9 Upholstered Ottoman Bench ideas that You could easily DIY -

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A Simple and Stylish Way to Repurpose a Thrifted Find! A few years ago, I transformed a worn ottoman bench that I found on the roadside. It did not look like much at first, but I could instantly see the potential hiding beneath the dated finish. Projects like this are a wonderful reminder that beautiful pieces are often right in front of us. You need to know how to look at them with fresh eyes.

If you have an old bench, ottoman, or even a plain wooden seat that needs a little love, this easy DIY will show you how to turn it into a custom upholstered piece that fits your style perfectly. You can also shop the ready-made versions I selected if you.

Small Storage Bouclé Ottoman with Wood Legs, Ivory. Use a neutral textured fabric such as linen or canvas with straight, simple edges. This creates a fresh and minimal look that fits into any room. You can redo an old storage ottoman by using a modern boucle fabric and replacing the legs with these round ones.
Modern Accent Stool Upholstered Vanity Stool– Take 3 large pillows, sew them together, add a wood bottom and add legs to create this look.
Sherpa Ottoman Footstool, Tufted Modern Foot Rest Stool with Wood Base- Modern, Elegant Design with High-end Look: Elevate your home with the tufted ottoman, featuring a stylish three-tiered silhouette and channel-tufted sides. This style entails more sewing ability. Cut a thin foam, add fabric on top (same size), then run through the sewing machine at equal distances, then use strong fabric glue to seal the seam. Or buy ready-channeled fabric to avoid sewing.
Oversized Floor Cushion Ottoman– Use thick upholstery foam and a big square textile to make a plush, oversized ottoman that doubles as a floor seat.
Natural Seagrass Pouffe, Hand Weave Round Footstool with Wood Frame- Take an old barrel ottoman, and use seagrass rope, wrap around until you fully cover the surface, and use a hot glue gun to adhere to the surface. You can also add a decorative stitch or a two-tone seagrass rope, as shown.
Ottoman Foot Rest– Bamboo Foldable Stool, Foot Stools Small Ottoman with Upholstered & X Legs- Take a folding bench and add an upholstered cushion to create this look.
Round Storage Ottoman Coffee Table– You can use an already upholstered ottoman and add a wooden tray to make it into a versatile coffee table or foot rest.
Cable Knitted Boho Poof – take an unfinished poof and make a hand crochet cover wth chenille yarn for a fun, textured, unique ottoman.
Floor Pouffe Ottoman Foot Rest – Use a base poof and use a textured faux fur to cover it in a neutral color.

My DIY Upholstered Ottoman

This is the piece I started with, and this is the beautifully updated version I created. I completely repurposed it into a modern upholstered bench that now feels fresh, stylish, and full of new life.

before and after upholstered bench, old is dark wood, ripped green upholstery, new is painted light grey, stenciled canvas upholstered seat

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What You Need

Here is the complete list of materials in the order you will use them. You can plug in your own product links.

9 supplies needed to reupholster a wood step stool into an upholstered ottoman

Wooden Step Stool
Sanding Sponge– reusable, and comes with different grits
Primer Sealer Stain Killer– for dark wood, and only if you will be painting
Paint of your choice– Chalk paint is used widely on painted furniture projects
Quality paint brushes, such as Purdy– These brushes will last as long as you take care of them.
Polycrylic topcoat – This will seal both painted and plain wood finishes.
Textured Chenille Jacquard Upholstery Heavy Duty Polyester– measure the surface that you need, 36″ is a yard, also keep in mind the width of the fabric as well. You may use less than you think you may need.
Upholstery Staple Gun Heavy Duty– This comes with a variety of staples depending on your project.
Custom Cut-to-Size Foam– Customizable thicknesses and sizes for your next project.
Faux Leather Fabric, Thick Durable Synthetic Repholstery Leather Vinyl- this comes in a huge variety of colors that will work for any color scheme.

