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DIY Footstools and Ottomans from Flea Market Tables

A couple of months ago I got to go to the flea market in Fort Dodge, Iowa.  It was a blast and I found several great items.  Among my flea market finds were some small, square tables.  I wasn’t sure what I would do with them until I was in a furniture store and saw some really nice footstools and/or ottomans.   The tables were just the right height and size to create footstools and ottomans of my own.  

The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Co provided me and the other contestants of the Fab Furniture Flippin Contest with the paint and/or other products for my ottomans and they will be providing the prize package for this contest.  You can see my full disclosure here.

See How I Created These Comfy Footstools and Ottomans from Flea Market Tables!- www.michellejdesigns.com #michellejdesigns #fleamarketfinds #furnitureflip #diyfootstools #diyottomans #repurpose #upcycle #furnitureupclycle

How To Create Ottomans From Flea Market Find Tables

Supplies Needed For Creating Ottomans

I am really trying to brighten things up in our living room.  I started with painting the walls a few months ago then I replaced our dark wood TV stand with this made over dresser that we love!  It holds all of our DVD’s too.

Now I can get rid of the large, dark ottoman.  I searched high and low for our currant ottoman when I purchased it.  I loved it.  It has been great for many, many years but it is now time for something brighter and something that doesn’t make the room seem so small.  I thought these would be great footstools and ottomans and they would be the perfect size in our small room.

This is how the tables looked when I purchased them.  I bought 4 tables. These two plus two others for $30.

See How I Created These Comfy Footstools and Ottomans from Flea Market Tables!- www.michellejdesigns.com #michellejdesigns #fleamarketfinds #furnitureflip #diyfootstools #diyottomans #repurpose #upcycle #furnitureupclycle
See How I Created These Comfy Footstools and Ottomans from Flea Market Tables!- www.michellejdesigns.com #michellejdesigns #fleamarketfinds #furnitureflip #diyfootstools #diyottomans #repurpose #upcycle #furnitureupclycle

Getting Started

Step 1

I started by removing the table tops.  I knew these would be covered with the foam and the fabric so I did not waste any paint on them.

Then I gave the legs a white primer coat using a spray paint/primers. I always do this now.  It seems to be a huge time saver and paint save and then I don’t have to apply many, many coats of the good paint.  You just never know when the stain will bleed through and most of the time it does.  The primer helps a lot with that.

Then I mixed up my Snow White Old Fashioned Milk Paint and some of the Extra-Bond for my paint sprayer.  This paint is the original true milk paint.  Milk paint has been around for centuries but this recipe was created in the 70’s by Charles Thibeau.  The best thing about this paint is that it is created with all natural ingredients.  That means it will not harm the environment and in this day and age this is really important.

I used two coats from the sprayer and they were looking so good.

See How I Created These Comfy Footstools and Ottomans from Flea Market Tables!- www.michellejdesigns.com #michellejdesigns #fleamarketfinds #furnitureflip #diyfootstools #diyottomans #repurpose #upcycle #furnitureupclycle

Step 2

The next step was to add some green to the mix.  I wanted them to perfectly match my TV stand so I used the same paint that I used on it.

I only painted it on the panels on the sides and the little grooves on the legs.  Just a little accent.  The Snow White was the star of the show!

See How I Created These Comfy Footstools and Ottomans from Flea Market Tables!- www.michellejdesigns.com #michellejdesigns #fleamarketfinds #furnitureflip #diyfootstools #diyottomans #repurpose #upcycle #furnitureupclycle

I used my black ink pad to add my distressing instead of sanding because I like the look and it was what I used on the tv stand.

If you don’t want to use sandpaper, a black or brown ink pad is perfect for distressing furniture.

Then I added the Safecoat Acriglaze.  This is a safe protective coating in a matte finish.

Step 3

Creating The Cushion Tops

Then I got to work on the cushions.

I wanted something really comfy and durable.  Not only do we put our feet on them but the cats love to be on the footstools and ottomans too.  I decided to look for fabric that is designed for outdoor use.  I thought this may hold up better in general and if something was spilled on them.  Fingers crossed!

I found this stripe fabric that I liked a lot.  It is the colors that I have throughout my lower level and it was something I thought Jeff would like as well.

I knew I didn’t want to place one large piece over the top of foam so I came up with a design.

See How I Created These Comfy Footstools and Ottomans from Flea Market Tables!- www.michellejdesigns.com #michellejdesigns #fleamarketfinds #furnitureflip #diyfootstools #diyottomans #repurpose #upcycle #furnitureupclycle

I varied the design slightly from the photo above but you get the idea.

The foam pieces I purchased were 22″ x 22″. and they are 4″ thick.  The tops of the tables were 20″ x 20″ so I cut two inches off each side of the foam.  For the fabric I measured the foam piece, the depth of the foam (4 inches), enough to wrap around the wood table and underneath (another 4 inches) and 1/2 inch seam allowances.  I rounded up to 30″ squares just to be safe.

