Sunday, October 7, 2012

Updating the Outdated {Ottoman Reupholstering}

A couple of weekends ago, I went to Savers and came back with what I thought was the perfect ottoman (after many failed attempts) for my youngest son to sit on while he was watching television.  (Both of my boys have low vision so they can't see the TV from the couch.) I'm pretty sure my husband was horrified as he saw me wrestle a dated, dirty, worn, faded ottoman out of my SUV.  However, this piece was solid, sturdy construction and, for all its wear, had a fantastic cushion and padding.
 
I think I spruced it up quite nicely. 
 
 
 
 


Here's the before. I paid just $4.99 at Savers. Pretty bad, right? It was stuffed under a shelf and I honestly walked past it several times before it even caught my eye.
 


I started the makeover by removing the skirt.  The slash on the bottom portion of the ottoman was actually made by me.  I had intended to remove all the fabric, but once I opened it up I realized that all the stuffing and padding would just fall out and that was not something I wanted to deal with since it was in great condition.




I painted the legs a creamy white and added some foam (an egg crate for your mattress) to fill in the gap between the attached pillow top and the ottoman base to make it look like one unified piece.  I think doing this also modernized the look of the ottoman.


 
 
Next, I cut a piece of fabric (giving myself a little more than I needed) and layed it face down on the floor and placed the ottoman upside down on top of it.  To begin with, I just stapled once on each side to tack the fabric down. Then I began adding more staples to hold the fabric firmly in place on all four sides.  One tip I have is that I always kneel on whatever I am upholstering so that I can compress the cushion so that the fabric goes on nice, tight and smooth.
 



To do around the legs, I flipped the ottoman back on its feet and placed one staple on each leg to hold the fabric down.  You may need to cut excess fabric before you do this.




I then folded the wings of fabric towards the corner of the leg, stapling and cutting extra fabric.



This is after all the cutting and stapling:

 
 
 
Lastly, I covered the stapled around the leg with some matching trim.
 



While I was add it I recovered my older son's ottoman (it had been previously covered in drop cloth) and painted the legs to give a more cohesive look to the room.


 

 
Both boys are happy and I love the modern touch the fabric added to the room.  If you are interested in the fabric I used for this project you can find it here.  I went with an indoor/outdoor fabric to add to the longevity of the ottomans.
 
 
I hope you're all enjoying your long weekend! I had a couple of late nights updating the look of my blog...what do you think?








Linking to:DIY Show OffUndertheTableandDreamingMod Vintage Life My Uncommon Slice of SuburbiaHouse on the Way52 MantelsBeyond The Picket FencePhotobucket A Delightsome Life Rooted In Thymevif187Liz Marie Bloghttp://www.jenniferrizzo.com/Funky Junk's Sat Nite Special A Delightsome LifeBoogieboard CottageToo Much Time On My Hands”FallHubby Made MeNew HousebuttonFridays Unfolded PhotobucketOr so she says MakingA Diamond in the Stuff The Thrifty Groovehttp://www.carterscottage.net/
Primitive and Proper

The Chicken Chick













70 comments:

  1. The ottomans are gorgeous! Well done! And I can't believe how brave you are having a white couch when you have boys in the house! Amazing! (We had 3 boys, and nothing could be white, or even solid colored! lol)

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  2. What lucky boys to get to sit on fancy ottoman's like those! I love them but I love everything you do....great job!

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  3. The ottoman is beautiful! I love that fabric.

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  4. Great job on the ottomans and your blog looks very nice!

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  5. Great job, I love the fabric.

    Cynthia

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  6. Hello Angela! Found you at the Make the Scene Monday Blog Hop ^^
    I liked your blog a lot so I'm following you now.
    Hope you get a chance to visit mine too sometime.
    Have a great day : ) xx
    N O I R E D A M E

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  7. Beautiful ottoman, and a very helpful tutorial--this is lovely, Angela. I really like the fabric you chose--pretty pattern and color!