Prepping the wood frame

Prepare the Wood
Decide if you want a painted finish or a natural wood look. If you prefer wood, lightly sand the frame and add a clear polycrylic topcoat for protection.
If you want to paint the piece, sand the surface first so the primer adheres well. Apply a stain-blocking primer to prevent tannins from seeping through your paint. Once the primer is dry, apply your Benjamin Moore tester color. You will need much less paint than you think, so a small tester is often enough. Use quality brushes such as Purdy for the best results. Good brushes create smoother lines and will last for many years when cared for properly.

Making a new Cushion base

Most old benches will need the old foam replaced. You can purchase new foam and the thickness you prefer on Amazon. Measure your surface so you know how much to buy. Most benches have a wooden base. Once this is Cut, prepare Your Foam.
Measure the seat of your bench and use that size as your template. Cut your upholstery foam so it fits snugly on top of the frame. This is what gives your ottoman its plush, custom look.

Choose a fabric

Choose Your Textile. Pick a home goods textile rather than an apparel fabric. Upholstery weight materials are far more durable and will hold up to daily use. Lay your fabric flat on your work surface and place the foam in the center.

upholster your seat

Wrap and Secure the Cushion
Wrap your foam in the fabric as if you were wrapping a present, leaving excess for the sides and some for underneath the wood seat. Then, using a staple gun, staple the ends on the bottom of the board. Staple in the center of each side, then keep rotating until you staple all sides. For the corners, cut fabric to the corner, then overlap the edges and staple for a clean finish. When you place your newly wrapped cushion onto the bench, you will instantly see your ottoman take shape.

Finishing touches

Add Decorative Details!
Small details elevate the entire piece. You can add upholstery trim, braid, piping, or faux leather accents to the arms or edges. Tacky glue works beautifully for attaching these trims without sewing. Or even stencil a design as I did with my upholstered bench.

Easy steps to DIY an upholstered ottoman bench

All you need is a wooden ottoman bench, foam- cut to size, and your favorite textile. These are quick, easy steps to follow:

You can either refinish the wood by sanding and adding a polyacrylic topcoat or painting it.
I always suggest using a stain-blocking primer first. This helps to block out any tannins in the wood. Then pick your favorite Benjamin Moore paint color. Then buy a tester in this color (you will be surprised at how little paint you will actually need)
Use only quality brushes, like Purdy. They are more expensive; however, your results will be better. If you take care of these brushes, they will last for years.
Buy upholstery foam, then cut to size using the seat measurement as your template.
Pick your Textile. I suggest using home goods textiles since these are more durable than textiles that you would use for apparel.
Lay your textile down, place your foam in the middle. Then wrap the foam in your fabric, and you can easily sew or use a Sew Glue to close up the seams.
Place the seam on the seat to hide and Voilé! Now you have an instant upholstered cushion.
You can add any sort of trim you like. For instance, for the leather detail above, you can buy a faux leather trim or a small amount of fabric and use tacky glue to attach it.

Creating an upholstered ottoman is one of the most rewarding home projects you can take on, because it proves that you do not need expensive materials to create a stylish and functional piece. Whether you start with a simple wooden frame, a thrifted find, or an older ottoman that has seen better days, you can completely transform it with just a few thoughtful choices. The combination of quality foam, durable fabric, and a little creativity gives you the ability to shape a piece that reflects your personal style. When you take the time to sand, paint, or refinish the frame, and then pair it with a fabric you love, the result feels custom and intentional. It is a wonderful feeling to walk into your home and see a piece that you created with your own hands.

Additional cool Upholstered ottoman benches

For those who prefer not to build one from scratch, my curated picks offer that same modern, cozy, and elevated look without the time or tools. These pieces were selected with care, focusing on clean lines, beautiful textiles, and finishes that work in a variety of spaces. The right ottoman can add warmth to a living room, serve as extra seating in a bedroom, or become a practical accent in an entryway. A well-designed upholstered ottoman always brings softness, comfort, and character to a room. Whether you choose to make one yourself or shop the looks I have found for you, you can easily bring that modern, inviting feel into your home.

The best part is that both paths lead to the same outcome. You end up with a beautiful, functional piece that elevates your space and reflects your personal taste. The choice is simply whether you want the joy of making it or the ease of bringing it home ready to use.