How to Build a Small Ottoman

A small ottoman, or foot stool, can be as custom-crafted as you would like it to be. Once you realize how quick and easy it is to create a small ottoman, you will be making them to stash in every corner of your home. Tuck them around a coffee table for an impromptu picnic. Choose turned legs or pick casters to create the legs for the bottom of the ottoman to make the stool more mobile. Master the main steps of construction and then you can start to get creative with trim. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Cut inch plywood to 18-by-18-inches. If you don't have a circular saw, ask the home improvement center to cut the lumber when you are purchasing it.

2

Measure three inches from the edge of the wood to determine where the feet will be installed. Mark the location for the feet. Defer to the installation hardware that came with the legs or casters to determine exactly how to install the legs.

3

Drill holes through the plywood where the feet or casters will be installed. Insert screws through the legs and the plywood. Secure the feet with a nut on the top of the plywood. Set the plywood base on its feet and test to make sure it is level and stable. Tighten and adjust as necessary.

4

Trim the foam and batting to match the dimensions of your plywood with a utility knife. The foam should be at least two inches thick. Layer multiple sheets of foam to thicken the padding.

5

Lay a 2-by-2-foot piece of fabric flat on a work surface. Lay batting on top of the fabric and the foam on top of the batting. Place the ottoman face down, with the feet pointing up, on the foam.

6

Pull the fabric and batting up and over the top of the ottoman. Secure tightly to the underside of the ottoman with a staple gun. Repeat for the other three sides. Trim any excess fabric.