DIY Ottoman Slipcover- Easy Tutorial!

Do you have items in your home that you love, but they don’t really belong with the rest of your décor? Well, that was the case with this large ottoman I have in our living room. So, I was so excited when I thought to create this DIY ottoman slipcover!

I am not a seamstress, but I picked up basic knowledge about sewing from my mom (who pretty much is a seamstress). Basic enough that I can throw together a few things, sew them together and they look great. But I don’t typically get into crazy designs or intricate sewing projects.

So, trust me when I say, if I can do this, you can do this! I’m going to keep things as simple as possible. Let’s make a DIY ottoman slipcover!

Materials

DIY Ottoman Slipcover Design

I had two major goals when deciding how to create the slipcover for the ottoman.

It has to help tie the room together better. We recently swapped some couches around and the ottoman matched our previous couch better. I still wanted it in our living room, so I needed a fabric that was going to fit my style and work with the couches.
It has to be easy to put on and off so I can wash it. We have two large, dark haired dogs and the fabric I chose was white. I know, I’m crazy. Did I mention our couches are white as well? It’s a good thing I like to clean!

Those are my two main goals, but I also like the look of it sort of draping over the ottoman rather than being fit and snug. Given my goals and overall idea for the look I want, making a slipcover is a better route than reupholstering.

So, taking all these things into consideration, I thought my best decision was to cut out pieces for each side of the ottoman and sew them all together. I’ll explain how I did it!

DIY Ottoman Slipcover

Step One

The first thing you’ll want to do for this project is select your fabric. Here’s your chance to get creative!

This is what I got! I’m trying to add modern farmhouse touches into each room so this fabric is perfect for what I want.

You’ll want to measure your ottoman to figure out how much fabric you need. I’ll be honest. I eye-balled the amount I needed and I was lucky to have gotten the perfect amount.

My ottoman is 36 inches long, 26 inches wide and 15.5 inches tall. If your ottoman happens to be the same size… yay! Get three yards of fabric. I got three yards and probably used about 2 and a half yards.

I always opt to get more than what I need because I like to have a safe amount. Plus, I’m considering making pillow covers with the excess fabric. Maybe a future DIY?

Step Two

To get this project started, measure each side of the ottoman and add one inch to the length and width. This gives you a half inch on each side of the fabric for that section to sew to the connecting piece.

Example: The top of my ottoman is 36 inches long and 26 inches wide, so my measurement for my top piece is going to be 37 inches long and 26 inches wide.

Technically, when you sew, it’s usually about a quarter inch from the edge to the seam. But, I wanted to give myself a little wiggle room so I could work with the fabric to get just the look I wanted.

Trust me, it’ll work out! You’ll see!

When you measure the sides that touch the floor, add an extra ½ inch for a border.

Example: The height of my ottoman is 15.5 inches, so my measurement was 17 inches. Keep in mind, if your ottoman has legs or wheels, you’ll want to measure a ½ inch past the point where you want the slipcover to drop. So, if you want it to touch the floor, measure from the top of the ottoman to the floor and then add a ½ inch.

Step Three

Next, you’ll want to cut out your sections. You can use scissors, but I find using a rotary cutter, cutting mat and acrylic ruler much easier. They help make sure you cut straight lines and the measuring is more accurate. I bought all mine in a set which is typically a better deal. This is the one I have. This is a less expensive set, but I haven’t used it. I’m cautious with rotary cutters because some of them are cheaply made.

If you have stripes on your fabric like I do, make sure all the edges are straight with the lines on the fabric. My fabric had a crooked edge, so I straightened it out before I made my first cut. If you don’t do this, your lines will be crooked.

Step Four

After you’ve cut all your sections, take each piece that borders the floor. Finding the side of the fabric that borders the floor, fold that edge in ¼ inch twice and pin it. Start in one corner of the fabric and move along the edge folding twice and pinning as you go.

It should look like this at the end.

Then, sew the fold, keeping your stiches as close to the folded edge as possible. At the end, you should have four sections of fabric with a bottom border for your ottoman.

This is when I ironed each piece. You can iron at the beginning or both times is ideal, but just make sure your fabric is straight before you start actually sewing.

Step Five

All your pieces are ready to be pinned on to the ottoman! Start by lying the top piece upside down on the ottoman and attach each connecting side upside down with pins. Then, secure the connecting side pieces together with pins. Secure the pins in the fabric so the fabric fits as snug as you would like it to be. You may have to move pins around quite a bit.

Make sure when you put the sides on, line up the bottoms first and then pin from the floor to the top. That way, if your pieces are cut differently, the bottom will still all be even.

Step Six

Remove all the pins except for the top pins from two sides that are parallel to each other. Sew those two seams, using your pin placement as a guideline for where you should be sewing. Then, place the slipcover back on the ottoman and pin the other two sides back on making sure you start from the bottom or work to the top.

Make sure you completely pin them back on and not just the sides you’re about to sew. This is an easier way to make sure you’re pinning/sewing in the right spot. Yes, it takes more time, but it will be worth it and might just save some work on your seam ripper. On that note, if you do make a mistake, no worries! Just rip the seams with a seam ripper and try again!

After you’ve pinned and sewed all the top edges, place the slipcover back on again and pin the sides. Then, take the whole cover off and sew each side.

Once you’re done sewing, flip the slipcover so it’s not inside out anymore and slide it on top of your ottoman!

Conclusion

Congratulations, you just made a DIY ottoman slipcover! The last step now is to decorate it with a cute tray, maybe some books… anything! Just make it your own and enjoy it!

I’m so in love with my “new” ottoman and am so pleased with how it brightens up the room. Since my couch is off white and the fabric I chose for the ottoman is white, I added a white throw blanket and some pillows to help tie the two of them together. I also added off white decor onto the ottoman and have other spots in the living room where I have off white and white next to each other. Working the space like that brings a cohesive look to the room.

If you want to see more budget-friendly DIYs and tricks on how to make items you currently have work for your space, subscribe to my weekly newsletter! Plus, I’ll send you a free gift just for hanging out with me!

If you liked this DIY, also check out Kitchen Table Makeover- Easy DIY, DIY Faux Clay Vase, Don’t Paint the Fridge! Do THIS Instead, or Easy Bench DIY- Transform Outdated TV Stand

What do think? Do you think you can tackle this DIY ottoman slipcover?