DIY Leather Cube Ottoman

Lay one 23-by-23-inch square of one-half inch plywood on a work table. Stand another matching square on edge, and butt it against one edge of the bottom square.

Drill pilot holes, spaced approximately 3 inches apart, through the side of the upright sheet of plywood and into the edge of the bottom sheet. Switch the drill bit for a Phillips head screwdriver bit, and insert 1 1/2-inch wood screws through each of the pilot holes.

Turn the L-shaped plywood assembly over to stand upright with one 23-by-23-inch side of the plywood frame facing you and the fastened corner upright on the left. The other 23-by-23-inch square of plywood should point away from you on the left side of the frame.

Butt another 23-by-23-inch sheet of plywood against the right end of the frame, forming the next corner. Drill pilot holes, spaced as before, through the side of the plywood and into the edge of the sheet that faces you, then insert screws to fasten the corner.

Rotate the assembly with the last open end of the square frame on the right.

Pre-drill and fasten the last 23-by-23 sheet of plywood to the end of the sheet that faces you, then rotate the cube to pre-drill and fasten the last corner.

Place one 23 1/2-by-23 1/2-inch square of one-half-inch plywood on top of the square frame. Drill pilot holes through the top sheet and into the frame along each side, then insert screws to fasten the top to the cube. Turn the cube over, and fasten the other 23 1/2-by-23 1/2-inch square sheet to the bottom.

Set the cube on the rough or sueded side of the leather. Trace the outline of the cube onto the leather with a pencil. Trace another outline 4 inches wider than the original outline. Cut the leather along second outline with utility scissors or a utility knife.

Spread out the remaining leather, sueded side up. Set the cube on the leather as close to the left edge of the hide as possible. Trace the left edge of the cube onto the left edge of the hide with a pencil.

Roll the cube across the leather toward the right four times. Trace the right edge of the cube onto the leather with a pencil. Draw another straight line 4 inches to the right of the traced line. Cut the leather along the left line and the wider right outline.

Set a framing square on the leather with one leg aligned with the left edge of the hide and the perpendicular leg across the bottom edge of the hide pointing toward the right. Trace the bottom edge of the square with a pencil.

Align a yardstick with the traced pencil line. Extend the line across the hide with a pencil to the right cut edge. Cut the leather across the pencil line.

Measure up the left side of the hide to 28 inches and mark it. Align the square along the left edge of the hide with its perpendicular leg extending across the leather at the pencil mark. Trace its edge, then extend the line across the hide with a yardstick. Cut the leather at the pencil line.

Spray adhesive over the top of the cube. Place a sheet of quilt batting on the adhesive, and trim off the excess around the edges with scissors.

Spray adhesive around the sides of the cube. Wrap the cube with batting, and trim off the excess.

Center the leather square on top of the cube, right side facing up. Press one edge of the leather over the side of the cube. Hammer carpet tacks through the leather along the bottom edge and into the cube, spaced 3 inches apart. Rotate the cube 180 degrees and repeat along the opposite side. Repeat along the remaining two sides, but leave the corners unfastened.

Press the leather at one corner over toward the left into a smooth fold around the corner. Fasten the bottom edge of the fold to the cube with carpet tacks. Repeat at each corner.

Fold a longer edge of the rectangular piece of leather over 2 inches with the right side of the hide facing out and the fold turned away from you toward the cube. Align the folded edge with the upper edge of one side of the cube. Hammer decorative upholstery tacks through the hide and into the cube one-half inch below the upper edge of the fold. Space the tacks 1 inch apart or less. Fold and repeat along the bottom edge of the hide and cube.

Turn the cube to the next side and repeat folding and tacking the upper and lower folded edges. Continue until the sides of the cube are covered and you return to the starting point.

Fold the free edge of the leather under and tack it down along the corner, or tack it down first and trim off the excess leather along the corner. Leather will not fray like fabric can.

Add more decorative upholstery tacks down both sides of each corner using the same spacing as before.

Turn the cube upside down. Align one locking furniture caster near each corner. Insert screws through the caster plates and into the bottom of the cube.