How to Make a Storage Ottoman

Make your own storage ottoman with a few easy steps.

Things You'll Need

• Wood
• Scews
• Measuring tape
• Wood glue
• saw
• Drill
• Foam pillow topping
• Fabric
• Coaster wheels if desired.
• Scissors
• Box cutter or knife
• Sand paper
• Paint and brushes

Instructions

1. A storage ottoman can be a real simple project, determined on how big or what you plan to store in it. Using an ottoman for storage you need to consider if it will be heavy, or light weight items inside. Then choose the size and weight of the wood needed to execute your project. Having decided the over all purpose then proceed to gathering the materials.

2. The best wood would be about 5/8th inch plywood of good quality, or some pine if you can find it wide enough for the bottom and sides. Draw out a pattern of each piece to the exact dimensions you would like it to be, and adjust those measurements while on paper if necessary.

   Wood is expensive so don't cut until you are totally ready. If you have a table saw that would help a lot, but the home stores like Home Depot and Lowes will make cuts for you if you ask them ahead of time, for a small cutting fee like about .25 pre cut. Cut some smaller blocks of wood to tack under the top of the lid so the lid won't slip off while in use. Just 4, about 10 inches in length or less each. Make sure not to use screws that are too long and perforate the top of the ottoman lid.

   Now measure out the size of the bottom, then the height. Decide if you want it to be a roll-a-round or stationary.
   Then after cutting the bottom, cut a top just the size of the bottom since the sides will be placed on top of the bottom board. The top lid should fit just like the bottom. Mark and drill holes for the wood screws, not too big they need to hold tight to the wood. Place the bottom on a work bench or saw horses set up for a bench. Line up the sides to the inside of the bottom edges, place screws in pre-drilled holes and continue to screw them down until all the 4 sides are in place. A screw top and bottom will do till more can be added after getting every thing in place. Use a t-square to check to see if corners are square. Then add the final screws.

   Now you have a basic wooden box. I like to sand the edges at this point to make sure all is smooth by the time the project is done. Lay the top board on the box. Make sure the box is square enough the lid fits over the top edges of the sides, tap a little to adjust if necessary. Laying a block of wood against the sides to protect the wood when tapping.

3. If the top is fitted ok, then nail or screw the little wooden blocks to the underneath side of the lid. These need to be located with some free space at each end so the top of the ottoman has room for the covering to be tucked and tacked to the inside of the lid. These blocks can be glued and clamped if necessary, in the event you don't want to use nails or screws on the lid.

   After all is built and the glue dried, then place the lid on the foam padding and draw around it for a cutting line measurement for the padded top. Next cut that foam with large scissors or a big knife, or box cutter depending on thickness of the foam pad. An old pillow would work also.

   Next lay the pad on the fabric you have chosen for the cover. Wrap the fabric around the top and make sure you have plenty to overlap and tack to the inside. If you don't want it tacked then just place a pillow on top that fits the size of the ottoman top.
   The top wrapped cushion could be made more decorative with piping on the edges and boxed sides. Your choice on the final looks and style.

4. After you have everything assembled, then you can paint the contaniner portion of the ottoman or wrap and pad it also with fabric. Another choice that is your to make. Either way it will be what you want and match your room. The wheels can be added anytime to the bottom corners, again screws not too long, but enough the wheels won't fall off. Measure the screws against a scrap piece of the wood and make sure the tip is short enough to not go through the bottom of the box.
   Now you are ready to put your items inside, ENJOY.

Tips & Warnings

• I like to glue all the areas that are to be screwed together, just don't put so much it squishes out the edges of the wood pieces. Apply to one side only ususally prevents that.

• Chintz fabric is pretty, also corduroy would be nice.

• If for toys or something then paint is good.

• Make the box tall as the chair or sofa it will sit next to the most often. Too tall then it just becomes a storage box.