How to Make a Square Ottoman

Purchase an inexpensive square coffee table. You can find these at yard or tag sales, in classified ads or at big box stores, among other places. Do not worry about the table's appearance as most of it will be covered.

Place the table on a flat outdoor surface, such as a driveway. Strip the legs of the table using paint stripper, and paint or stain them to suit your taste, if you like, since they will show. Let the table dry completely overnight.

Bring your table inside and place it on the floor. Measure the surface dimensions of the table. Cut the solid upholstery foam to these exact measurements using a utility knife or electric knife.

Remove any drawers from your table. Measure the interior dimensions of the drawer openings and cut upholstery foam to fit these areas. Attach the large piece of foam to the table surface and the filler pieces to the drawer spaces with hot glue.

Measure from the bottom of one side of the table, across the foam surface to the bottom of the opposite table side. Add 2 inches to this measurement. Cut the sheet batting and a square of upholstery fabric as long and as wide as this measurement.

Spread hot glue over the foam surface of the table, center the cut sheet batting over the foam and lay it in place. Wrap the edges of the batting down the sides of the table and underneath the table top, hot gluing as you go. Cut slits in the batting at the corners if necessary to wrap it around the table legs.

Lay the upholstery fabric out face-down on the floor and carefully turn the table upside-down so that the surface is centered on the backside of the fabric. Fold over each edge of the fabric, pulling firmly, and staple it to the bottom of the table. Again, trim the fabric at the corners if needed to accommodate the table legs.

Turn the ottoman right-side-up and plan out a tufting pattern, and mark button locations on the fabric surface with chalk. Place the opening of the staple gun over the first mark, push down to create a deep tuft and staple. Hot glue a fabric-covered button over the staple and continue tufting the ottoman top, then let the hot glue dry completely before using your ottoman.