How to Build an Upholstered Ottoman With Storage

Measure and cut two 18-by-24-inch boards for the top and bottom, two 12-inch-by-24-inch boards for the long sides, and two 12-inch-by-17-inch boards for the short sides from the 1/2-inch plywood.

Assemble the box. Place two 12-inch-by-24-inch boards parallel to each other on their 24-inch edges and place the 12-inch-by-17-inch boards between them on their 17-inch edge. Before putting the 12-inch-by-17-inch boards down put wood glue on each side edge, but not the top or bottom edge yet. Secure the box with the strap clamp.

Put wood glue around the top edge of the box and position an 18-by-24-inch board on top, flush on all sides. Insert three screws on each side through the bottom and into the sides. Secure the long sides to the short sides of the box using two screws at each corner.

Remove the strap clamp after the glue dries overnight. Wrap batting around the sides of the box and staple the batting to the underside of the box and around the inside edge. Cut away excess batting.

Cut a 16-by-87-inch piece of upholstery fabric and fit it around the outside of the box with the right side against the batting. Hold the loose ends together with your fingers and pin the material together leaving enough space to pull the material off the box. Sew down the pin line on a sewing machine.

Turn the material right side out and slip it back over the batting on the ottoman. Fold 1 inch of the material over the bottom of the box and place one staple on each side holding it temporarily in place. Flip the box over, fold the material over the edge and into the box. Staple the material in place.

Cut a piece of 18-by-24-inch foam. Place it on top of the lid. Wrap batting over the top of the foam and secure it, with staples on the underside of the lid on all four sides. Trim the excess batting.

Measure and cut a piece of 24-by-30-inch upholstery fabric. Place it over the batting on the ottoman top, flip the whole top over and staple the material in place on the underside of the lid.

Cut two 16-inch pieces of 1-by-1-inch board. Position each 16-inch piece of 1-by-1-inch board, centered from side to side, on the inside of the top, parallel to -- and 1 inch from -- the short ends. Secure these boards with two screws to the top. These bars will prevent the top from sliding off.