Make This: Custom Storage Ottoman DIY

This contributor post was written by Katherine of Making Chicken Salad.

In my opinion there can never be enough of the following in our home: storage solutions and layers of pattern. These DIY ottomans are super easy and fulfill both of those criteria! And, at less than an hour put together they make a perfect Saturday morning project.

Here are the materials you will need: 1. Plain storage ottoman. For those pictured above I used one microfiber ottoman and one velvet one with rhinestone buttons–they were both pretty ugly to begin with but at less than $15 each they are perfect candidates for a makeover; 2. 2 yards of fabric; 3. piping in a contrasting color/pattern; 4. staple gun & plenty of staples; 5. upholstery tacks & a hammer; 6. either a sewing machine or a hand sewing needle and thread.

Here is how you make it:
1. Let’s start with the base of the ottoman. Use your otttoman as a pattern to trace and cut out your fabric. Do this by measuring the width of one side, then multiplying that measurement by four and adding six inches.

2. Place your ottoman on its side on the long piece of fabric and bring the edge up and over the top. Place a few staples to keep the fabric in place.

3. Tightly pull the other edge of the fabric around the ottoman, with the raw edge folded under. Pull the folded fabric right over the staples you placed. Nail one upholstery tack into the center of the edge, and then one in each corner, pulling the fabric taught as you go. Once the fabric is held securely in place, fill in the rest of the edge with tacks.

4. Flip the ottoman upside down so the bottom is facing up. Tuck the raw edges under and staple all of the way around. Depending on the style of your ottoman you can either tuck and staple around the feet, or loosen the feet and tuck the fabric underneath, as I did.

5. Stand the ottoman on its feet, right side up. Tuck the raw edges of the fabric under and fold over the top of the ottoman. Staple the fabric to the inside of the of the ottoman, all of the way around. The base is now finished & you are ready to move onto the lid.

6. Place the ottoman lid upside down on your work surface and slice all of the way around the edges so that you can easily peel the fabric off to use as a pattern. Cut one square center piece and four edge strips the exact same sizes as the pieces of the original lid covering.

7. Sandwich the piping in between the edges of the center piece and each of the edge pieces, and stitch around the perimeter of the fabric. Then, stitch the ends of each of the edge pieces together.

8. Place the new cover over the lid, fold the edges under, and staple all of the way around the inside edge of the lid. Your finished product will look much better if you are sure to keep the fabric taught as you go. And, you are done!

Like this tutorial? Help spread the word by sharing it on facebook, twitter, and stumbleupon using the handy buttons below.

About Katherine: Katherine Jalaty lives in Northern California, where she spends her time taking care of her family and making things for her new home. Her blog, Making Chicken Salad: The Art of Something Out of Nothing, is where she shares DIY projects, recipes and bits of inspiration from her own life and from other artists. Keep up with her on the blog or on Twitter @katherinejalaty.