20 Fabulously Ottomans You Can Easily Make Yourself

Making my own furniture is one of my favorite hobbies. From pallet couches to DIY entertainment centers, if it can be made then I have probably thought about making it myself.

This brings me to this wonderful collection of 20 ottomans that you can easily DIY.

I love my ottoman and can think of no better way to relax than to kick up my feet on my comfy ottoman and read a good book.

If you don’t have an ottoman or you just want to do something different for a change of pace, this is a great collection to find your new inspiration.

Jump to:

• 1. Repurposed Army Footlocker Ottoman
• 2. Easy To Build Rolling Ottoman
• 3. DIY Ottoman From Scratch
• 4. Circular Bookshelf Styled Ottoman
• 5. DIY Structured Poof Footstool
• 6. Beautiful And Contemporary Faux Leather Ottoman
• 7. Easy $10 DIY Ottoman
• 8. Repurposed Antique Crate Ottoman
• 9. Long Bench Like Storage Ottoman
• 10. Easy DIY French Provincial Ottoman
• 11. Quick And Easy No Sew Round Ottoman
• 12. Trendy DIY Ottoman
• 13. Repurposed Coffee Table Turned Ottoman
• 14. DIY Ottoman Makeover
• 15. Cheap DIY $20 Ottoman
• 16. Upcycled Milk Crate Ottoman
• 17. Salvaged Spool Plaid Ottoman
• 18. Upcycled Galvanized Bucket Ottoman
• 19. Contrasting Colors Ottoman Trio
• 20. Upcycled Utility Bucket Ottoman
• Conclusion

1. Repurposed Army Footlocker Ottoman

An old footlocker is the perfect size and shape for making an ottoman.

You just have to add some padding to the top and maybe repaint the footlocker if you want to change the color or update it. Then just top it off with upholstery material and some decorative nails or rivets and you’re all done.

Tutorial/Source: instructables

2. Easy To Build Rolling Ottoman

You can build this rolling ottoman with a few 2X4s and some other supplies. This ottoman has a very modern look combined with rustic charm.

I love the black but you could stain or paint this any color you want. It has a very pallet like look and the rolling is provided via casters although you could just as easily leave those off if you don’t want your ottoman to roll.

Tutorial/Source: morelikehome

3. DIY Ottoman From Scratch

You can build this DIY ottoman completely from scratch and it’s much easier than you may think.

It also has storage inside so it’s perfect for keeping magazines and other items organized. You build the actual ottoman from boards and then add a nice cushioned top that opens up to reveal the storage space inside.

Tutorial/Source: doityourselfdivas

4. Circular Bookshelf Styled Ottoman

This circular ottoman has a bookshelf look and feel to it and offers loads of storage. It looks like an end table that you would pay a small fortune for at a furniture store but you can build this one completely yourself.

It even has casters on the bottom so it’s easy to roll around. You could totally do a couple more of these in larger sizes and have matching end tables, too!

Tutorial/Source: bhg.com

5. DIY Structured Poof Footstool

This ottoman really reminds me of the footstool that my grandparents used to have. It’s made with three full sized comforters as well as yards of woven fabric and something large for a stencil. You can use a round end table or a really large bowl if you have it.

The process isn’t difficult at all and you will absolutely adore the end result.

Tutorial/Source: makingniceinthemidwest

6. Beautiful And Contemporary Faux Leather Ottoman

This gorgeous ottoman has a great modern look with its faux leather finish.

It’s also made with foam that you simply arrange and stack to create the shape that you want. Then, just cover it over with faux leather and sew it all together and you’re all done. This is so easy and has such an elegant look.

Tutorial/Source: lovelyindeed

7. Easy $10 DIY Ottoman

Yes, you can actually make this ottoman for around $10, and it’s fabulous.

This is basically round foam circles that are stacked on top of each other and then covered with fabric. You’ll need to sew a bit for this one, but it’s really easy sewing and you get this wonderful soft and comfy ottoman when you’re finished.

Tutorial/Source: domesticadventure

8. Repurposed Antique Crate Ottoman

You can turn an old crate into a great ottoman that offers so much storage.

Just clean the crate and then top it with something padded and you’re all done. this is a great rustic look if you’re looking to get that farmhouse charm in your home and would be perfect for sitting in front of an old rocking chair.

Tutorial/Source: rescueddesign

9. Long Bench Like Storage Ottoman

This storage ottoman is also built from scratch and it’s really long, so it would be perfect in front of a couch or loveseat.

It’s made from boards that you may have on hand from other projects and topped off with a padded top so it’s really comfortable.

I love how long it is – it sort of resembles an old hope chest and gives you plenty of room to share.

Tutorial/Source: tdadecoratinganddesign

10. Easy DIY French Provincial Ottoman

If French provincial is your style of choice, this ottoman will fit in perfectly with your furnishings and home décor.

You begin with a round pallet, which you can totally make if you don’t have one, and finish with a pouf that is decorative and really comfortable. Then add casters to make it easy to roll around.

