Do-It-Yourself: Storage Ottoman

Measurements

• Use a tape measure to determine the height based on the seat of the chair or couch the ottoman will be in front of. Subtract at least 1 inch from that total to account for the upholstery. Though they are optional, consider using casters on the ottoman so that the flooring is not damaged and for ease of movement. If casters are used, the height of the casters will need to be subtracted from the final height measurements. Determine the width and length of the ottoman by the dimensions of what space is available or by the length of the seat it will be in front of. The longer and wider the finished ottoman, the more storage space is created.

Construction

• Begin construction by using plywood wood that is no more than 1/2-inch thick to create a box. The thicker the wood, the heavier the ottoman will be. The wood should be cut to meet the width and length measurements. For simplicity, the construction directions are for making a 2-foot-square cube. Cut the wood down to six 2-square foot pieces. Use wood glue and screws to create a topless and bottomless box with four pieces of wood. Check with a level for evenness before adding screws and always drill pilot holes to avoid splitting the wood. Line the four edges of the bottom of the box with wood glue and place on the edges the bottom piece of wood. Secure the bottom panel with screws. The lid will be added after upholstering the ottoman.

Upholstering

• Begin the upholstering by using the last piece of wood, which will become the lid. Use a generous amount of adhesive spray to attach a piece of foam. The thickness depends on the desired amount of cushioning but don’t go over 4 inches or it becomes unstable). Cut the foam down to fit exactly to the wood, a long serrated knife or an old electric knife work best for this. Optionally, after the first piece of foam is secure, more can be glued to the top of it. Place a length of fabric over the foam and staple to the length of one edge. Fold the fabric tightly on the corners and staple once at the corner and again at the top of the fold to avoid wrinkling. Repeat the stapling process all the way around the bottom of the lid.

  The inside of the cube can be lined with fabric before adhering foam to the outside of the cube. Staple the inner fabric to the outside and inner bottom of the cube. Spray the outside of the cube with adhesive and attach thin layer of foam. Once the foam is secure begin stapling the fabric to the outside of the cube. Pay careful attention to the corners when stapling the fabric on so that it doesn’t wrinkle.

Finishing

• Use a piano hinge to attach the lid. Lid supports can be added to the corners by the hinge but are optional. To add the optional casters, get casters that have a small pin. If the pin is too large, an extra block of wood, about 4 inches square and at least 2 inches thick, will have to be attached to the bottom of the ottoman so the stability isn‘t affected. Use a drill bit the same width as the pin on the caster to make pilot holes in the bottom corners of the cube (or on the extra block of wood). The pins for the casters should fit securely in the hole, if not a small amount of wood glue or adhesive can be put in the holes. If casters are not used, fabric or metal floor protectors can be put on the corners. Once the casters or floor protectors are in place, the ottoman is ready to use.