How to Make an Ottoman Bookcase - DIY Network
Creating a DIY Book Ottoman: A Fun Project for Parents and Kids
As a DIY carpentry expert, I'm excited to share with you a fun and creative project that's perfect for parents and kids to work on together. In this article, we'll guide you through the process of creating a beautiful book ottoman using an MDF board, pine rounds, and some clever design elements.
Materials Needed
To get started, you'll need the following materials:
* 2 x 18" x 18" MDF boards
* 1 x 24" round pine piece (for the top)
* 1 x Lazy Susan (for the ottoman's spinning feature)
* Safety glasses
* Drill press or hand drill
* Jigsaw or circular saw for cutting
* Sandpaper or a sanding block
* Paint or spray paint (optional)
* Foam or fabric for upholstery
Step 1: Preparing the MDF Boards
The first step is to prepare our two MDF boards by taking out slots in order to connect them. We'll clamp it together tightly and put on our safety glasses to ensure we're protected from any debris. "Just clamping it on real nice and tight," I say, as my daughter Melania looks up at me with a curious expression.
The next step is to cut a half-inch space out of the MDF board to create an X shape. We'll watch where our hands are and begin cutting carefully. Once we've cut both pieces parallel and then across, we'll see that it forms an X shape. "Voila!" I exclaim, as Melania looks at me with amazement.
Attaching the Lazy Susan
To attach the Lazy Susan to the bottom of our ottoman, we'll need to pre-drill holes in two places on each board. This will allow us to screw the Lazy Susan into place securely. "A couple of reasons why we're pre-drilling," I explain, as Melania watches intently.
We'll then attach the Lazy Susan to the 18-inch round MDF piece and mark it onto the 24-inch round pine piece. Next, we'll attach our top to a 1/4 inch piece of plywood and trace that onto it using a marker. We'll come back to this later in the process.
Attaching the MDF X
Now it's time to attach our MDF X to both 24-inch rounds. We'll mark where the holes are on each board and screw them into place securely. "Great job," I say, as Melania looks at me with pride.
Upholstering the Ottoman
To upholster our ottoman, we'll need some fabric or foam that's cut out to fit snugly over the wooden frame. We'll iron out any creases in the fabric and staple it onto the round using a staple gun. "Before you touch your fabric," I remind her, as she looks up at me with a curious expression.
We'll also attach our foam circle to the top of the ottoman using spray adhesive. This will provide a comfortable surface for reading books or sitting. "It's like gluing married spray paint," I explain, as Melania watches intently.
Assembling the Ottoman
Now that we have all our components ready, it's time to assemble the ottoman. We'll attach our top to the bottom using countersunk 1 1/2 inch screws. The purpose of counter-sinking is to allow our screws to sit a little deeper into the connection, making them less visible.
The Final Touches
Once we've assembled our ottoman, it's time to add some final touches. We'll staple any excess fabric or foam in place and make sure everything is securely attached. "Great job," I say, as Melania looks at me with pride.
Our DIY book ottoman is now complete! It's a beautiful piece of furniture that provides a comfortable surface for reading books or sitting. And the best part? We made it together, as parents and kids working on a fun project.