DIY Round Ottoman: Upcycle a Cable Spool into a Stylish Home Accent

Essential Supplies for Your DIY Cable Spool Ottoman Project

• A Cable Spool: This is the heart of our upcycled ottoman. Industrial cable spools, often discarded after construction projects, make excellent sturdy bases. If you don’t have one readily available, check online marketplaces like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, local construction sites (always ask for permission!), or even electrical supply companies. Look for a spool that’s roughly the size and height you desire for your finished ottoman.
• Some 2x2s (Lumber): These pieces of lumber will be crucial for creating a robust internal support structure for the ottoman’s base. You might only need a few feet, depending on the size of your spool.
• Cardboard Boxes: Repurpose old moving boxes or appliance boxes. The cardboard will be used to create a smooth, continuous surface around the spool’s interior, providing a base for the rope and upholstery.
• Screws: Wood screws will be essential for securely attaching the 2x2s and potentially securing the plywood top. Make sure to use screws appropriate for wood.
• Staple Gun & Staples: A heavy-duty staple gun is an upholsterer’s best friend. You’ll use it extensively for attaching quilt batting and your chosen fabric tightly to the ottoman top.
• Manila Rope (or Jute/Sisal Rope): This natural fiber rope will give your ottoman its distinctive texture and coastal-inspired look. The amount needed will depend on the size of your spool; it’s always better to have a little extra. Manila rope offers a classic look, but jute or sisal rope are also excellent alternatives.
• Hot Glue Gun & Glue Sticks: A reliable hot glue gun will be your primary tool for adhering the rope to the cable spool base. Stock up on plenty of glue sticks!
• Sharpie (or other marker): For tracing and marking cuts.
• Posterboard (or large paper): To create a precise template for the round top of your ottoman.
• Foam Chair Pads (or Upholstery Foam): This will provide the plush comfort for your ottoman top. I recommend using two layers for maximum cushioning. If you don’t have any on hand from previous projects, a pack of chair pad cushions (often found in sets of four for around $8 at stores like Walmart) is a budget-friendly option. Alternatively, you can purchase upholstery foam at craft or fabric stores.
• 1/2 inch Plywood: This sturdy material will form the structural base of your upholstered top. Ensure it’s large enough to cut a circle matching the diameter of your spool.
• Quilt Batting: Several layers of quilt batting will add loft and smooth out any irregularities, giving your ottoman top a professional, cushioned finish. It’s often available in large rolls at fabric stores.
• Fabric of Your Choice: This is where your personal style shines! Select a durable upholstery fabric that complements your home decor. Consider factors like color, pattern, texture, and ease of cleaning. Roughly 1-2 yards should suffice, depending on the spool size.
• Scissors: Sharp fabric scissors are essential for cutting your fabric and batting cleanly.
• Command Picture Hanging Strips: These innovative strips offer a strong, yet removable, way to attach the upholstered top to the rope-covered base. Their interlocking design provides a secure hold without permanent damage.

The first step in transforming your cable spool into a beautiful DIY round ottoman is to construct a sturdy and visually appealing base. While the cable spool itself provides a solid foundation, we need to enhance its structure and prepare it for the decorative rope wrapping. Begin by cutting pieces of 2×2 lumber. These pieces will serve as internal supports, adding strength and creating a flat surface for the cardboard. The exact measurements will depend on the interior dimensions of your cable spool. You’ll want to create a series of vertical struts and possibly horizontal bracing if your spool is particularly wide, effectively filling the open space. Secure these 2x2s firmly to the inner walls of the spool using screws. Ensure they are evenly spaced and flush with the top edge of the spool. This internal framework is key to the ottoman’s stability and longevity.

Once your internal 2×2 framework is in place, the next step is to cover this structure with cardboard. This creates a smooth, continuous surface, making it easier to wrap the rope evenly and securely. Cut pieces of cardboard from your recycled boxes to fit snugly against the 2x2s and the inner rim of the spool. You can either create long strips to wrap around the entire circumference or individual panels that fit between each 2×2. Use your staple gun or screws to firmly attach the cardboard to the wooden supports. The goal is to eliminate any gaps or unevenness, creating a seamless cylinder. For a more detailed visual guide on this specific part of the base construction, you can refer to my previous tutorial, “Cable Spool to Upholstered Stool,” which covers similar foundational techniques. This method ensures your ottoman base is not only strong but also presents a clean, finished appearance for the next decorative step.

Now, let’s prepare for the top. Take your poster board and carefully trace the exact circumference of the top of your cable spool. This will be your master pattern for cutting the plywood and foam layers later, ensuring a perfect fit for your upholstered top. Once you have your accurate circle template, set it aside. We’re about to add some serious style by wrapping the base with beautiful Manila rope!

