Want a stylish new ottoman for your living or family room but don’t want to spend big bucks to get it? Consider using an old dresser instead.
If you don’t have an old dresser at the ready to use, check out yard sales, flea markets and thrift shops until you find one with lines you find pleasing. Ideally, it should have legs instead of sitting directly on the floor, and its bottom drawer should be intact. The other drawers can be missing as you’re going to cut the dresser down to ottoman size anyway.
Begin by determining the height you want your storage ottoman to be. Eighteen inches from the floor is a good choice because it’s easy to reach from a sitting position.
Remove the portion of the chest that contains or contained the drawers above the 18-inch level, leaving the space between them and the lowest drawer open. Carefully remove the top of the dresser and relocate it over the opening just above the lowest drawer. Secure the dresser top to the top of the lowest drawer using wood glue, being careful to align it exactly.
Paint the dresser top, remaining drawer and legs of the cut down dresser in the color of your choice.
Cut a piece of foam to a half an inch or so of the borders of the dresser top, cover it with the fabric of your choice and glue it to the top of the dresser.
Now you have a storage ottoman with style!