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An Easy DIY Wine Crate Ottoman

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A Kylie Jenner-esque Denim Dress Refashion

About 15 years ago (back when I thought spiky maroon hair was a good look for me), I worked at a local wine and cheese shop. This led to my love of both of these things, as well as one of the best purchases I’ve ever made.

refashionista wine crates for repurpose
Wine not?

The store received shipments of wine in these awesome wooden crates, which they then sold in the store for $7 apiece. I bought four of them to stack as bookshelves in my first apartment, and they’ve been with me ever since.

Here they are in my old/kind of dodgy apartment I lived in before I bought my house (down payments don’t pay for themselves).

An Easy DIY Wine Crate Ottoman 1
It was humble, but cute!

 When I bought my new house, I gained a lot of extra square footage, which meant I needed a few items of furniture. My new place already had bookshelves built in, so I really didn’t need my wine crates anymore.

Or did I?

expensive ottoman
That’ll be $449.

You see, what I wanted was very specific. I wanted a large green ottoman with a wooden base that I could sit a large tray on.

That’s when I decided to make my own.

I have exactly zero carpentry skills. Luckily, I didn’t need any for this project. 

First, I went to a thrift store and found a set of heavy 1970’s celadon green curtains that were on sale for $1.

refashionistathriftedcurtainsforupcycle
The heavier the fabric, the better!

I cut off the pleated section, as well as the hems. This left me with four large perfect squares.

They’re rubber-backed too, which means they’re super-sturdy!
They’re rubber-backed too, which means they’re super-sturdy!

A friend recently gave me two huge garbage bags filled with his family’s old curtains he found in his attic. He knows I sew, and thought I might be able to get some use out of the fabric.

Unfortunately, the curtains were pretty damaged and yellowed with age.

They’ve seen better days.
They’ve seen better days.

Fortunately, this didn’t matter. I washed them and then tore them to shreds. This ended up taking a couple of hours, but was a great stress reliever. 

I stitched the curtains into two giant pillows, and stuffed each one with the curtain shreds. This made them nice and heavy, which was perfect for what I had in mind.

I laid out my wine crates like so:

They have to be the same size, otherwise this won’t work.
They have to be the same size, otherwise this won’t work.

Each side is 33″, which is just a couple of inches smaller than my giant pillows.

I stacked the two pillows on top of the crates.

douglasdoxie
Douglas watched.

Then, I added a big thrifted tray, one of my favorite art books, and my remote controls. Now I’m ready to bing watch Netflix in total relaxation.

I tried to get Douglas out of the shot, but he was having none of it.
I tried to get Douglas out of this shot, but he was having none of it.

I think it really works with my eclectic décor!

eclectic decor
Not bad for $29.

Even if I decide I no longer like the ottoman, I’ll still have the crates to use for other projects, and those giant pillows make great floor cushions for entertaining, or a cozy bed for Douglas!

douglas approves
I think he approves of the latter idea.

Cheers!

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13 thoughts on “An Easy DIY Wine Crate Ottoman”

  1. Love it! What is nice about it is not only did you recycle something, but when you either tire of it, or it’s outlived it’s usefulness, you can recycle parts of it yet again.

    Reply
  2. Your refashioned ottoman is just as adorable as your refashioned garments. Bravo, chica! It looks like you are enjoying nesting in your new digs. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Cute! It goes together too, very eclectic and unique and you. I wish more people had style savvy and courage with their decor because, nice or not, far too often one place looks just like the next. I prefer to see it turned into a home reflecting the personality of its inhabitant/s.
    Is it wrong of me that I’m now picturing your floor painted in a creme or robin’s egg blue or something? Not that it needs it, but I’m picturing it and kind of like it with all your stuff. However, that would be me and not necessarily you. Take it as a compliment I’m inspired into imaging taking it over.

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  4. I’d say, “mission accomplished,” and then some. Love that image of Douglas, btw. Aren’t most dachshunds divas, more or less? He can’t help it that he has star quality. He looks gorgeous on celadon!

    Reply

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