What wood should I use to build a storage ottoman?

Three-quarter-inch plywood is ideal for the box and lid because it is strong enough to sit on, stable, and screws well. Birch or maple plywood gives clean edges; standard sanded plywood is fine since it will be upholstered or painted. Avoid thin 1/2-inch stock for the lid — it flexes under a seated adult and can crack. For a rigid lid on a wide ottoman, add a cross-brace underneath or use a solid 3/4-inch panel so it takes weight without bowing.

How do I keep the ottoman lid from slamming shut?

Install a soft-close lid support or a safety torsion hinge that holds the lid open and lowers it slowly. A plain butt hinge lets the lid drop, which can pinch fingers — a real hazard, especially with children. Lid stays or gas-strut supports also keep the lid from folding all the way back and stressing the hinges. This hardware is inexpensive and is the single most important safety upgrade on any hinged-lid storage seat.

How do I upholster a storage ottoman lid?

Cut high-density foam to the lid size, wrap it with a layer of batting for a soft edge, lay the lid foam-side down onto your fabric, and staple the fabric to the underside of the lid, pulling it taut and folding the corners neatly. Use a staple gun with 3/8-inch staples and work from the centers of each side outward to avoid wrinkles. High-density foam holds its shape under repeated sitting far better than the soft cushion foam, which compresses flat.

Can you sit on a DIY storage ottoman?

Yes, if you build it to take weight: a 3/4-inch plywood box and lid, glued and screwed at every joint, easily holds a seated adult. The lid needs to be rigid — solid 3/4-inch panel or braced underneath — so it does not flex or crack. Keep the box proportions sensible; a very wide lid should have a center support the lid rests on when closed. Build it like furniture, not a decorative box, and it doubles as real seating.

How big should a storage ottoman be?

Common sizes run 16 to 18 inches tall (coffee-table and seat height), 18 to 24 inches deep, and as wide as your space allows — often 30 to 40 inches for a bench-style ottoman. Match the height to the sofa seat if it will be a footrest. Size the interior around what you plan to store — blankets, toys, games — remembering the foam and lid frame take up a couple of inches. Sketch the interior dimensions before cutting so the storage volume actually fits your intended contents.

How to Build a Storage Ottoman (Hinged-Lid Plan)

Written & researched by Derek Holt Home & Appliances Editor

Updated August 2026

Golden-hour view of a person stacking plain unmarked storage bins on garage shelving

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An upholstered storage ottoman is a rewarding weekend build for a confident beginner — no permit, nothing structural — for roughly 60 to 150 dollars in plywood, foam, fabric, and hardware (2026). You need a circular saw or track saw, a drill, and a staple gun. The design is a 3/4-inch plywood box with a hinged, foam-topped lid you can sit on. Two details make it safe and lasting: a rigid lid (solid or braced 3/4-inch plywood so it does not flex under a seated adult) and a soft-close or safety hinge so the lid cannot slam on fingers. Build it like furniture and it stores blankets or toys while doubling as a seat or footrest.

Tools and materials

Circular saw or track saw, drill/driver, and a staple gun.
Square, clamps, and a level.
Materials: 3/4-inch plywood, a piano or soft-close hinge, a lid support, high-density foam, batting, upholstery fabric, screws, glue, and furniture legs or casters. Store blankets and games inside using fabric storage bins to keep the interior sorted; if you would rather buy, compare ready-made pieces in our closet and storage furniture picks.

Overhead view of a person stacking plain unmarked storage bins on garage shelving, in warm late-afternoon light

Step 1: Cut the box and lid

Cut four sides, a bottom, and a lid from 3/4-inch plywood to your planned dimensions (commonly 16 to 18 inches tall). Cut matching parts identically by clamping and cutting together. Sand the edges. If the lid is wide, plan a cross-brace or a center support ledge inside the box that the closed lid rests on, so it stays rigid under a seated adult.

Step 2: Assemble the box

Join the four sides and the bottom with glue and 2-inch screws, keeping the box square by checking the diagonals. Reinforce the corners with glue blocks or pocket screws if you want extra strength. A square, well-glued box is what lets the ottoman take repeated sitting without loosening at the joints.

Overhead view of a person stacking plain unmarked storage bins on garage shelving, in bright midday sun

Step 3: Mount the hinge and lid support

Attach the lid to the back of the box with a piano hinge or soft-close hinges. Install a lid support or safety torsion hinge so the lid holds open and lowers slowly — this prevents the lid from slamming on fingers, the main hazard of any hinged-lid seat. Test that the lid opens and closes smoothly before upholstering.

Step 4: Upholster the lid

Cut high-density foam to the lid size and top it with batting. Lay the lid foam-side down on the fabric, pull the fabric taut, and staple it to the underside, working from the center of each side outward and folding the corners cleanly. High-density foam keeps its shape under sitting far better than soft cushion foam. Trim excess fabric.

Wide environmental view of a person stacking plain unmarked storage bins on garage shelving, in warm late-afternoon light

Step 5: Finish the base and add legs

Paint or upholster the box exterior to match the lid, then attach furniture legs or casters to the bottom. Set it upright and confirm the lid sits flush and the support holds. Let any finish cure, then load it with blankets, toys, or games in bins.

Where to go next

A storage ottoman pairs with a mudroom bench for hidden entry storage, a shoe rack nearby, and floating shelves above. Everything sits under the storage and organization hub.

We never buy or physically test the products we rank — our picks come from aggregated owner reviews and expert consensus, explained on how we rank.

How to Build a Storage Ottoman