How to Make a Fabric Ottoman

Make a handmade ottoman using basic craft supplies.

While making a fabric ottoman may seem like a complicated or intricate task, basic craft supplies and tools allow you to accomplish this project with basic crafting knowledge and minimal woodworking experience. For example, you do not have to construct the wooden base of the fabric ottoman by hand using wooden planks and nails. Instead, put together the fabric ottoman using a standard wooden footstool as the base. This saves you time and money by enabling you to create a fabric footstool using inexpensive and pre-made materials.

Things You'll Need

• Wooden footstool
• Measuring tape
• Cotton batting, 4-inches thick
• Scissors
• Fabric
• Staple gun
• Staples, 1/2-inch
• Hot glue gun
• Hot glue stick
• Decorative cording

Instructions

1. Measure the diameter on the top of the wooden footstool if using a circular or ovular footstool. Alternatively, measure the width and length if using a rectangular or square footstool.

2. Cut out a piece of fabric using scissors to the same measurements of the footstool top plus 6 inches on all sides.

3. Cut out three pieces of 4-inch thick cotton batting using scissors to the same measurements of the footstool top exactly.

4. Place the cotton batting pieces into a stack on top of the footstool, then cover the batting with the piece of fabric. Position the fabric piece evenly over the batting.

5. Fold the edges of the fabric over to touch the sides of the footstool, then staple the fabric in place using a staple gun and 1/2-inch wide staples. Trim off the edges of the fabric to make the edges even around the entire footstool.

6. Heat up a hot glue gun for five minutes, then squeeze a line of hot glue around the entire edge of the fabric.

7. Wrap decorative cording around the hot glue line, pressing the cording against the glue for one minute to allow the hot glue to cool and harden. Trim off the excess cording before displaying the fabric ottoman.

Tips & Warnings

• Use thicker fabric to ensure that the ottoman will be durable enough for everyday use.

• Keep staple guns and hot glue out of the reach of children.

• Hot glue can cause serious burns on skin.