How to Upholster a Round, Tufted Storage Ottoman (Part 2)

Transforming a plain ottoman into a tufted storage piece can add something stylish to your living area and give you more space to safeguard important belongings. In the second part of this series, we’ll cover how to upholster the round, tufted storage ottoman we crafted in Part One. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have a beautiful and useful piece of furniture that you created from scratch. Read our guide below and watch the video above to learn how to put the finishing touches on your project, which doesn’t require advanced upholstering skills.

Materials and Tools Needed To Upholster a Round Ottoman

Below are the materials and tools you’ll need to complete your project:

Materials

• (1) 1/8-inch x 4-foot x 8-foot plastic wall panel
• 1/4 inch cord
• 3/8-inch staples
• (1) 1/2 inch x  foot x 8 foot plywood
• 1 1/2-inch deck screws
• (2) 2-inch x 3-inch x 8-foot boards
• 2 1/2 yards batting 
• 2 1/2 yards fabric 
• 3-inch high-density foam 
• (4) 4-inch legs
• 4 yards of black fabric liner
• All-purpose adhesive spray
• Button-making kit 
• Foam adhesive 
• Hot glue sticks
• (4) leg plates
• Tufting upholstery needle
• Waxed upholstery thread

Tools

• 1-inch hole saw
• Drill/driver
• Hammer
• Hand clamps
• Hand stapler
• Hot glue gun
• Jigsaw
• Miter saw
• Needle-nose pliers
• Pencil and marker
• Tape measure
• Tin snips or sharp scissors

Preparing the Ottoman Base

You should have already constructed the ottoman base and covered it with foam and batting, as detailed in Part One of this project. With these elements in place, you’re ready to begin the upholstery process.

Cutting, Positioning, and Attaching the Fabric

Follow the steps below to start the upholstery process: 

1. Cut the fabric into a strip that’s about 16 inches wide. Make sure it’s long enough to cover the circumference of the ottoman.
2. Position the fabric on the base, and align one end with a vertical board.
3. Secure the fabric to the underside of the top ring, base, and along the outside edge of the vertical board. Make sure to align the fabric properly to avoid wrinkles.
4. Spray adhesive on sections of batting to secure the fabric.
5. Smooth the fabric over the side, and staple it to the underside of the base for a tight and clean look.
6. Create pleats in the excess fabric every few inches around the top ring. 
7. Continue spraying adhesive, stapling, and pleating until you’ve covered the entire ottoman.

If you need to add a second piece of fabric, place it face down against the end of the attached fabric and use a thin strip of wall panel to create a straight edge.

Lining the Ottoman Interior

A lined interior gives your ottoman a polished look and protects stored items from wear and tear. Follow the steps below to line your ottoman:

1. Mark the location of vertical boards on the base. This will prevent you from accidentally stapling into the structure.
2. Staple a strip of black fabric along the inside of the ring.
3. Secure a strip of plastic to the vertical boards inside the ottoman. This will help you to maintain the shape of the ottoman. 
4. Flip the black fabric over the plastic, and pull it taut toward the base.
5. Staple the fabric to the base against the plastic, and secure everything firmly in place.

Additional Touches To the Ottoman

You can now attach feet to the ottoman and complete the base. Position footplates evenly on the base, then mark and drill holes for the threaded rods of the feet. Screw the plates into place and attach the feet. Make sure each you secure each foot in place to prevent wobbling.

Follow the steps below to create a polished look:

1. Cover a small, round plywood circle with black fabric. This piece will sit at the bottom of the ottoman’s interior.
2. Secure the fabric with staples, and trim any excess.
3. Place the circle you’ve covered into the base of the ottoman. This will hide any rough edges and provide a smooth surface for stored items.

Upholstering the Ottoman Lid

Take your time to upholster the tufted lid, which will be the centerpiece of the project. This part can get tricky.

Creating and Attaching Buttons

You can now create and attach the buttons. Use a do-it-yourself button-making kit to cover buttons with fabric that matches your ottoman. Tie long pieces of waxed upholstery thread to each button. You’ll use this thread for the tufting process. Mark a grid on the fabric onto which you’ll place buttons.

Tufting Process

Follow the steps below to complete the tufting process:

1. Thread the button line through a tufting needle. This needle will allow you to pull the thread through all upholstery layers.
2. Push the needle through the fabric, batting, foam, and lid board at marked points.
3. Secure the thread on the underside of the lid with staples. Pull the thread tightly enough to create deep tufts. 
4. Create a diamond pattern with the folds. Work outward from the center.

Adding Decorative Elements To Your Storage Ottoman

Complete your ottoman project with the finishing touches below.

Cord Edge Detail

Create a fabric-covered cord using spray adhesive. This cord will serve as a decorative edge to tie your ottoman together. Attach the cord around the edge of the lid with staples, then join the ends neatly to complete the circle. Use a small piece of fabric to cover the seam.

Covering the Lid Underside

Cut a circular piece from the thin wall paneling to fit the lid. This panel will add structure to the underside. Cover the panel with black fabric and secure it with hot glue. Attach the covered panel to the underside of the lid. It should fit snugly within the corded edge.

Additional Tips and Tricks To Make Your Ottoman Unique

Consider the tips and tricks below as you complete your project. These will make the ottoman look more professionally crafted. 

• Practice pleating on scrap fabric: Practice making pleats on some scrap pieces before moving on to the real thing. This will give you the confidence and skill to make consistent and neat pleats on your ottoman.
• Use consistent pressure with the staple gun: Apply consistent pressure to get the staples to penetrate the fabric and base material uniformly. This will lead to a cleaner finish.
• Take measurements carefully: Accurate measurements will lead to correct fits, which will make the project go more smoothly.
• Work in a well-ventilated area: Adhesive sprays and other chemicals can have strong odors, so make sure you ventilate the area.