Monday, July 19

DIY Ottoman


Last summer I used an Omaha Steaks styrofoam cooler to make an ottoman for my front porch. A year later, that ottoman is still going strong, so I decided to make another one. I used the lessons I learned from my first DIY ottoman and created a sturdier version:


In case you'd like to make your own ottoman, here's a tutorial.

1. Start with a sturdy styrofoam cooler.


2. Add some old magazines or something similar to give the cooler more weight.


3. Hot-glue foam padding (I used an old mattress topper) to the top and a piece of wood to the bottom of the cooler. The padding makes the top nice and cushy, and the wood on the bottom gives you something to which you can staple your fabric. You can leave the sides bare or pad them.



4. Select a piece of fabric. I used a piece of upholstery-weight decorator's fabric left over from another project. I happened to have a piece that was 1 1/2 yards long and 54" wide; this was plenty for my ottoman.

5. Wrap the cooler like a present, using a staple gun to secure the fabric to the bottom of the ottoman. Be sure to pull the fabric taut as you go. You'll have lots of spare fabric on the sides; cut out some of the excess underneath so that the fabric will lie flat. This is a pull and tug and stick-out-your-tongue process, but it doesn't take too long.







Once you've pulled and tugged so that your fabric is taut and smooth all over, add plenty of staples to hold the fabric securely in place.

6. If you like, add feet to the bottom. This will give your ottoman a more finished look. You can use proper furniture feet (I found some at Home Depot starting at $4.67 each) or be creative and make your own. I used molding corner rosettes to make my feet. I glued two rosettes together for each ottoman foot, then spray-painted them black.  These I had to secure to the bottom with glue. If you use real furniture feet, you'll be able to screw them into place.





Another shot of the finished product:


The rosettes cost $1.59 each. All the other materials were things I had on hand, so my total cost for this project was less than $15.00 and less than two hours' time.

Here's the ottoman in its new home on my screened-in porch:




What do you think?
I think it's a handy little place to prop your feet! Now I need to find a little tray to go on top so that it'll hold a nice glass of iced tea.

Check out all the fun outdoor projects at Kimba's mid-summer DIY Day and The Furniture Makeover Challenge at CSI!



39 comments:

  1. WOW! What a great idea! I'm definitely trying this when I move into my new place...

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  2. You are SO smart!! What a clever idea!

    Suzanne

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  3. That is so. cool.

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  4. How creative! Love it! You pros really make me look at "stuff" around me so differently. Thanks for that!

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  5. Love it! I can't believe I just threw out one of those containers last week. This would be great in our play room. Thanks for the great idea!

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  6. Okay, so this could possibly be my favorite DIY project so far!!! LOVE it!

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  7. I want to order some steaks just so I can make one of these. You are so smart to make something great out of something that would normally be thrown out.

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  8. Good tutorial!! It looks so pretty, I'd hate to put my feet on it. ;)

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  9. Love it! It's so cute & tidy too.. Great job!

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  10. It's beautiful!! I love the tutorial because you have made this project "doable" for those like me that are challenged with projects. I love your choice of fabric.

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  11. You are kidding me! This is fabulous!

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  12. Wow - that's fantastic. I can't believe you started with a styrofoam cooler!

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  13. GREAT idea! My in-laws buy Omaha Steaks, so I might see if I can snag one of these coolers. I saw your post on CSI. My post is #35.

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  14. I LOVE this!!! What a fabulous idea!!! This shows true creativity and talent at its best!!

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  15. That is an amazing idea! I might try it but I have a 3 year old and a newborn...wonder how it would hold up to that?? haha! I came over from the CSI Project!

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  16. Amazing idea!! I've wanting to make an ottoman. Maybe I can use this idea. Thank you so much for the inspiration. I'll let you know when I do.

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  17. Richella, I just love your little ottoman, so cute! And I totally wish we could sit on the porch together, your place or mine.

    If you ever get back to B'ham, please let me know!

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  18. That is the coolest idea! Thank you so much for sharing!
    Where do you find that particular shape of cooler?
    Is it strong enough to sit on or more of just a decorative piece?

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  19. I am impressed!!! Excellent idea, beautiful ottoman!!

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  20. Wow! DIY at its best! Very impressive!

    Kelly

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  21. I am tempted to order steaks from Omaha just to have that cooler.

    What a wonderfully creative idea!!!

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  22. I think I must have read this when you did it last summer. Did you post it? I remember being amused and in awe at the same time. I love the secret life some ordinary things can take on!

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  23. Cool idea! (no pun intended...until I realized there was a pun to be had) ((fellow CSI crafter))

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  24. That is such a fantabulous idea!!!! I live it! Thanks so much for the idea it looks great!

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  25. My oh my is that ever precious and very creative Richella! I love it and the pretty green fabric you used. Fabulous! :)

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  26. LOVE it! Now I need to find a cooler...

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  27. This is amazing, I want a couple of ottomans in our game room to put our feet up while watching tv up there. I might have to gather materials and give this a try :)

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  28. Bookmarking this post for future use in our house...just need to find a cooler and I'll be all set! :-)

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  29. I would like to exchange links with your site www.blogger.com
    Is this possible?

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  30. It can be an ottoman & a time capsule all in one!!! Blessings!

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  31. I am STUNNED!! Just stumbled across your blog and I'm hooked. Fantastic idea!

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  32. WOW!! I LOVE this idea!!! Is it sturdy? I can't believe it has still held up! You've made me a believer.. I think that I will have to try this! What an awesome looking piece made so inexpensively!

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  33. This is INCREDIBLE! I <3 this project. :) I {discovered} you through Traci's BLOG. <><

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  34. I made my own version of your ottoman, come check it out at http://libler.blogspot.ca/2013/01/how-to-make-ottomanend-table-from.html
    This was such a great idea!

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  35. I love this idea!! I have a cooler that I have been using as an ottoman...definitely going to wrap it now! I think I even have the mattress topper out in the garage!

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  36. Love this idea!! Gonna give it a shot..I got a sturdy Styrofoam cooler and I always have fabric on hand :) Thanks for the tutorial and inspiration! God bless!

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