Storage Ottoman
Create a functional bench for seating and stowing.
Photography by Brian Francis
Our take on the original ottoman offers not only a place to prop your feet up or extra seating when needed, but also handy storage for blankets or toys.
Instructions:
General: Cut and label the parts as needed, using the Cut List and Cutting Diagram as guides and adjusting for fit.
1 Build the face frames.
a. Using glue and pocket hole screws, assemble two large face frames and two end face frames as shown in Figure 1. Project parts for the face frames include the (01) rails, (02) mid stiles, (03) end rails, and (04) stiles.
2 Build the body assembly.
a. Position the large face frames 1/2 inch back from the outside faces and flush with the tops of the (05) legs as shown in Figure 2. Attach them with glue and pocket hole screws. Repeat to attach the end face frames.
b. Attach the (06) ends and the (07) sides to the back of the face frames using glue and wire brads.
c. Measure and miter cut the (08) stile cove, the (09) end cove, and the (10) front cove pieces to fit inside the face frames as shown in Figure 2. Attach the cove pieces using glue and wire brads.
d. Measure and miter cut to length the (11) short bottom supports and (12) long bottom supports.
e. Position the supports flush with the lower edges of the (06) ends and the (07) sides. Attach to the (06) ends and to the (07) sides using glue and nails.
f. Cut the (13) bottom to fit, and attach it to the supports with glue and nails.
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3 Add the tray supports and hinge filler, and build the tray.
a. Using glue and nails, attach a (14) tray support to each (07) side so that the top of the (14) tray supports are 6 1/4 inches up from the (13) bottom (see Figure 3).
b. Using glue and wire brads, attach the (15) hinge filler 1/8 inch below the outside top edge of the back (07) side.
c. To make the hand holes in the (16) tray ends, first drill two 1-inch holes 3 inches apart, 3/8 inch down from the top edge, and centered along the long edge. Then cut out the waste using a jigsaw.
d. For each (17) tray side and (16) tray end, use a router fitted with a 1/4-inch straight bit to cut a 1/4-inch-deep groove that’s 1/4 inch from the lower edges. Attach one (17) tray side to one (16) tray end with glue and nails (see Figure 4). Slide the (18) tray bottom into the grooves. Attach the remaining (17) tray side to the (16) tray end with glue and nails.
e. Attach furniture glides to the (18) tray bottom where it will rest on the (14) tray supports.
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4 Build the top assembly.
a. Cut the stock for the (19) short top rail and the (20) long top rail 4 inches longer than the dimensions provided in the Cut List.
b. Using a router fitted with a 3/8-inch rabbeting bit, cut a 1/2-inch rabbet along the inside lower edges of the (19) short top rails and the (20) long top rails.
c. Using a router fitted with a 3/8-inch roundover bit, round over the top outside edges of the (19) short top rails and the (20) long top rails.
d. Measure and miter cut to length the (19) short top rails and the (20) long top rails, and attach them to the (21) top using glue and nails. (See Figure 5.)
e. Cut the (22) foam backing 3 inches wider and longer than the dimensions provided in the Cut List.
f. Cut the 2-inch foam slightly larger than the size of the (22) foam backing, and spray one face of each part with spray adhesive.
g. Align the foam with the (22) foam backing, and press the two parts together. Allow adhesive to dry.
h. Trim the foam assembly to size using the table saw, adjusting the height of the blade for the thickness of the foam.
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5 Apply finishing touches.
a. Cover the foam assembly with fabric using a stapler.
b. Fill all nail holes, sand, prime, and paint.
c. Measure and cut the piano hinge to 32 inches long using a hacksaw; file the ends smooth.
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d. Attach the piano hinge to the top assembly and to the (15) hinge filler using the included screws.
e. Attach a lid support to each end of the top assembly and to the (06) ends following the manufacturer’s instructions.
f. Attach the foam assembly to the top assembly using self-fastening strips.
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Click on the images below to download the PDFs.


Cut List
| PART NAME |
QTY. |
MATERIAL |
SIZE (in inches) |
| 01 rails |
4 |
1 x 8 |
3/4 x 2 1/4 x 33 |
| 02 mid stiles |
2 |
1 x 8 |
3/4 x 2 1/4 x 9 1/2 |
| 03 end rails |
4 |
1 x 8 |
3/4 x 2 1/4 x 13 |
| 04 stiles |
8 |
1 x 8 |
3/4 x 3/4 x 9 1/2 |
| 05 legs |
4 |
2 x 2 |
1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 15 1/2 |
| 06 ends |
2 |
1/4-inch plywood |
1/4 x 13 x 14 |
| 07 sides |
2 |
1/4-inch plywood |
1/4 x 14 x 33 |
| 08 stile cove |
12 |
cove moulding |
1/2 x 1/2 x 9 1/2 |
| 09 end cove |
4 |
cove moulding |
1/2 x 1/2 x 11 1/2 |
| 10 front cove |
8 |
cove moulding |
1/2 x 1/2 x 14 5/8 |
| 11 short bottom supports |
2 |
1 x 4 |
3/4 x 3/4 x 13 |
| 12 long bottom supports |
2 |
1 x 4 |
3/4 x 3/4 x 33 |
| 13 bottom |
1 |
1/2-inch plywood |
1/2 x 13 x 33 |
| 14 tray supports |
2 |
1 x 4 |
3/4 x 3/4 x 33 |
| 15 hinge filler |
1 |
1 x 8 |
1/2 x 3/4 x 33 |
| 16 tray ends |
2 |
1/2-inch plywood |
1/2 x 6 x 11 3/4 |
| 17 tray sides |
2 |
1/2-inch plywood |
1/2 x 6 x 16 |
| 18 tray bottom |
1 |
1/4-inch plywood |
1/4 x 12 1/4 x 15 1/2 |
| 19 short top rails |
2 |
1 x 4 |
3/4 x 1 1/4 x 16 3/4 |
| 20 long top rails |
2 |
1 x 4 |
3/4 x 1 1/4 x 37 |
| 21 top |
1 |
1/2-inch plywood |
1/2 x 16 1/8 x 36 1/4 |
| 22 foam backing |
1 |
1/4-inch plywood |
1/4 x 15 x 35 |
Finished Dimensions
Height: 18 3/8 inches
Depth: 16 3/4 inches
Width: 37 inches