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DIY ottoman from a coffee table

Making your own DIY ottoman isn’t very hard – but it’s not always budget friendly. But we wanted one, so I had to figure out how to do it on the cheap. I started mine with a coffee table I found at Goodwill – but you could definitely make your own coffee table and start there. Either way, making your own DIY ottoman is a great way to add a little comfort to your space.

DIY ottoman

HOW TO MAKE A DIY OTTOMAN FROM A COFFEE TABLE

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coffee table to ottoman

I thought long and hard about building my own base, until I found this coffee table at Goodwill for $10 – which was cheaper than building one, score!

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I wasn’t a fan of the orange-toned wood, so I gave it a couple of coats of flat white spray paint to give it a more cottage look.

IMG_6182

If I were smarter, I would have run it though my table saw to shave 2 inches off each end before painting – but sometimes my brain gets ahead of itself, so I had to wait until mine was dry, #notsosmart. It’s all good, though, because after covering it, you won’t see a thing!

foam & batting for ottoman

This is my big secret – the foam mattress pad. Typically to buy a huge old chunk of foam from the fabric store, it would have been about $100, plus you still need the batting & spray. But a mattress pad is only $10 – that’s a big savings! I actually had the spray adhesive on hand, but you only need a little – and you’ll also need some quilt batting.

IMG_6185

Spray a layer of adhesive to keep the foam in place securely.

cheap foam for ottoman

The mattress pad was large enough for 3 layers, so the first layer is with the wavy side down. Then spray adhesive and put the second layer wavy side up, sprayed again and put wavy side down, so it was smooth on top. Somehow I didn’t have photos of the other two layers – oops! Just remember that you want the top smooth. Then trim each layer all the way around to make it all neat.

how to make an ottoman
Then cover the whole thing with 2 or 3 layers of quilt batting. I attached it from the bottom side with an air gun stapler.
DIY ottoman
Although there are a million and one tutorials on how to make an ottoman from a coffee table, each of them that I saw was tufted or not tailored. I wanted it to have piping, so I made a “slip-cover” for the top, but then stapled it on the lip of the table from underneath so it was smooth and even.
IMG_6455
I used fabric that had been laying around begging to be used, gotta love that! Projects that use up bits you already have are the best. If you don’t have any, then you’ll need about 2 yards of fabric.
IMG_6464

And that’s how I made a DIY ottoman from a coffee table. Have you ever made one?

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Filed Under: DIY

About Gina Luker

Gina Luker is a writer, photographer and lover of all things quirky. She's usually found with a drill in one hand and a cocktail in the other while blogging along the way. She's addicted to coffee, polka dots, rock stars, Instagram, and everything aqua.

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Comments

  1. Nelly@DGInnovations says

    May 2, 2012 at 1:09 pm

    Looks awesome! Reminds me of my coffee table ottoman but I used a crib mattress and mine is not tailored like yours! Looks superb!!

    Reply
  2. Lindsey says

    May 2, 2012 at 1:13 pm

    I LOVE it! I have always wanted to do this but I still haven’t found the perfect table to transform!

    Reply
  3. Debbie says

    May 2, 2012 at 1:17 pm

    Great job and at a fraction of the cost. I give you 9 out of 9! 😀

    Reply
  4. Shingle Cottage says

    May 2, 2012 at 3:12 pm

    Beautiful! you did such a great job and i love the piping it gives it a really expensive looking finish.

    Reply
  5. NanaDiana says

    May 2, 2012 at 3:15 pm

    GREAT job. The piping really gives it a polished look. You nailed it, girl! xo Diana

    Reply
  6. DIY Show Off says

    May 2, 2012 at 3:31 pm

    Beautiful job, Gina! I agree with the others, the piping gives it such a tailored look.

    Reply
  7. Tammy Partin Spangler says

    May 2, 2012 at 6:50 pm

    Great tip on the mattress padding versus the premade foam! Blessings, Tammy

    Reply
  8. Pam says

    May 2, 2012 at 8:04 pm

    Adorable and it looks so nice.

    Reply
  9. Pink Overalls @DIY Home Staging says

    May 2, 2012 at 8:56 pm

    Who doesn’t love a frugal project that looks rich? The mattress pad trick is a keeper! Thanks for another great tutorial.

    Reply
  10. Richella says

    May 2, 2012 at 9:32 pm

    This is great, Gina! I admire your sewing skills–but mostly I admire your gumption! I, too, use foam mattress pads as my upholstery “secret.” I first made upholstered headboards for my guest room back in 2006, and I used an old mattress pad I had stuffed in the attic. It has held up great for six years now! And the ottoman I made for my front porch is padded with an old mattress pad, too–it’s held up through thick and thin, winter and summer, since 2009. I re-covered it because I wanted to change the look of it, but when I removed the fabric, the foam mattress pad underneath is still in perfect shape! Kudos to WalMart for carrying so many useful items for such low prices.

    Reply
  11. ❀❀❀Ðαωᾔ❀❀❀ says

    May 2, 2012 at 10:36 pm

    That turned out so stinkin cute, what an adorable piece. Loving the room and how it is shaping up:)

    Reply
  12. Jeannie-JB says

    May 2, 2012 at 11:51 pm

    Wow! Very Very Nice. Love it. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  13. Charm Bracelet Diva says

    May 3, 2012 at 2:11 am

    Love it! I’ve never seen this idea before, now you have me thinking!

    Reply
  14. Curtains in My Tree says

    May 3, 2012 at 1:03 pm

    Girl that looks great and I could do it all except make the slip cover top which I want to learn how to do

    you scored for sure with the coffee table

    Reply
  15. Cathie says

    May 3, 2012 at 1:56 pm

    I have been waiting for months to find a twin egg-crate pad on sale to make a headboard (yes, I’m THAT cheap!) And just this past weekend scored not just one, but also a queen sized foam pad as well, at a yard sale for $1 for BOTH. I practically danced back to my car. Now I have no excuse – gotta start working. Ottoman looks awesome!

    Reply
  16. Monica B. says

    May 3, 2012 at 2:46 pm

    Looks fantastic. I’m thinking of making a bench for my dining room, love your mattress pad idea.
    xo…moNICa

    Reply
  17. Casey Ayala (DreamTree Photography) says

    May 4, 2012 at 2:55 am

    I just adore your blog!! So inspiring! Makes me want to run to Goodwill, grab some paint, and go to town!

    Reply
  18. ~Laurie Ann says

    October 16, 2012 at 1:04 am

    Love this! I also the idea of using a mattress pad! Genius! I just picked up an oval coffee table with fun Queen Ann legs for $10.00 that I plan on turning into an ottoman. I am so glad I found this on Pinterest! I will be watching for foam mattress pads now. Thanks again! Looks wonderful!
    http://www.the-finishing-touches.net/

    Reply
  19. Kat says

    June 11, 2017 at 10:18 am

    You turned “good bones” into an amazing piece! Love the piping. And, of course white paint makes everything better…

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      June 12, 2017 at 10:13 am

      Thanks so much Kat and I do so agree with you about the beauty of white paint!!

      Reply

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