or
What should you never do with a white Ikea ottoman?
(answer - "put your feet up")
A new ottoman was on my wish list for awhile. The old one was worn and the legs kept falling off. It was also too high even though my husband had cut a little off the legs. I had covered it several times, but it had worn out its welcome.
The old ottoman covered in burlap with painted stripes.
The old ottoman covered with a softer fabric.
My husband knew I loved the Ikea Ektorp line in Blekinge white. We had purchased the sectional sofa and the regular sofa in the previous two years and we absolutely love them. One day my husband lovingly ordered the footstool and chair as a surprise. I did not know they were coming and the white footstool would not have been my first choice, but I sure wasn't going to bring that up after such an amazing gift.
We have been living with the ottoman for over a year now and I have to say that I love it. The thing is though, you can't put your feet up on a white footstool for long before you start to notice that your feet are not very clean, even when you think they are.
It quickly became clear - a white footstool was not going to work in a family that loved to put their feet up. I tried covering it with blankets and this worked fine for a time, but the blankets looked messy and would get pilly after a few weeks.
At Christmastime I tried a tablecloth.
I tried a jute/sisal doormat but it was not comfortable on bare feet and legs. It also left a mess and I had to put a white towel under it because it shed.
In the winter I covered it with a sheepskin (which is put away until fall). I love this look but not for spring and summer.
I started searching for some heavy duty fabric. I was surprised to find nothing I liked at Hobby Lobby. I wanted ticking with brown stripes. One day at Walmart, I went into the fabric section which I had checked before, and found a bolt of this brown striped ticking on a top shelf behind some other bolts of fabric. I was thrilled - it was exactly what I was looking for.
It was so simple to cover the top. I simply placed the fabric over the top, folded the corners and tucked it under the top (which is removable). No sewing, no gluing - and it looks great. When it gets dirty I can remove it and throw it in the wash.
I bought 2 yards at $6 a yard and used about 1 1/2 yards to cover the top of the ottoman.
I already owned these pillows with brown French stripes that I found at a moving sale a few years ago.
And this spring, Homegoods carried these table runners with the French style stripe as well.
I love the way the ottoman looks - and now the family can put our feet up and enjoy!
Linking up here:
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2015/06/wow-us-wednesdays-227.html#more
http://www.stonegableblog.com/the-scoop-176/
This is a great idea! Given that you have such a neutral palate, you can change the cover on the ottoman seasonally and give it a new look too.
ReplyDeleteBig Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Your Family Room ROCKS for all seasons!!!
ReplyDeleteLove the rug that the footstool is on, is that an Ikea one, would love one like it.
ReplyDeleteHi Pat, the rug is from Homegoods, but was purchased a couple of years ago. I have a similar one in the dining room, {much larger) that I actually found on Craigslist. Thanks for stopping by.
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