How to make a custom ottoman at home

Poufs seem to be all the rage lately? Then you can try to enrich your furniture even with some DIY!

You can have really creative results, but you need to know a little more about the techniques for making an ottoman at home. In addition to fancy ideas, you need to know some craft details and then get started!

Necessary materials, construction process, customization

DIY beanbags for the home can be a challenge, and along with the decision to make one, you need to think about whether you want to go double or triple as well. The material to be found is important in quality and quantity.

It certainly starts with the choice of fabrics, which can be fun and colorful or refined. Shapes are important, so you'll have to think about what result you want to achieve: beanbag, round and low pouf ? The padding changes, as well as the shape.
To insert a pouf in bedrooms or bedrooms, obviously you can think of a simple and comfortable shape; while to sit in the living room it becomes more complex to create a beanbag with a backrest.

Did you decide? Here is the procedure for a pouf-base and then some variations...

The material for making a fabric ottoman

• Fabric (preferably sturdy like denim or canvas) for the inside.

• Fabric or leather for the outside (the pouf is made up of two bags).

• Medium weight stuffing – foam, scraps of fabric, expanded polystyrene.

• Sewing machine / needle and thread.

• Scissors, measuring tape and a marker to keep the measurements.

• A zipper if you don't want to close it at all.

Procedure for creating the pouf

1. Cut the fabric creating a square, if you want a pouf of this type "cushion".

2. Fold the fabric in half to make a rectangular shape and sew along the long edge with a 1/2" seam allowance. A lot of fabric comes out of it, open at the sides and ready for stuffing.

3. Cut the batting into a slightly smaller square and insert it into the bag you just created. You can fill it with expanded polystyrene, to make it nice and full!

4. Now sew along the open edges, still with a 1.25cm seam allowance.

5. Prepare the additional covering, which if you wish can also be in silk, leather, eco-leather or a damask or worked fabric, thick velvet and even old fabrics if you love recycling or the patchwork effect!

Do you want a round pouf ?

• Cut out 2 circles and 1 strip from the fabric as long as the circular dimensions of the ottoman. The stripe will create the thickness between the two circles at the top and bottom.
  Sew the strip to the edge of one of the circles.

• Sew the other circle as well, leaving one side open for batting.

• Stuff and then close the pouf – preferably with a zip.

• Proceed with the lining, creating it equally using circles and thick fabric.

For the beanbag ?

• Cut a circle about 1 meter in diameter: the base of the beanbag.

• Cut out 3 two-meter strips of fabric, curving the bottom in a conical way: the three walls of the pouf.

• Cut out 3 more smaller strips, to create the conical bag of the inner lining.

• Sew each cone, and use the zipper along the side of the pouffe you want to unzip.

• The upper part of the bag should be closed with a small circular piece of fabric.

• Fill with stuffing.

Want to use an old duvet ?

A shabby blanket or duvet can be recycled as a DIY pouf.

In this case, it is only necessary to fold the duvet: it must be rolled up on itself correctly, creating a soft roll. The shape follows the dimensions you want for the beanbag.

Remember that you'll need to secure it with safety pins or duct tape to prevent it from escaping. Here is the padding to cover!

To personalize your pouf , you can always add embroidery, patches, buttons to the cover... even a "weave" of cotton or wool, done with crochet or needles - truly chic and unique.

Fantasy has no limits for your bespoke pouf furniture!

Padding is key!

It ensures your comfort and relaxation. Surely expanded polystyrene is the best choice, also in terms of healthiness. You can find it in our Avalon online shop, with polystyrene balls - light microspheres to move and comfortable to sit on!

These are EPS PRO QUALITY polystyrene beads of Italian production, stable and safe, since they do not release dust.
In the end, your pouf will be comfortable, practical, long-lasting and without risk of toxicity.