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I love unique furniture pieces, so when I came up with this idea to create a vintage milk crate ottoman. In fact, the milk crate I used has been one that I have had around for a number of years.
Have you ever found one of those pieces that you knew you had to have? That’s how it was with this milk crate. I found it at an auction and I think I paid about $5 for it. It ended up sitting in my basement for a few years, but I just “knew” that I would find something to do with it.
Recently I’ve become interested in repurposing and flipping furniture. I’ve been going to antique stores and flea markets in search of just the right piece. That is when I realized that the piece I needed was something that I already had.
The old milk crate would be perfect for repurposing it into an ottoman.
Creating a Vintage Milk Crate Ottoman
So I started with the vintage milk crate that I had in my basement. I also purchased two sets of curtain rod ends, 2″ thick foam, and heavy upholstery fabric.
I wanted the top of the ottoman to sit inside the crate so I used a heavy wood glue to attach four small triangle blocks to the inside corners of the crate.
By itself, the crate was too short to be an ottoman, so I decided to raise it up by adding feet to the bottom. I found a set of round balls which are actually intended to go on the ends of a curtain rod. I was able to screw these balls into the four corners of the crate which gave it exactly the height it needed.
The biggest part of the project was creating the ottoman top. I found some really cute vintage-style upholstery fabric at our local craft store. I knew that this would be perfect to go with the vintage milk crate.
I purchased some craft plywood at my local hardware store and cut it so that it was the exact size as the top of the crate.
Additionally, I cut a piece of 2″ foam so that it was also the same size as the wood.
I cut the fabric so there was a excess of 4 inches of fabric around all of the sides. I then folded the fabric over and attached it to the back of the board using an electric staple gun. I secured it so that all of the edges were tight.
Then all you have to do is put the top onto the crate and you have a one-of-a-kind milk crate ottoman!
Protecting Your Fabrics With Scotchgard
Since I have kids, pets, and lot of chaos in my house, I decided that I needed to protect my new ottoman by treating it with Scotchgard™ Fabric & Upholstry Protector.
The Scotchgard is perfect for protecting the fabric as it not only repels liquid, but it actually pushes stains away from fabric fibers so stains release easily. Additionally, the Scotchgard won’t change the look, feel, or breathability of the fabric.
Scotchgard is really easy to use. Simply shake the can, and using a small inconspicuous area, test for colorfastness. Once you know that the color won’t run, hold the can 6 inches away from the fabric surface and spray in a slow, sweeping motion. Do two light coats while allowing it to dry in between coats.
Reapply after every cleaning or at least once a year. The durability depends on how much wear the piece gets.
Whether it is my repurposed furniture, curtains, slip covers, or even clothing, Scotchgard is what I trust to keep my stuff looking good as new.
You can purchase Scotchguard in the cleaning isle of your local Walmart. Before heading to the store, however, be sure to snag one of the $1.00 off coupons from Coupons.com.
Comment On: What is one piece of furniture that you would love to repurpose or refinish? Also, be sure to check out the Scotchguard Social Hub for more great fabric protection ideas!
