman.
I hope this tutorial inspires you to make your own custom ottomans as well! Thanks for following along!
