How to Build an Oversized Ottoman

Cut plywood to the size of ottoman you want using a table saw. Place the plywood flat on the floor. Attach a leg bracket 4 inches from each side at the corner. Repeat for all four corners. If your ottoman is more than 2 feet wide or long, divide your width or length measurement in half and install an additional bracket between your corner brackets.

Turn the plywood right side up and spray the wood with spray adhesive. Position 4-inch thick foam over the adhesive. Trim the foam around the outside of the plywood using an electric carving knife.

Place quilt batting on the floor or worktable. Position the ottoman foam side down centered over the batting. Bring the long side of the batting to the back underside and staple. Bring the second long side to the back, stretching the batting taut, and staple. Bring each side to the back and staple keeping the batting taut. Go back to the first long side and repeat your staple pattern. Staple every inch or so until the batting is stapled to the underside of the plywood.

Place decorator fabric face down on the table. Center the foam side down over the fabric. Follow the same stapling pattern you used for the batting. Trim off the excess fabric and batting when you are finished.

Open 1 inch of the seam on the welting cord and cut the cord without cutting the fabric. Position the welting cord bead side out and centered between two corners. The welt should extend 1/8 inch from the side of the fabric. Staple starting 1 inch from the end, keeping the welt tight to the wood and fabric. Stop stapling 2 inches from where you started. Line up your cord with the cord inside the welting fabric and trim the cord. Fold the welting fabric under and wrap it over the end welting. Finish your stapling.

Measure around the perimeter of the ottoman and add 13 inches. Measure the height with a leg installed and add 3 inches. Cut your fabric. Place the fabric right sides together along the short ends and sew a 1/2-inch seam. Fold the bottom edge to the back and sew a hem along the bottom edge. Turn the ottoman cushion side down. Place your dust ruffle face side down and hem side out. Find your seam and line it up with your welting seam.

Measure the distance from the hem to the welting. Position the fabric to this length. Staple the fabric tight to the welting at the seam. Line up the fabric to the corner. Measure your distance to make sure your length is even. Staple from the corner back to the seam. Repeat for the other side of the seam. Fold the fabric from the corner back toward the seam 1 inch and staple. Fold the same fabric back toward the corner over itself and staple again. Repeat for the other corner on the other side of the seam. You are stapling half of a corner pleat.

Measure the length of your adjacent side and divide by two. Insert a pin in the welting at the center point of your side. Measure your fabric from the corner to your center point. Add 2 inches for the second half of your corner pleat. Position the fabric over your center point. Measure the distance from the hem to the welting to make sure your length is right and staple the fabric to the center point of the ottoman side. Follow the same stapling technique you used for your first side. Repeat this for each side. You should have pleats at all four corners.

Screw in your legs and turn your ottoman right side up to use.