Tutorial/Source: akadesign

11. Quick And Easy No Sew Round Ottoman

This gorgeous pleated fabric ottoman doesn’t require any sewing and it’s got a great vintage look to it as well. You make it from scratch with pine boards and a wooden round tabletop. When it’s finished, it will easily rival anything that you can buy in a high end furniture store and again, there is no sewing required.

Tutorial/Source: inmyownstyle

12. Trendy DIY Ottoman

The colors on this ottoman alone are worth the effort. You only need basic knowledge of upholstery to create these and there’s no sewing required at all.

They have beautiful graphics and you can add casters if you want to make them easy to move about.

Tutorial/Source: bhg

13. Repurposed Coffee Table Turned Ottoman

If you have an old coffee table that you don’t need any longer but you do need a great ottoman…do you see where I’m going with this?

This ottoman is made from a repurposed coffee table and it’s great. It’s really roomy and is the perfect height for your feet to reach.

It’s also got a really great comfy padded top, which is essential in a relaxing footrest.

Tutorial/Source: newlywedmcgees

14. DIY Ottoman Makeover

So if you already have a great ottoman that you love, but it just needs a fresh new look, you can totally redo it yourself and save a fortune over buying a new one.

For the cost of some fabric, you can get a new to you ottoman and if you look in the right stores, that fabric may cost you less than $10 depending on what you want.

Tutorial/Source: lifedesigncraft

15. Cheap DIY $20 Ottoman

You can build this great square ottoman for just $20 or less, depending on the materials that you have on hand.

You just build the square box from wooden boards and then cover the entire thing with padding. It’s not nearly as complicated as it sounds and you get a really comfy and really cheap ottoman when you’re all finished.

Tutorial/Source: shanty-2-chic

16. Upcycled Milk Crate Ottoman

You can upcycle just about anything and turn it into something useful. Take this old metal milk crate for instance.

It’s been turned into a gorgeous and really comfortable ottoman and with very little work.

This rustic footstool would be perfect outside on the patio or you could make it a bit fancier if you prefer to have it indoors.

Tutorial/Source: mysalvagedtreasures

17. Salvaged Spool Plaid Ottoman

This lovely plaid ottoman is made from a salvaged electrical spool, which you can get at a lot of yard sales or you could check with your electrical company to see if they have any small ones to discard. You add the plaid fabric and stuffing and then tack on four legs to make it stand on its own.

This is a lovely little footstool that doesn’t require nearly as much effort as you would think.

Tutorial/Source: designsponge

18. Upcycled Galvanized Bucket Ottoman

An old galvanized bucket, in any shape or size actually, would be great for making an ottoman.

You don’t even really have to work at this one. Just clean up your old bucket or tub and then pad it, making sure that the padding is high enough to be comfortable when you reach out your legs. This is such a rustic looking footstool and would be perfect indoors or out.

Tutorial/Source: killerbdesigns

19. Contrasting Colors Ottoman Trio

I love the idea of having multiple ottomans all in contrasting colors and designs.

These cubes are great and they are so easy to make. Just grab some fabrics in contrasting designs or make them all match. These stack so they’re not likely to be in the way. When you don’t need them, just stack them up in a corner.

Tutorial/Source: merrypad

20. Upcycled Utility Bucket Ottoman

I love this utility bucket turned ottoman. It’s got so much character and is so easy to make.

Those large plastic buckets can be picked up at any flea market or many yard sales if you don’t have any on hand. I love how simple it is to turn one of those unsightly buckets into a beautiful ottoman with just a bit of fabric and a few hours of work.

Tutorial/Source: designsponge

Conclusion

Many of these can be upcycled or repurposed, which is great because we really do like to reuse things, don’t we?

From a faux leather piece that is perfect for the formal living room to an ottoman made from an old Army footlocker, there are so many wonderful DIY ottomans in this collection.

You can start from scratch or repurpose old furniture and get a piece that is as unique as it is comfortable.

There are even a few ottomans that are perfect for outdoors, which would go wonderfully with these 80 outdoor furniture ideas.

I really do love a good DIY project, which is why these ottomans caught my eye.

Many of them are so easy to build that you can finish them in just an hour or so.

Others may be more complicated and take more time but they are definitely going to be worth the extra effort.

There are even some wonderful storage ottomans that give you room to keep all sorts of things organized and a great trio of cube ottomans that will give you plenty of extra seating space as well as loads of room to kick up your feet at the end of the day.

There are even a couple of really great rustic ones that will perfectly match the furniture in this list of 55 farmhouse furniture and décor ideas.

If you’re looking to add a bit of charm to your living room and you want something that gives you extra seating options as well, these homemade ottomans are perfect.

Not only are they easy to build or repurpose, they’re also beautiful and you can find one that will perfectly match your living room décor, no matter what your personal taste. I can’t wait to hear which of these is your favorite!