Create a custom ottoman

Sometimes it's the little pieces -- like a perfectly coordinated ottoman/footstool/pouf thingy -- that bring a room together. Unfortunately, those little pieces can sometimes come with a hefty price tag, especially if you want a piece that matches just so. Here are 3 ways to create a custom ottoman for your living room, so you get that perfectly coordinated look without paying too much.

If You're Feeling Really Ambitious
Curbly user ModHomeEcTeacher, has a great step-by-step tutorial for making an ottoman from a wooden spool. In addition to the spool and fabric, you'll need batting, foam, cardboard, upholstery fabric, a sewing machine, sewing supplies, a staple gun, spare wood, legs, screws, an electric knife, and a little bit of confidence (unless you're already a maven at this).


If You're Feeling Kinda Ambitious
Amy Butler has what looks like a pretty straightforward pattern for a floor pillow/pouf 18 or 24 inches in diameter. Naturally, she recommends you use her decorating weight fabrics, but you can use whatever strikes your fancy (and goes well with your living room). Besides fabric you'll need stuffing (a.k.a. fiberfill), interfacing, a sewing machine, and sewing supplies (thread, scissors, iron, etc).

If You Just Want to Get it Done Already
You can try what I did when the hub and I moved a few months ago. We bought two inexpensive Solsta Pallbo footstools from Ikea (they're $20 apiece according to the website but we got them on sale for $14.99 each) and chucked the dumpy covers. Then with fabric leftover from my DIY re-upholstery project, I made new footstool covers that matched our loveseat and armchair perfectly. You can use the original cover as a pattern -- all you have to do is sew 5 squares together. You can also do this with any random square footstool you come across on the corner or at a yard sale. You'll need a sewing machine, sewing supplies, heavyweight fabric, and an hour or two.

For more footstool/ottoman inspiration, check out this post from Holly over at Decor8...