Hey guys! I have to say I have been LOVING crowdsourcing your opinion on interior options.
I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before but one of my major life’s passions is hard rubbish. Do you have this where you live? It’s basically when people put things they no longer want out on the street – like furniture or other big pieces. Foraging for these things brings me so much joy, I honestly can’t describe it. To some of you it might be a bit yuck, but what I love to do is overhaul the pieces I find and breath new life into them. Painting them, restringing them, recovering them – anything that brings them into the now I’m willing to try. I have to admit, sometimes the effort I spend doing this is more than that which it would take to buy the same item, but that’s never been the point has it?
The Found Ottoman
Today I wanted to chat with you about an ottoman I found on the side of the road… Don’t judge me too harshly! It was part of a lounge set and made of a green faux leather. Whilst it doesn’t look that nice, it’s sturdy and comfortable and will make a great addition to the living room once I make a few updates to it… And that’s where you come in! I’ve been wracking my brain on re-covering this ottoman, as at the moment I’m being torn in a few different directions…. Velvet covered? Mudcloth? Or Rug covered? That is the question.
Re-covering This Ottoman
Option 1. Rug Covered
Ok, so I’ve been in love with rug covered ottomans and pouffes for years, ever since I saw one as part of one of Amber Interior’s designs (and she sells them here!). They just look so good! The only challenge they present is that given the thickness of most of these types of rugs, it would be a harder fabric to unholster in… And obviously, rugs are quite expensive so you would have to be confident about the method! Cue chin scratch.
Option 2. Velvet
Velvet velvet velvet. Well this is certainly taking it in another direction, isn’t it? A little bit fancier than a rug version, I’ve been seeing beautiful velvet ottomans around a lot, and they seem like a good option. The fabric is sturdy whilst not being too thick, and if you choose a simple/minimalist colour they are easier to style around and won’t date too quickly. Obviously, a pink one might but I’m swaying more towards a khaki or navy…
Option 3. Mudcloth
Oh yeah, good old mud cloth. You won’t be surprised that it gets a run as part of these options… I’ve been known to use it for everything! I guess that’s because it’s a hardy fabric with lots of texture, and something that, whilst minimal, always draws the eye. I recently got my hands on some indigo mud cloth which could be a good option… I love the look of the white ones but I’m afraid I might be asking for trouble with a baby on the way…. Thoughts?
Inspiration images via: Amber Interiors (here, here, here and she sells them in her store here), Sarah Sherman Samuel and here, Idea, Style Me Pretty, Apartment Therapy, Mad About The House,
I would definitely cover it in velvet! Like you said, you can combine it better with other colours and you won’t get tired of it too soon. Plus, it’s just super soft and looks so luxurious!
https://www.makeandmess.com/
Thanks my love!
Loooove the boho vibes of the rug-covered ones! I’ve never seen that style before. Will be looking forward to the diy 😉
Yay! Thanks so much 🙂
Welcome to the Club! I looove hard rubbish and a lot of furniture in our house is from the Street. One of our two garages is crammed with items waiting for the ressurrection. Lucky you to find this ottoman. First I am all hooray for the rug. But with a Baby mh, mh. I guess you dont want to remove spilled milk from a rug or velvet covered ottoman. So I am opting for the mud cloth. Great texture, and easier to clean if neccessary.
Best wishes and greetings from the other side of the world.
Bea
Thanks so much for the tips, yep these days I now have to think about babies… Big change for me! Hahaha.
1 choice – rug, 2nd – choice velvet. You should ask your questions on your Instagram (or insta stories)
Thanks my love!
soooooooo into the rug – and maybe you can find a rug that is more “tapestry”, and a lighter material than some other rugs?
Totally what I was thinking, great minds think alike!
“one of my major life’s passions is hard rubbish,” LOL, same. I have a joke with my husband that I can never pass a free pile of castoffs without checking it for treasure. I’ve found some really good stuff that way! Glad to hear you’re a girl after my own heart 😉
I have a pouf/ottoman that I have also been thinking about recovering (it’s leather, but my jerk cats have scratched it up), so thank you for these ideas! Though I do lean towards the rug-covered ones, for me it would all depend on the rest of the room it’s going to go in.
Yes I agree, I probably should have given you guys a run down on the room…. My mistake! The issue is it has quite a bright persian rug on the floor, so I need to find something that works with that. I’m sure I will!
Kerbside collection is for the fearless!
I vote for velvet. All fabric needs protection from little fingers and noses. When it’s time is up, you’ll be ready to update it anyway.
Thats true isn’t it? Oh and glad to meet another kerbside collecton lover.
Velvet is an awful idea in QLD – way too hot and sticky for fabrics like that! And I think it’s a bit too trendy – it will be out of fashion soon enough. I vote 100% for the rug covered – it’s very subtle yet sophisticated.
Thanks for the advice!
I love the rug covered ottomans the most! I thrifted the most beautiful rug and put it in the washer on delicate but it was too much and frayed the edging off. I was so bummed, but I didn’t think of using it to make an ottoman! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
-Felicia
http://www.casalibrablog.com
Yay! So excited for you.
Not a rug. What you want is a kilim. A woven thing, not knotted, with just as many patterns as rugs. And they are sturdy, cat scratch and child proof. And they go well with anything. The mud cloth look dated. Already. Velvet is luxurious but as another member advised, not hot and humid climate friendly. And not kid’s sticky hands friendly. Look for Moroccan woven kilims. They are not so expensive. 200 euros and you have one big enough to re-do your find.
One final proposal, omit the lower part and exchange it for wooden legs. If you upholster both the lower and the upper into kilim, you’ll get more cheap hippy 70s and precious hip 10s. If you have to keep the lower part, then upholater it into something neutral and only the top part into kilim.
Let us know of the final outcome. Looking forward to it. Love from Croatia, Dory
Thanks so much for your ideas, I think I agree with you re the rug. I wish we could swap out the legs but I dont think it’s possible, however I am going to be removing the mushroom top shape and making it more minimalist xx
Velvet would be great (I am totally in my velvet phase). Rug as well.
So many great options right?
I personally like Rug/Kilim one more, as it will accent on the “history” of the ottoman. You might not want to use velvet-it loses its charm and what’s more important looks after a very short time… and mud cloth.. it will make the ottoman look too basic, something you bought in the next furniture store or IKEA and I feel you are aiming for the more special feel.
Can’t wait to see what you decide to do in the end!Love your blogue!
Thanks so much for weighing in my love! I am leaning towards the rug too 🙂
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Though choice I am torn between the rug and the velvet.
I know how you feel!
Ohhh they’re all so nice. While velvet has such a nice soft, sophisticated look and texture the mud cloth and rug will hide any messes more easily which could be handy when bub comes.
A few people have mentioned this! Thanks for the tip 🙂
Mudcloth!
Thanks for weighing in!
I love how the carpet adds texture and looks far more durable than velvet. Having 4 kids and a crazy active family…. you’ll want it to be the most durable fabric you can find when the baby starts crawling and climbing!
Im leaning towards mudcloth BUT i think thats because i see it working on a big piece without being too overwhelming – a lot of the example photos you’ve popped up are ottomans that have legs rather than box style, this means visually they take up less ”space” in a room, working with a box ottoman will make the covering a BIG statement so something semi neutral could be good if you are planning on a lot happening elsewhere in the room