Another Upholstered Ottoman

What a week!! Over the weekend my little boy Harry turned 2... 2! I still can't believe it, I still think of him as my baby and he's such a little boy now! As a result of busy party planning this project was drawn out for what seemed like ages, but I finally have another upholstered ottoman to share :)

These are one of my most popular pieces at markets, and when I saw this coffee table I knew she'd be great - it's that shelf underneath that's the highlight :) It also has a great 'lip' to attach fabric underneath...

I just love ottomans, but they are completely out of my price range in most instances. So, if you're checking out this post because you'd like to make you're own, I'm going to share a fewer pointers in this post too!

I always paint and finish my base first - I don't want to get paint on my fabric!! Once that's sorted, it's on to the upholstery. I'm no expert by any means, but having done a few now I'm getting the hang of it and am always on the look out for coffee tables that would work well.

So, first up grab some cushioning foam. I get mine from Spotlight, but you could go to Clark Rubber too. If you're in the US - well you have so many crafty shops to choose from I'm jealous!! Just make sure you pick up the premium or dense kind. To get the foam into the right shape you might need to get your fabric glue out, or alternatively, your electric knife, or both.

Over the top of my foam I put a layer of wading; it's soft and holds everything together. I don't do fancy corners, I just cut them off so they will sit nicely under my fabric.

I know loads of people just use ordinary cotton fabric for upholstery, but honestly if you can pay that little bit extra it's worth it. The fabric holds its shape so much better, and stands up to little people climbing on and off the thing repeatedly! I got this damask from Fab Outdoor Fabrics and it arrived in two days. (In case you're wondering, no it's not a sponsored post, but like to mention great service when I find it!) Of course you need to be careful with a directional fabric, making sure the pattern is straight on top. If it's easier, a plain or multi-directional pattern will mean you won't have to worry so much.

For my corners I like to place the fabric upside down over the top, and pin the corners where I want to sew, remembering tight but not too tight works best. This sometimes takes a few goes to get it perfect, but I think it's worth it. If you don't have a sewing machine, you can always fold the corners like you do when making a bed. You basically end up with a skirt you can slide on and off the top until you get it just right. Once I've got it looking smooth on top I use a staple gun to attach underneath.

I've done a couple of these now, and honestly I think they are so worth the fiddly bits! My first one, pictured above right, was bought by a lady who wanted it for her entry, and the blue geometric pattern was bought by a lady who was going to use it in her bedroom. I'd love one for my lounge room - a tray, magazines and a bit of extra seating... perfect!

What about you -have you made one yourself? Would you give it a go?

Thanks for stopping by...
 




I'm sharing at...

TwelveOeight
SugarBee Crafts
Not Just a Housewife 
Primp 
Miss Mustard Seed 
The Shabby Nest
Too Much Time on My Hands
Under the Table and Dreaming

 Follow my blog with Bloglovin