When it comes to upcycling furniture around the house and repurposing pieces into other things, we really thought we’d done it all! That was, at least, until we realized we don’t have an ottoman. Lucky for us, we happened to have an old coffee table in the garage waiting to be turned into something new, so we started searching for tutorials to help us out with ways to turn it into an impressive DIY ottoman immediately!
Just in case you love the idea of making your very own ottoman coffee table just as much as we did, if not more, here are 15 of the best ideas that we came across in our search for inspiration and guidance so far.
1. DIY book storage ottoman
Are you a part of the kind of family who can often be found sitting around together but silently reading books, enjoying the world of literature as a group but also quiet moments to yourselves? Then we’d be willing to bet that you’re down for any idea that gives you an extra place to store all those books! That’s why we thought this DIY table ottoman from Mon Makes Things that features a few cubbies and cupboards was such an interesting concept.
2. Coffee table to ottoman transformation
Perhaps you’d rather skip the fancy cubbies and extra features and learn quite simply how to create a standard table ottoman because you’ve actually never upholstered something yourself before? In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Not So Newlywed McGees outlined the process in neat, simple steps in their tutorial!
3. Basic upholstered boxed ottoman
Do you have a slightly boxier table available that doesn’t have an edge or lip like the one we showed you above, so you’re looking for a way to work with that style of tabletop in your repurposing project instead? Then we think perhaps this tutorial from Design Sponge might be a little more up your alley. They show you how to create the ottoman piece on top instead of wrapping it down and underneath like you saw above.
4. Repurpose electric spool ottoman
What if you’re feeling very intent indeed in the idea of building your own ottoman coffee table but you don’t actually have a pre-made old coffee table to work with? Well, luckily for all of us, there are actually plenty of things you can turn into a cushioned piece! This tutorial from Infarrantly Creative that shows you how to make one out of an old wooden electrical cord spool is the perfect example of what we mean.
5. Upcycled wash tub ottoman
Did you love the idea of using something else to create your ottoman coffee table besides an already finished table but you’d prefer to use something that has a slightly more rustic looking effect? In that case, we’d absolutely suggest taking a look at how Red Wind Studio made theirs from a vintage metal wash tub! We love that they even put wheels on the bottom so it can be easily moved around the room.
6. Longer bench ottoman
Maybe you have a bit more space to work with and you’d prefer to make an ottoman coffee table that suits the length of your couch more, rather than making a small one that’s rounded or square shaped? Then we think you’ll get along very well indeed with this tutorial from Welcome to The Mouse House that shows you how to make just that.
7. Glass table to an ottoman
What if you do have a pre-made coffee table to work with but you’re a little bit hesitant because it’s a glass topped grid table, meaning it doesn’t have a solid top thanks to the spots where the panels sit? Then you simply must take a look at how Logic and Laughter made an ottoman from that very same kind of piece, using the cross in the middle as convenient support for their topper.
8. Painted coffee table ottoman without sanding
Have you been feeling pretty keep to turn your old wooden table onto an ottoman and you’d love to change the colour, but you’ve never really worked with wood before so the idea of sanding and staining doesn’t exactly appeal to you? Then we think you’ll get along a little better with something like this painted ottoman table, outlined step by much simpler step on Easy Peasy Pleasy.
9. Tufted cushion ottoman
We’ve shown you quite a number of table and ottoman designs by now but what if the part you really feel you need a little extra guidance on is actually the topper cushion itself? Then look no further than this fantastic tutorial from Space for The Creative that walks you step by step through the careful process of “tufting”, which gets you that classic dipped effect where your buttons sit.
10. Rustic painted coffee table ottoman
Are you still feeling rather intrigued by the idea of making a rustic inspired ottoman coffee table but you’re of the opinion that “rustic” doesn’t have to mean neutrals and plain brown wood? Then we have a feeling you’d much prefer to work on something like this purposely weathered but still brightly coloured painted ottoman table outlined simply on Frugal Living for Life!
11. Opening storage ottoman
Maybe we’ve actually still got you thinking about the idea of creating an ottoman coffee table that has a bit of a storage element to it but you’re just not sure that the cubbies you saw in the first book storage idea is quite enough storage for your living room? Then we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Homemade Ginger made an ottoman that actually opens on top to reveal a sort of tufting-topped chest inside.
12. Full glass topped coffee table into a tufted ottoman
Did we actually really catch your attention when we started talking about making a coffee table ottoman from a table with a glass top because that’s what you have, but your table actually has a fully glass top with no cross base down the middle like you saw before? Well, you’re right that that would certainly change how you go about creating the top, so here’s a tutorial from Bean in Love to show you what those changes are.
13. Fully upholstered ottoman
Perhaps you’re working with a table that has quite a thin or shallow top but you can’t help feeling you’d rather create an ottoman that has a much thicker cushion top on it than the tabletop really allows for? Well, believe it or not? That’s totally possible! Wouldn’t It Be Lovely is here to show you how it’s done.
14. Industrial pallet ottoman with wheels
Just in case you’re still looking for rustic design and you’re interested in pallet crafts but you’re just not sure a square or rectangular shape will suit your space, here’s an awesome rounded pallet ottoman for your consideration instead! We love the way Home Made Lovely teaches you step by step how to make it have an industrial influenced design.
15. DIY tufted leather ottoman
Perhaps we’ve really intrigued you with the concept of making a fantastically tufted ottoman coffee table because you love the classic aesthetic it provides but you’ve got a more old fashioned furnishing style in your space? Then maybe you’d prefer to make yours with leather! Of course, working with this tougher material feels a little bit different than working with softer fabrics, which is why we were so pleased to come across this homemade tufted leather ottoman tutorial featured in detail on Reality Daydream.
