This post is sponsored by Velvet Finishes and SmithHonig provided the fabric for this project. All opinions are 100% mine. Affiliate links included in this post.
This project isn’t anything groundbreaking. If you’ve ventured on Pinterest anytime since it’s invention, then I’m sure you’ve seen a few versions of how to turn a coffee table into an ottoman – this one is just my take on it.
I found this little table at a thrift store and in all honesty probably fell in love with the caster wheels more than anything. I had high hopes I could clean them up.
The biggest problem with this piece was the top of it. Most of the top except just around the edges had one of those faux leather inlays and it was in rough condition. Fixing that problem was what led to my idea of putting an upholstered cushion on the top of the table to make it an ottoman coffee table – and it can also serve as extra seating.
DIY Ottoman Coffee Table
Supplies & Tools Needed:
- Coffee Table
- Ready Spray Primer
- Paint – I used Velvet Finishes Tranquil paired with their Metallic Gold Glaze.
- Protect Topcoat (optional)
- Good Paintbrush
- Tack Cloth
- Lint Free Cloth / T-Shirt Scraps
- Piece of plywood cut to the size you want the upholstered portion of your table to be. This will vary depending on your table type and dimensions.
- Upholstery Foam
- Batting
- Upholstery Fabric – I used Vintage Gypsum from SmithHonig.
- Staple Gun – I use this one and love it. Makes the job so much faster and easier.
- Heavy Duty Velcro
Steps
Step 1
If the coffee table you are using is dirty or has shiny finish, you’ll want to clean it up and degloss it first. I also removed those metal accent pieces from the table at this time as well. I just felt those dated it a bit too much and they would have been a huge pain to paint around. To remove those, I just cut them with pliers in a couple of places and then they just pulled right out.
Mine was’t too terribly shiny, but it was very gross. I used Ready to both clean and degloss at the same time.
Ready is by far one of my most favorite furniture painting products because it’s such an easy deglosser and cleaner to use. You just spray it on, let it sit a minute or two, then wipe it clean with a paper towel.
Gross, right? And that paper towel was just from around the top edges of the coffee table.
If you don’t have a shiny finish on your piece and you plan on using Velvet Finishes paint for your project, then you can skip the Ready as Velvet Finishes paint already has a primer built-in. You just have to use the Ready when your piece is glossy to begin with or when you want to clean it first.
Wipe down your table with a tack cloth before moving on to make sure you remove any bits of dirt or dust left on it.
Step 2
After you’ve cleaned and deglossed your piece if needed, you can start painting.
I opted to go with Velvet Finishes Tranquil for this piece. The blue hue worked well with all the different colors in the upholstery fabric. Since it’s not too bright of a blue, I think it also helped to anchor the piece with all the pattern that was going on in the material. Tranquil is one of my most favorite Velvet Finishes colors because there isn’t much it doesn’t pair great with.
I just brushed it right on with a paintbrush and gave the whole piece two coats.
Sidenote: This is the second project I’ve got out of that one container of Tranquil and there’s still a good bit left. This stuff covers really well.
Step 3
I wanted to add a little more dimension to the table base, rather than it just being a flat color. Since the upholstery was going to be busy, I felt that adding a bit something more to the base would also help to even things out.
I saw this as my chance to try out a new Velvet Finishes product – their metallic gold Enhance glaze.
For the most part, this works just like the regular Velvet Finishes dark glaze, it’s just thicker.
You’ll want to work in small sections, as this does dry fast. I used a small paintbrush to apply the glaze just along the edges and crevices of the table.
After applying a little glaze to a portion of the table, I came back with a t-shirt scrap and wiped off the excess glaze, while at the same time pushing the glaze into that crevice.
This made it to where the gold really helped to accentuate those lines.
Step 4
Because this is a coffee table that can also be used to kick your feet up on or sit on, I wanted to add a little more extra protection to it besides the topcoat that already comes in Velvet Finishes paint.
To do that, I gave the whole piece a coat of Protect. One coat is all you need and you can simply brush it on or use a foam brush if you wish.
Step 5
Once you’ve cut your plywood piece down to the size you want your upholstery portion to be, cut a piece of upholstery foam to the size of the plywood. Cover that with batting and then with your upholstery material.
Flip it over, pull everything tight and staple all along the edges. My plywood piece is about two inches smaller all the way around than my table top. I needed to cover up that old vinyl / leather top so I used that as my guide.
To attach the upholstered top to the coffee table, I used heavy duty velcro, putting a strip on each side of the cushion/table.