I used my sewing machine to stitch the panels together then added some top stitching next to the seam.  The gave it some detail and helped to keep the seams flat underneath.

This picture shows the very center of the fabric top.  You can see the stitching on the green stripe.  It is harder to see on the tan stripe but it is there.

See How I Created These Comfy Footstools and Ottomans from Flea Market Tables!- www.michellejdesigns.com #michellejdesigns #fleamarketfinds #furnitureflip #diyfootstools #diyottomans #repurpose #upcycle #furnitureupclycle

Step 4

I was really happy with the way they came out.  Then Jeff helped my attach them with the foam onto the tables.  We used a staple gun and then I carefully created the corners.  Some came out great and others were not as nice.  This was my second upholstery project.  My first one was this awesome bench that I still love!

Here is the back of the table top after we got it done and I trimmed the excess fabric.

See How I Created These Comfy Footstools and Ottomans from Flea Market Tables!- www.michellejdesigns.com #michellejdesigns #fleamarketfinds #furnitureflip #diyfootstools #diyottomans #repurpose #upcycle #furnitureupclycle

Then the tops we re-attached to the legs of the tables and they were done.  I think they came out really nice and they are definitely comfortable.  What do you think of these fun footstools and ottomans?

See How I Created These Comfy Footstools and Ottomans from Flea Market Tables!- www.michellejdesigns.com #michellejdesigns #fleamarketfinds #furnitureflip #diyfootstools #diyottomans #repurpose #upcycle #furnitureupclycle
See How I Created These Comfy Footstools and Ottomans from Flea Market Tables!- www.michellejdesigns.com #michellejdesigns #fleamarketfinds #furnitureflip #diyfootstools #diyottomans #repurpose #upcycle #furnitureupclycle
See How I Created These Comfy Footstools and Ottomans from Flea Market Tables!- www.michellejdesigns.com #michellejdesigns #fleamarketfinds #furnitureflip #diyfootstools #diyottomans #repurpose #upcycle #furnitureupclycle
See How I Created These Comfy Footstools and Ottomans from Flea Market Tables!- www.michellejdesigns.com #michellejdesigns #fleamarketfinds #furnitureflip #diyfootstools #diyottomans #repurpose #upcycle #furnitureupclycle

If you like it…be sure to pin it!

See How I Created These Comfy Footstools and Ottomans from Flea Market Tables!- www.michellejdesigns.com #michellejdesigns #fleamarketfinds #furnitureflip #diyfootstools #diyottomans #repurpose #upcycle #furnitureupclycle

You can see all of the entries for the Fab Furniture Flippin’ Contest as they come in by visiting

This contest is a lot of fun and if you are a blogger/furniture flipper you can join in as well.  Just email to [email protected] for more information.

These gals are the hosts and they are super nice and very helpful!

Thanks so much for stopping by.

You can see more of what I do and blog about by clicking on the following links:

Printables

Craft Projects

Silhouette Projects

Furniture Makeovers

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Happy Crafting!

Michelle

Martine

Sunday 13th of January 2019

Love it! Just wondering how you attached the upper part onto the legs. Please enlighten me :)

Michelle

Sunday 13th of January 2019

Hi Martine. The upper part with the fabric was the original table top. So once the fabric was on all we had to do was screw the top back onto the legs. There were already existing screws and holes for this. Does this make sense?

Jeri Walker

Thursday 10th of May 2018

Can you explain how to use the ink pad for distressing? What kind of ink pad did you use? I have never heard of this way and it seems a lot easier than sanding.

Michelle

Friday 11th of May 2018

Hi Jeri! I am a rubber stamper so I use black ink for distressing on paper all of the time. I thought I could use it on the furniture too. I am not very good at dry brushing. I use Archival Ink by Ranger in black. Just barely touch the ink pad to the corner or edge and drag it where you want the "distressing". My ink pads are not new. If you have a new one then it will be much darker so be sure to test it out on a sample piece. When you get done use some sort of protective coating like a clear coat over the top. I hope this answers your question. If you need more explanation just let me know.

Altha causa

Saturday 3rd of June 2017

Many years ago i had two little tables like tHat. TheY were called chow tables. They are used in place of one coffee table. You can use them together or spaced a few inches apaRt. They are now in my granddaughters hair salon in palmer, Alaska and are antiqued white.

Michelle

Saturday 3rd of June 2017

I love that they are still being used and I bet the antiqued white is beautiful! Thanks so much for stopping by.

Nette

Saturday 3rd of June 2017

Very attractive and clever. What was the method of reattaching the table tops?

Michelle

Saturday 3rd of June 2017

Hi Nette. After we finished attaching the foam and the fabric we just screwed the tops back on as they were before. I hope this answers your question. I am glad you like them!

Debrashoppeno5

Saturday 3rd of June 2017

This is a fabulous redo from start to finish.

Michelle

Saturday 3rd of June 2017

Thank you Debra! I appreciate that.

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