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  8. I love how you matched the two ottomans, they go so well with the rest of the room. That chair off to the side is beautiful as well. They are absolutely gorgeous I may have to purchase some of that fabric as I have an ottoman I need to recover, but am using the fabric I set aside for it on another project.

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  9. Awesome tutorial! I love everything about these two ottomans, the fabric, the white legs, the entire transformation. Great job! Visiting from Carter's Cottage, Angela @ Mrs. White Twig & Tea

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  10. The ottomans look wonderful! I really love the fabric! What a transformation.
    Thanks for sharing.

    Michele @ Better Organized Living

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  11. I have two ottomans waiting to be recovered. Thank you for the tips, I especially liked the one about adding the eggshell foam to fill out the center.

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  12. i LOVE the new fabric! perfect update, angela!

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  13. Wow, it is so beautiful,I am getting inspired to do this...!!

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  14. Great eye for the details. I would have ripped off the old fabric before thinking about using it to stabilize the padding. Love the fabric. The twins look great!

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  15. Wow, great job! Good idea using indoor/outdoor fabric and $4.99 is a steal:)

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  16. What a stylish update for your family room - beautiful job!

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  17. gorgeous Angela!! i love ottomans and haven't done one for a while now...i always keep my eye out though! yours turned out great and fit in with your room perfectly :)

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  18. Hi Angela! The ottomans look great! Looks like you might have a bit of a thing for blue & white. That makes you a blogger after my own heart. I'm slightly addicted. lol Stopping by from Met Monday and newly following on GFC Facebook and Pinterest. Have an awesome week! ~Mary

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  19. this is fantastic you have done an amazing job!
    love it!
    Bec x

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  20. Great reupholstering job! The ottomans look great and I love the fabric!

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  21. The ottoman is great love the material you picked.
    Denise

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  22. Wow, great transformation! The fabric is lovely!
    -Lynn

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  23. Looks great Angela! Much, much better - your husband should have faith! I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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  24. What a beautiful job, Angela! Love the way the pattern jazzes up your living room!! Great upcycling job, girlie!

    xoxo laurie

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  25. I love the fabric you chose. Great job - I'll admit, I'm a little bit green over here, but wanted to tell you how much I love your work!

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  26. They look fab! You did a great job. I really like your blog, too - it's lovely. I'm your latest follower. :) Stop by The Pink Home if you get a chance.

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  27. Great job - especially the corners!

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  28. I love it!!!
    My ottoman needs a makeover after my kitty clawed the fabric underneath. I should do a bold makeover like this!!!! Pinned. Liked your fb page with a personal and page like. And, following your page now.
    Follow me to at www.sewsweetvinatge.com and share a like to my facebook box there:) Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I posted lacey ghost pumpkin to the party.

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  29. Angela...what a gorgeous, gorgeous transformation...love the fabric you chose...I will never look at those ugly ottomans the same way again...

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  30. Oh my word what an unbelievable transformation! Who would have ever thought those 'before' ottomans could look so elegant and expensive. The fabric and detailed work are gorgeous. Thank you so much for sharing!

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  31. awesome! love before and afters... beautifully done.

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  32. I love this!! You made these dated ottomans look GORGEOUS!!!!

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  33. Very nice job, I love how it came out! So what did your husband say to the after? Thank you for sharing at Cap Creations oh and the changes to your blog look nice too! I know all about those blog tweaking late nights.

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  34. Fantastic work! They really are beautiful. I love both the color and pattern on that fabric.

    Thank you for linking up at the Wildly Original party!
    <3 Christina at I Gotta Create!

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  35. Hi Angela, I’m Anne from Life on the Funny Farm, and I’m visiting from the Clever Chicks blog hop.

    This is fabulous! I especially love the trim around the legs, that really makes it.

    Anyway, it’s nice to “meet” you! Hope you can pop by my blog sometime to say hi…

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  36. Genius! I love this! Definitely on my must try list now!