If you’ve got a solid coffee table that doesn’t have the drawer or openings like mine does, then alternatively, you could get under the table, and use a drill to screw from the bottom of the coffee table up into the plywood cushion top.
I love how beautifully this piece turned out. It has the perfect punch of pattern and color.
I was able to clean up the drawer knobs and caster feet with Bar Keeper’s Friend.
And that upholstery – I think I fell in love with it even more once it was paired with the Tranquil paint! This is just one of the gorgeous colorful prints that SmithHonig offers!
And the touch of gold detailing I did with the glaze adds the perfect amount of depth, I think.
What do you think about this piece?
You might also want to see…
French Country Chair Modern Makeover
How to Create a Beachy Colored Look with Paint
Girl, this is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and I love all the other posts re painting furniture because I’m always spray painting some piece found (my area tosses good furniture pieces to my dismay and glee!). LOVE what you have done! Thank you as always…………..and HAPPY EASTER to you/family!!
Thank you, Julie! I wished I lived where people tossed stuff out like that! I’ve only gotten lucky with one or two roadside finds! Happy Easter to you as well!
So do I! People around here don’t own anything “good,” lol. It’s only cheap junk. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but they’re not the kind of pieces I want to rehab!
I echo Julie, this is gorgeous. I love the color!
And know some found items I keep and yet other pieces are retrieved/kept for my next garage sale!
Re: Ottoman/Coffee Table
What a transformation! Well done. Thanks for the idea.
Thank you, Lynn!
Great job! Love the color and the fabric!
Thanks so much, Anne!
That is drop dead awesome! And it’s on casters too ~ shut up!!!
Thanks, Pam! I know – I am such a sucker for casters!!
Awesome project! One thing I would hope if someone was to do the screw from the bottom method of attaching the cushion, they would know better then ise too long of screws that could poke an unsuspecting bum!
Love, love, love that fabric too! It’s really a nice pattern with splashes of colour!
Yes, so true about the screws, Monica!! I love that fabric too – so many colors it could work with!
Wow wow love it, love the color and that fabric is gorgeous.
You did a wonderful job on that old coffee table, it has a new life now, so bright and cheerful it really reflects your family.
Thank you, Patty! I love the color and fabric too – two of my favorites!
LOVE IT!!! Tranquil is a gorgeous color (one of my favorites) and the fabric…mercy! Funny, but the part of the table I thought was neat, you removed. It reminds me of a quilting pattern so I guess that’s why it caught my attention. The gold in the crevice is the perfect amount of glam – adding to rather than over-taking! Don’t you have a paint sprayer? It’s my favorite way to paint!!
Thanks, Susan! I know – that color is one of my faves as well! Yep, I have a paint sprayer, but I only pull it out for bigger projects. This one just wasn’t worth getting everything out for, putting the painting tent up, etc. And sometimes just using a good old paintbrush is like therapy for me!
Gurrrl This is amaze-balls! Well done!
hahaha! Thanks, Tammy!
I love it! Now, I’m on the look out for a coffee table. And the material, WOW!
Thanks for always sharing with us!
Thanks, Paula! I’m so excited about how it turned out as well!
The fabric looksthe night sky. Where are you putting this piece in the house? Been looking on Fabric.com for curtains. found some ideas. ideas.
Thanks, Stephanie! I haven’t thought about that, but I could totally see the night sky in there! Don’t know yet- not 100% sure it will work anywhere for me. 🙁
What a great way to upcycle!! Awesome job!! I love the finished look.
Thanks, Julie!
The coffee table/ottomsn looks terrific. The colors are so vibrant. Grest job
Thanks so much, Mary!
Another great project, and truly love that fabric with the paint color, gorgeous! thanks for sharing on craft schooling Sunday!
Thanks so much!
I love the way it turned out – Totally transformed.
Thank you, Cathy!
A beautiful coffee table, he got a second life, the color on which you painted him also brilliant: D I will definitely come back to your blog, best regards 🙂
Thanks, Katherine! I love that color too!
So pretty! I have a thrift store redo that definitely needs a padded touch. Love the fabric. Visiting from Funtastic Fridays.
Thanks, Victoria!
Very jazzy makeover! Love the color choices and that fabric is just the coolest! Nice Job VF has such great vibrant colors too.
Thanks, Brenda!
Beautiful! Pinned! Thanks for sharing at the To Grandma’s House We Go DIY, Crafts, Recipes and More Link Party. Hope to see you again this week!
Love the new color! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs.,
Jann