I finally got to bring my finished ottoman home from school and it is exactly what this space (and Jeff's feet) needed! Check out this (very looong, yet informative) step-by-step guide to building and upholstering an ottoman.
I tried to take clear photos for my DIYers out there but if nothing else, they can show you that it's totally do-able! Please contact me if you get going and have questions, or if you want a custom one made to fit your space.
1. Build -or buy- a frame.
It can be whatever size you want - square, long/bench, large, tiny, whatever.
All you need is 4 sides and 2 bottom stringers-to support the feet.
We used 2x6's for the sides and 2x4's for the stringers. The pieces are simply nailed together.
2. Drill Holes for Legs.
Drill a hole in each corner of the bottom of the frame.
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frame - upside down |
3. Insert Screws.
They just pop into the drilled hole, from the inside of the frame. These have teeth on the underside and once the foot is screwed in, it digs into the wood to lock it in place.
4. Stretch Webbing.
Start in the center and, using a webbing stretcher tool, tack webbing down and fold over ends. Add additional webbing strips until 4" apart, interweaving.
5. Add Foundation.
This is typically burlap or a strong fabric and acts as support.
Fold in the corners and make it neat. Staple top around edges.
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foundation |
6. Make "Crown" with cotton.
Based on how rounded or flat you want the top to be, pile cotton on top of the foundation.
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cotton crown |
7. Layer Rubber.
Put the rubber (foam) on top of the crown. We used a 3" thick rubber.
*Notes* : STD rubber comes in 2"/4"/6" thicknesses.
Make rubber 1" thicker for squishing down.
40-45 lb is STD firmness for cushions (35 lb is really soft and 50 lb is a brick).
Avg height of ottoman is 22".
Add 1/2" overhang on all 4 sides.
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crown |
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cotton between foundation and rubber |
8. Layer Dacron.
Wrap the ottoman in dacron or cheesecloth to shape it. Staple it down 1" below where the border will start. Put smooth side out. Cut excess from around and staple down all lumps.
9. Choose a center for your fabric.
It is up to you as to what you want to be the center. Sometimes it's obvious as to what it should be, but other times, it's just a matter of opinion.
10. Measure and cut fabric.
This is the scary part! Once you have decided on your center, measure outward, adding 2" below border all the way around.
11. Staple down fabric.
Working from the center outward on each side, staple the fabric to the frame. Staple in center, then at each corner. Smooth down fabric and staple between, smoothing slack toward the corner. Cut away excess fabric from inside corner pleat. Remember, pleats are on the front - meaning, it should look smooth from the front and the opening of the corner pleat faces the side.
*Note* : Be sure to have frame marked as front, back, and sides.
12. Cut Border Fabric.
You should have already determined the height of your border. For the cut piece, add 1" to the top, 2" to the bottom, and 3" to each side (so if I have a 4" border and each side is 35" wide, I cut each piece 7" x 41"). Clear as mud???
To make it more difficult, patterns require matching. Here, I cut the fabric so that the pattern would seemingly continue on from the top down to the border.
13. Sew Welt cord.
This is a whole other post in itself. But, basically, cut fabric on a bias (45 degree angle) at 1-7/8" wide strips and sew around 5/32" cord.
14. Attach Welt Cord.
Staple the Welt cord all the way around, with the seam downward.
15. Attach Border Fabric.
Fold the top of each piece under 1". Flip it up and staple the backside of the fabric, just under the welt cord. Fold in the ends of the front and back and staple down.
16. Wrap corners.
For the sides, rather than folding the sides in, wrap them around the front and back and staple down.
It should be looking like this when you flip the fabric down.
17. Attach Tack Strip.
Staple the cardboard tack strip all the way around the ottoman, pushed snugly under the welt cord.
18. Add Dacron.
Cut and staple the dacron around each side and under the bottom of the frame. The thickness is up to you.
19. Fold Corners.
Wrap each corner tightly and neatly. Staple at the bottom of the frame.
20. Staple Fabric to Bottom of Frame.
21. Add Bottom Welt Cord.
Wrap the welt cord around the base of the ottoman and staple.
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upside down |
22. Attach Dust cover.
Using the same technique as the foundation, fold the edges of the dust cover under and staple down neatly.
23. Attach final tack strip.
This helps secure all edges.
24. Screw on legs.
and VOILA!!
From this...
To this...!
As you can see, this takes a lot of work but it is also very rewarding. Don't you just love seeing something reach its potential!
Thanks for reading. Happy Thursday!