How To Upholster an Ottoman

The winter months will soon be upon us and as the days darken, we need to find pleasure in simple things. Anything that can brighten us up a bit and add a spring to our step should get us through the dog days, like thinking good, pure thoughts, such as Ryan Gosling naked, covered in peanut butter. Mmmm.

Anyway, a quick and more feasible approach is to perk up our surroundings. Que, exhibit A, The Ottoman. Often left unloved and lonely in some dank corner, the trusty ottoman never gets a look in, until today! Here's how...





Take one old, dog eared ottoman, your chosen fabric, a pair of scissors, a staple gun with extra staples and we're ready to go.

If you've ever made an apple pie, you will know that the top pastry should cover the full pie and overhang slightly. Luckily the same goes for upholstering, so lay out your fabric on top of your ottoman and ensure there's a good couple of inches of overhang.

Before you begin attaching the fabric, make sure it covers all of the sides sufficiently and that it reaches inside the lid, as this is where you will staple it. I chose a floral fabric to match the colours of my bedroom, which doesn't look dissimilar to if Cath Kidston was to throw up in it... I like floral patterns okay?! If you're less of a big girl's blouse than I, make sure the pattern on the fabric is sufficiently aligned to your liking. Now flip the ottoman, so the lid is open and on the floor. This should make stapling that bit easier. 

Begin with the front of the ottoman, where it opens and pull the fabric so it's tight. Check you have pulled the material enough so it will stretch across the lip of the lip, but not so it pulls fabric too far from the back of the lid. With your staple gun, begin in the middle and work out towards the corners, ensuring the fabric is tight as you go along. Make sure not to staple your fingers, or make sure no one with sensitive ears is in hearing range.

When you reach the corners, you have reached the slightly trickier part. You want the corners to be neat and tidy and if, like me, you're a bit naff at present wrapping, take a deep breath, a sip of something alcoholic and persevere. Together, we can do it!

This is very similar to making a canvas, and maybe if I didn't spend my entire art degree hungover I would be a canvas master, but alas, shoulda, woulda, coulda.

Pull fabric so it is taught and fold the new section over as neatly as you can.

Staple your way around the lid and be sure to put a bit of welly into your stapling. Don't worry if the inside doesn't look as neat, you can trim the excess fabric later on.

If your corners look like this;

You have a bit too much fabric, fear not, trim it down and continue to staple. Whatever you do, don't scrunch down the fabric and try and staple it all bunched together as the lid may not be able to close!

If, like mine, your ottoman has hinges, make a small incision and poke the fabric through, trimming where necessary, so it doesn't bunch, like this;

Trim away any excess fabric, or 'give it a haircut' as my Grannie says when baking apple pie and ensure it looks presentable, if cotton based give the attached fabric a quick iron, or pop a tea towel over fabric first if material is delicate, et voila!

What do you think? How would you style yours? This should keep you busy whilst awaiting Mr. Gosling...