10 Tutorials for DIY Floor Poufs and Ottomans

Never has there been a more versatile piece of furniture than the pouf. It’s a table, a seat and a place to rest your feet all at once, while remaining so easy to move around that it can almost earn the title of throw pillow. And the formula for what makes a pouf is so simple and adaptable — a fabric case around a variably soft core — that it lends itself well to being made from scratch by makers with even minimal DIY skills.

‘Pouf’ and ‘tuffet’ are both generally accepted names for the sort of round bohemian footstool that looks effortlessly chic left out in a living room. A tuffet becomes an ottoman, by definition, when it is given a base or legs, or if it opens up to provide storage.

The linguistic line between ‘pouf’ and ‘ottoman’ has become quite blurred over time (and tuffet has fallen out of vogue entirely, outside of the nursery rhyme set). But no matter what you want to call it, you should at least give it a try in your own home.

TOP ROW:
1. Graham’s Fabulous Ottoman (made with this tutorial) from his Fabulous Nursery.
2. A thorough tutorial for a floor cushion with handle (perfect for kids) from Living with Punks.
3. This raw-edged pouf was painted by Claire Zinnecker of Camille Styles.
4. A foam ottoman with faux leather from Lovely Indeed.
5. The “Puff Daddy” knitted stool (and baby) are available as free knitting patterns from Pickles.

BOTTOM ROW:
6. A sturdy ottoman made by gluing rope to a recycled tire, from That Was a What.
7. A traditional pouf is covered with folded fabric in this fuzzy version by Andrea Renee.
8. Megan of Textile Love crafted this moroccan pouf with a delicate embroidered medallion.
9. A color wheel pinwheel pouf, with directions on Design Sponge.
10. Lauren Donaldson of Houzz made a petite pouf from a vintage pillowcase.