With the rope-wrapped base complete, it’s time to construct the comfortable and stylish top of your DIY round ottoman. This involves layering several materials to create a plush, supportive cushion. Start with your 1/2-inch plywood. Using the poster board template you created earlier, carefully trace the circle onto the plywood. A jigsaw is the ideal tool for cutting out this perfect circle. Always remember to prioritize safety when operating power tools: wear safety glasses and ensure a stable work surface. This plywood disc forms the rigid foundation for your ottoman’s top.

Next, you’ll build up the cushioning layers. Place your plywood disc on a flat surface. On top of this, lay your foam. As mentioned, I opted for two layers of foam chair pads to achieve maximum comfiness and a luxurious feel. If you’re sourcing new foam, consider high-density upholstery foam for durability and support. Use your poster board template to cut the foam to the same perfect circular shape as your plywood. For cleaner cuts, an electric carving knife can work wonders on foam. Once the foam is in place, you’ll add the quilt batting. I used three layers of quilt batting to add loft, smooth out any minor imperfections, and provide that lovely domed effect for the finished top. If you’re using store-bought chair pads, these often come pre-cut, making this step even easier. When layering, ensure each piece is neatly aligned. The posterboard template itself doesn’t need to be integrated into the final stack; it’s simply a guide for cutting all your circular elements. These layers—plywood, foam, and batting—are the core components that will make your ottoman a truly inviting piece.

Once you have all the comfort layers – the plywood, foam, and multiple layers of quilt batting – perfectly stacked and aligned, it’s time to secure them. This step is crucial for achieving a smooth, professional-looking upholstered top for your DIY round ottoman. Begin by centering your stack of layers on a work surface, with the plywood at the bottom. Take your quilt batting, ensuring you have enough excess to wrap snugly around the edges and overlap onto the underside of the plywood.
Carefully pull the batting tightly over the foam and around the plywood edge. Start stapling the batting to the underside of the plywood. It’s often helpful to begin by placing a few staples on opposite sides (like north, south, east, and west points of a clock) to secure the batting evenly. Then, work your way around the entire circumference, pulling the batting taut with each staple. The key here is tension – you want to smooth out any wrinkles and create a firm, rounded shape. Once you have it securely stapled all the way around, carefully trim any excess batting close to the staples. This will create a clean edge and prepare the surface for your chosen upholstery fabric.

For the final assembly, connecting your plush upholstered top to the sturdy rope-wrapped base, I discovered a truly ingenious and versatile solution: Command Picture Hanging Strips. These strips are absolutely fantastic because they provide a very strong hold, yet they allow you to remove the top if needed (for cleaning, re-upholstering, or moving), without causing any damage to either component. It’s like magic for DIY projects!

Using them is straightforward. Take two Command Strips and press their Velcro-like sides together firmly until you hear them click. This creates a secure, interlocking unit. Next, peel off the protective paper from one side of the clicked-together strips and firmly press them onto the underside of your upholstered ottoman top. Distribute several sets of these strips evenly around the perimeter of the top for maximum security. For a standard-sized ottoman, I recommend at least 4-6 sets, depending on the weight of your top.

Once they are securely attached to the top, peel off the remaining paper from the exposed sides of the Command Strips. Carefully align your upholstered top over the rope-covered base. Once you are satisfied with the alignment, firmly press the top down onto the base, engaging the Command Strips. Apply even pressure across the entire top, holding it down for about 30 seconds to ensure the adhesive bonds properly to the rope surface.
A quick tip: during my first attempt, the upholstered top was a bit too thick, and the Command Strips struggled to properly engage with the rope base. If you encounter this, a simple workaround is to attach a small, round piece of scrap plywood or a wooden disc to the very top center of your rope base. You can screw this piece into the 2×2 supports you built earlier. This provides a flat, solid surface for the Command Strips to adhere to, ensuring a much stronger and more reliable connection between the top and the base. This small adjustment makes a huge difference in the stability of your finished DIY round ottoman.

And there you have it! Your stunning, custom-made coastal style DIY Round Ottoman is complete. Take a moment to sit back, relax, and truly appreciate the beautiful, functional piece you’ve created with your own hands. This upcycled cable spool ottoman not only adds a unique touch of charm and character to any room, but it also offers a comfortable spot to rest your feet, an extra seat for guests, or even a handy surface for a book and a cup of tea. It’s a testament to how simple materials and a bit of creativity can lead to extraordinary results.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and feel inspired to tackle your own home decor projects. Crafting sustainable and stylish pieces for your home is incredibly rewarding. Don’t forget to visit me over at my blog, The Shabby Creek Cottage, for more DIY inspiration, home styling tips, and creative ideas. I’d absolutely love to see your finished ottomans – feel free to share your creations!

Happy Crafting, Gina