How to Make a Cocktail Ottoman

Cover upholstery foam with fabric to make a lovely cocktail ottoman

Serve drinks in style on an elegant cocktail ottoman made of fabric-covered foam. A cocktail ottoman takes the place of the traditional coffee table and adds a softer, more inviting look to your living room. The ottoman is large enough and stable enough to hold a tray of drinks. When you're not entertaining guests or serving drinks, you can use the ottoman in the traditional way, by kicking back and putting your feet on it.

Things You'll Need

• 1 wood or plywood board, 24 inches by 36 inches
• Paint
• Paint brush
• Upholstery foam, 6 inches by 24 inches by 36 inches
• 2 yards home decor weight fabric (such as sateen or canvas)
• Staple gun
• 4 pre-cut table legs, 8 inches long by 3 inches in diameter
• 4 Surface plates for legs
• Drill and screwdriver bit
• Wood screws

Instructions

1. Paint the wood board and the table legs. Use a color that coordinates with the fabric you picked out. Let the paint dry overnight or for at least five hours.

2. Position the foam over the top of the wood board. The side edges of the foam and the wood should line up.

3. Drape the fabric over the foam and board. The right side of the fabric should face out. Very carefully turn the fabric, foam and board upside down. The fabric should now be on the floor and the wood board on the top of the pile.

4. Starting on one long (36 inch) side, pull one side edge of the fabric up to the wood board. Staple the fabric in the center of the wood, about 2 inches away from the edge. Pull the other 36-inch side of the fabric up to the wood on other side. Make sure you pull the fabric so that it is taut across the foam. Staple the fabric in the center, 2 inches away from the edge.

5. Fold the fabric over the 24-inch side of the wood and staple in the center, 2 inches away from the edge. Repeat, stapling the fabric to the other 24 inch side. Continue to staple the fabric to the wood, pulling it tight around the foam and working out from the center of each side, until you have completely stapled all four sides. Trim any excess fabric from the underside of the ottoman.

6. Screw the surface plates into each corner on the underside of the ottoman, 2 inches in from the edge. Attach the table legs to the surface plates by twisting the bolt on the legs into the opening on the plates.

References

• Bluelines: How to Make an Ottoman
• Empty Easel: How to Stretch Canvas