Storage Ottoman

Create a functional bench for seating and stowing.

Photography by Brian Francis

ottoman_hero

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.

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.

ottoman_0758

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.

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.

ottoman_455

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.

ottoman_0528

 

Click on the images below to download the PDFs.

Ottomanillust_prf1

ottoman_cutdiagram_prf1

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

Comments

Submit Comments & Photos
  • 9 out of 14 people found this comment helpful. Was this comment helpful?
    Flag this comment.
  • 7 out of 8 people found this comment helpful. Was this comment helpful?
    Flag this comment.
  • 6 out of 7 people found this comment helpful. Was this comment helpful?
    Flag this comment.
  • 88 out of 97 people found this comment helpful. Was this comment helpful?
    Flag this comment.
  • 11 out of 19 people found this comment helpful. Was this comment helpful?
    Flag this comment.
  • 15 out of 18 people found this comment helpful. Was this comment helpful?
    Flag this comment.
  • 34 out of 37 people found this comment helpful. Was this comment helpful?
    Flag this comment.
  • 8 out of 11 people found this comment helpful. Was this comment helpful?
    Flag this comment.
  • 4 out of 15 people found this comment helpful. Was this comment helpful?
    Flag this comment.
  • 26 out of 31 people found this comment helpful. Was this comment helpful?
    Flag this comment.

Submit Comments & Photos

Please feel free to post a comment and someone from LowesCreativeIdeas.com will review your submission. You can check back after 24 hours to see if your comment has been posted.

Fields in BOLD are required to preview and submit your comment.

  • Instructions

    Your email will only be used in the event that one of our moderators needs to clarify your comment. It will be used strictly in the context of or relating to your comment.

    Your email will NOT be used for marketing purposes or shared with any 3rd parties.

  • Your Photo

    Have a photo? Attach it to your comment here.

    Make sure your photo meets the following requirements:
    Max File Size: 2 MB
    File Types: jpeg/jpg, gif

    Photos will be scaled to fit this space.

    Upload Photo
    Character count: 0
    (500 character limit)
  • If you do not see the security words image:

    • Make sure the version of your browser is current. For example, you need to have at least Internet Explorer 5.0 or Netscape 6.0 or higher.

    • Make sure your graphics (pictures and images) are turned on or enabled in your browser.

    • Refresh your browser and try again. You may want to copy your comment though as it will not be saved.

    Instructions

    Please enter the words you see in the box, in order and separated by a space. Doing so helps prevent automated programs from abusing this service.

    If you are not sure what the words are, either enter your best guess or refresh the browser for a new set image.

  • Terms & Conditions




Total Votes: 26

These "social bookmarking" services make it easier to share and manage your favorite online content.

StumbleUpon, digg, and del.icio.us help you gather content from around the web, describe it how you see fit, and tag it for easy sorting. These sites also allow you to see what other people are gathering and tagging (if they've made it public), and find new content that may interest you.

Social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace also allow you to share content that you find interesting, with people who visit or subscribe to your personal profile.

Post to StumbleUpon! Post to digg! Post to del.icio.us! Post to Facebook! Post to MySpace!


Project Details

Storage Ottoman

Lowe’s List

Skill Level: Intermediate
TOOLS YOU’LL USE
  • table saw (or circular saw with a straightedge guide)
  • jigsaw
  • miter saw (or handsaw with miter box)
  • drill/driver with various bits including 1-inch Forstner bit
  • router with a 1/4-inch straight bit, 3/8-inch rabbeting bit, and 3/8-inch roundover bit
  • power sander and various grits of sandpaper
  • K3MS Kreg Jig K3 Master System
  • pneumatic nailer (or hammer with nail set)
  • stapler
  • hacksaw
  • metal file
  • utility scissors
  • clamps
  • tape measure
  • paintbrush
  • pencil
LUMBER*
  • 1 board, 1 x 4 x 8
  • 1 board, 1 x 8 x 8
  • 2 boards, 2 x 2 x 3
  • 1 sheet of plywood, 1/4-inch x 4- x 8-foot
  • 1 sheet of plywood, 1/2-inch x 4- x 4-foot
  • 4 pieces of cove moulding, 1/2- x 1/2-inch x 8-foot
HARDWARE & SUPPLIES
  • 1 box (1 1/4-inch) Kreg pocket hole screws, fine thread
  • 1 box of 4d finishing nails
  • 1 box (#18 x 3/4-inch) wire brads
  • 1 (48-inch) continuous hinge
  • 1 package of nail-on furniture glides
  • 2 lid supports
  • 2-inch foam**
  • fabric for seat**
  • 1 box of self-fastening strips
  • spray adhesive
  • wood glue (Titebond II)
  • paintable wood filler (PL)
  • 1 quart of primer (Valspar Interior/Exterior Latex Tintable Primer)
  • 1 quart of paint (Valspar Ultra Premium, Fire Orange 2009-7, gloss)

*Availability varies by market.
**Available at fabric store.

Tags:

Tags are keywords or terms that have been assigned to a piece of content.

A tag list is simply a list of all the tags used on all content and a count of their frequency.

A tag cloud is a visual representation of a tag's popularity based on how often it is used throughout the site.

Click on a category below to view other projects and articles. (What are these?)

Display as: cloud | list