This small coffee table had fabulous legs but was outdated. Hmm…what to do with it?
I’d wanted to convert a coffee table into an ottoman for a while. This seemed like a good candidate. Plus, it would give me a chance to practice tufting with buttons. Then my plans hit a snag.
When I researched the average ottoman height, I realized I’d have to sacrifice a pretty good chunk of the leg length. But I really liked the lines of the legs.
Instead, I decided this would make a cute bench. And if someone wants a taller than average ottoman, that’s okay, too!
After I picked out my upholstery fabric, I painted the legs a vibrant teal color to match. There was no need to paint the top since it was going to be covered with upholstery.
The color is “Rio” from Farmhouse Paints out of Georgia. This paint has just enough gloss to give the legs a satiny finish.
Since I decided the piece was more likely to be used as a bench than an ottoman, I added a nice thick slab of foam to the top. Then I wrapped it in batting for extra fluff. The batting also forms a protective layer between the foam and the fabric.
Time to get out my Surebonder pneumatic staple gun (cue wild crowd cheering)! I secured the batting beneath the lip of the tabletop. The fabric layer would be stapled under the wooden “rope” trim you see here. Yes, I know, the rope trim is really cute and it’s a shame to cover it. But I couldn’t figure out any other way to attach the fabric and keep it visible.
Here’s what the table looked like at this point. That hard wooden top was now nice and cushy!
Next it was time to attach the fabric. I had planned to add buttons and tufts, which would be done at this stage. After I eyeballed the fabric in place, I changed my mind. The print was bold, and I didn’t want the tufts to make the overall effect appear too busy.
Instead, I simply wrapped the fabric around the edge of the tabletop and stapled it into place. I used a decorative trim I made from the same fabric to cover the staples. This was secured in place using a high-heat glue gun.
With this last step complete, it was time to flip this project over and take a look at the result.
Don’t you just want to grab a book and cozy up on this bench in a sunny spot?
This is a really fun accent piece that could double as either a roomy solo bench or a tall ottoman. Love those legs! And it sure doesn’t look like an outdated table anymore!
Status: SOLD!
If you have any questions about this item or others you see on this blog, please let me know using the contact form. You can also find my items on Instagram (@serendipitysequelsmn) and on Facebook Marketplace. And check back next Monday for my newest furniture reveal.