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  37. I love the colours and patterns in your room. They all tie together very nice. Such a simple project...makes reupholstering look not quite so bad! I really have to do my dining room chairs again...thinking you've inspired me to get busy.
    Saw you linking at Funky Junk's SNS
    Debbie :)

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  38. Very cute makeover Angela!
    I love that fabric you chose...it's so fresh and clean!
    Makes me want to run out and buy an ottoman!
    Thanks for sharing this week at the Creative Inspirations Party!
    Stacey of Embracing Change

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  39. You did a fabulous job on that. This will be one of the features at Wow tomorrow night.

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  40. Beautifully done Angela and I like that you covered both ottomans in the same fabric. Thanks for linking up at Shabbilicious Friday this week.

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  41. Wow awesome makeover!! Love the fabric!!

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  42. Your automan turned out fabulous!

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  43. Thanks for sharing this post. I love how your ottoman turned out. In fact I have an ottoman similar to the one you started with that I wouldn't mind trying this project on. I got your link for Savvy Southern Style blog linkup. If you get a chance stop by my blog Recipe for Life and check out my family favorite recipes. Blessings, Deborah H. Bateman-Author

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  44. Your blog looks fabulous! I need to do the same... Ottoman project turned our very well. Love the trim at the top of the legs.

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  45. Great job in making that ottoman beautiful! The colors are perfect to the place or room. :)

    mckinley hill condo for rent

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  46. Love the ottomans! I think they both look great in your room.

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  47. Thank you for the D.I.Y. ,I feel so lucky to have found your blog post because I have 4 ottomans that needs to be repaired so badly. I live alone and my husband is a thousand miles away from home,and since I suck in doing repair you came as a blessing. I just save my self a few hundred dollars .. Now I am going to fix those ottomans on my own with your guide. Jennifer of open floor plan ...

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  48. Fantastic! I love the fabric! I can't believe the difference! Nice job! Stopping by via At The Picket Fence.
    http://www.the-finishing-touches.net/

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  49. What a gorgeous makeover! Thanks so much for sharing this with us at Inspiration Friday this week! :-)
    Vanessa

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  50. Holy Transformation! I love it!

    Hey, I have a weekend link party I'd love for you to join if you'd like:

    http://westernwarmth.blogspot.com/2012/10/weekend-warmth-6.html

    Thanks, Bobi

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  51. What great vision you have to transform this ottoman so drastically! Love it.

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  52. This is an awesome makeover! I am kicking myself because I just gave away this huge ugly ottoman I have had in my bedroom for a longgg time, and never got around to "redouxing" it. Oh well, hopefully I will find another one when I am ready. Thank you so much for sharing at my party, I am featuring tomorrow. -K

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  53. I love how pretty your living room. Great job in here! This living room is perfect for my eastwood city parkview condo. :)

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  54. These are fabulous! I love the fabric. Did you treat it to make it stain resistant?

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  55. Great job in making ottoman looks new again. I have two ottoman in my place. :)

    real estate ph

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  56. What a beautiful ottoman! Love the fabric and color choices! Stopping by from the Best DIY Project of 2012.

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  57. Hi Angela! PLEASE HELP ME!! lol. I actually found this after I bought an almost exact ottoman. So I used this as a my guide to do mine. Mine didn't come out like yours at all :( . I even went and bought new legs (because mine were the plasticy ones). I did the foam in the middle of the two cushions like you did - it's just a mess. I'm going to redo it today (it was our first time) but any suggestions to help it look like one piece. I can send you a picture and maybe you can help me trouble shoot? lol. Later on today or tomorrow I'm taking the fabric off and restarting from scratch! :( Thanks!!!!!

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    1. My guess w/out actually seeing it is that you did not pull the fabric taunt enough. It helps to put the fabric face down on the floor, the ottoman upside down on top of it and then kneel on the ottoman to compress it as much as possible while you pull the fabric tight and staple. Hope that helps.

      Angela @ Number Fifty-Three

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    2. Thank you Angela. I will do what you said and let you know how it turns out! :)

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  58. What a gorgeous makeover. Best Ottomans living room furniture are one of those small pieces of furniture people sometimes overlook when they're redecorating. I love how your ottoman turned out.

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Thank you so much for stopping by Number Fifty-Three! I look forward to your comments.