This is such a simple project for anyone wanting to reupholster a smaller (or larger) piece.
I’ve had this ottoman sitting around for a while, hiding really, because it wasn’t much to look at. I got a weird wave of motivation, at 35 weeks pregnant or so, pulled the ottoman out and started ripping the old fabric off of it. I’m going to be upfront here… this is by no means the “right” way to do this. It’s just a simple method that worked well for me. Just a heads up 😉
What you’ll need:
- Ottoman
- Fabric (I used drop cloth remainders from re-upholstering my couch last fall)
- Staple gun
- Paint or stain (optional for the legs)
Step 1: Take the old fabric off
My ottoman had a cheap navy blue fabric on it, and black shiny legs that came with it. Not cute. I got rid of it as quickly as I could.
Something you should know about me… I am a very precise measurer… just kidding, I’m not at all 😉 You know the old saying, I’m sure. “Measure twice, cut once.”? I’m very much so a “measure once, cut twice” type of person. Now I’m not saying I recommend doing it that way, but I think it’s too late for me.
STEP 2: Measure the amount of fabric
I very loosely wrapped the fabric around the ottoman, I used two strips of fabric and overlapped them, just because of what I was working with. Assuming you have one piece of fabric, just wrap the ottoman loosely to get an idea of how much you need. OR you can measure and cut if you’re a precise person, which you know, if you read above, that I am not.
STEP 3: Pull fabric tight and begin to staple
I pulled the fabric nice and tight, flipped the ottoman upside down, then pulled it tight again. I used my staple gun to attach the fabric right underneath on the wood piece. Make sure to pull each piece tight before stapling (just be sure not to re-adjust the fabric after you get it in place).
When I got to the corners, I just folded them like a present. Again, who knows if that’s the correct way to do it, but it worked fine for me 🙂
STEP 4: Paint or stain legs (optional)
I painted the legs white (I paint everything white…)
Overall, the project took maybe an hour (including paint drying time), and this ottoman got a much needed facelift.
And there you have it, people! A practically free, super easy project that makes a huge difference. Gotta love that!
Do you have something in your house that needs a quick re-upholstering??
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