How to Cover an Ottoman or Footstool: Size, Shape and Storage-Lid Fit

Decide what you want the cover to do

Start with the part you actually want to change. You might want to soften the colour of a plain footstool, place a removable layer over the top, or replace a worn cover that was designed to come off. Those are different jobs. A decorative square does not become a fitted slipcover simply because its dimensions are larger than the furniture.

Look underneath for the model label and find the original instructions if you can. IKEA’s OSKARSHAMN storage footstool, for example, has storage beneath the seat but is listed with non-removable upholstery. That illustrates why access to storage does not mean the upholstery itself is a washable cover. IKEA’s OSKARSHAMN product details

Before shopping, write a one-line brief: “cover the top and show the legs”, “hide the sides as well”, or “replace the original removable cover”. This gives you a useful way to reject unsuitable options, even when their colour is perfect.

Measure the outside, including the awkward bits

Place the footstool on a level floor and measure it in the form you use it, with its normal lid or top cushion in place. Sketch a simple outline. Label the front on the sketch so that width and depth stay consistent when you compare your notes with a product diagram.

• Square or rectangular: record the widest outside width, the front-to-back depth and the overall height. Include bulging padding or a lid that projects beyond the base.
• Round: record the widest diameter across the top and the overall height. Check whether the base is narrower or wider.
• Shaped or tapered: note the top and base dimensions separately. Photograph curved corners, sloping sides and projecting handles.

For a fitted cover, compare every measurement requested by its supplier. For a drape, the surface you want to cover matters as well as the furniture’s outside footprint. Avoid choosing by “small”, “large” or “one seater” alone; those labels do not describe an ottoman’s geometry.

Plan the drape before picking a size

A flat fabric piece needs enough material to travel across the top and down the sides you want covered. Decide where the hem should finish first. Showing the timber legs creates a different result from covering most of the upholstered base.

Lay a clean sheet or spare cloth over the footstool as a temporary visual guide. Fold it to the approximate dimensions of the piece you are considering, then inspect all four sides. On a rectangle, a piece can have plenty of front overhang and very little at the ends. On a round top, a square cloth naturally leaves longer points at the corners.

There is no single extra allowance that works for every footstool. Record the top coverage and desired drop in both directions, then check the supplier’s sizing method. Include any stated fitting allowance only as that supplier directs. Choose a hem position that clears the floor, feet and moving parts without relying on a large bundle of tucked fabric.

Give the storage lid its own fit check

Open and close the bare ottoman first so you know how it normally moves. A completely removable lid, a hinged lid and a top that slides or lifts on a mechanism need different treatment. If you are unsure which parts are intended to move or detach, check the furniture instructions before experimenting.

With a loose drape, the simplest arrangement may be to lift the cloth off whenever you open the storage compartment. If daily access matters, decide whether that small extra step will become annoying. Covering a lift-off lid separately may be an option only where the added fabric does not interfere with the rim or the way the lid sits.

Keep fabric out of hinges, latches, supports and the closing edge. Do not wrap a mechanism, block a handle or force the lid down against extra thickness. Close it gently and check that it rests as intended. If it catches, rocks or no longer closes normally, remove the layer and reassess the arrangement.

Choose loose coverage or a matched fitted cover

A relaxed drape is useful when you want flexibility and are happy to straighten it. A model-specific replacement makes sense when the manufacturer offers one for your exact footstool and version. IKEA’s VIMLE footstool cover is a named component in that furniture range; its listing is not evidence that it will fit another storage ottoman. IKEA’s VIMLE cover listing

On a phone, swipe the table to see each column.

Avoid treating a stretch claim as permission to ignore shape. Seams, corners, lid depth and the position of any opening still need to line up.

Consider a separate piece for modest coverage

If the aim is simply to cover a high-use top, a separate sofa-cover piece may be worth measuring against your ottoman. That is a possible use to assess, not a confirmed fit. Compare the piece dimensions with your coverage sketch, including the drop you want, before ordering.

For a compact footstool, a large sofa throw may leave more fabric than you want to manage. Conversely, a piece that only just spans the top will not also hide tall sides. Let the measurements make the decision before you choose the colour.

Try the arrangement in everyday use

Once you have a suitable layer, centre it and smooth it with your hands. Keep folds shallow and intentional. Walk around the footstool to see the back as well as the front; a tidy photograph from one angle can hide a long trailing corner on the other side.

Use the footstool in its normal permitted way, then inspect the fabric again. Does it slide when you rest your feet on it? Does the hem creep towards the floor? Can you reach the storage handle without pulling the whole cover crooked? These observations help you decide whether a loose drape suits the job.

Do not add adhesive, pins or extra gripping layers unless they are suitable for both the upholstery and cover. If it only stays put through elaborate fixing, a different size or cover style may be the more practical choice.

Finish with a care and order check

Read the new layer’s care label and retain the original furniture care instructions. They apply to different items. A removable cloth does not change how the upholstery underneath should be cleaned, and a zip on the furniture is not, by itself, a washing instruction.

Before checkout, confirm the selected dimensions, quantity and what is included. Keep your measurements and a photo of the furniture together so you can compare them with the order when it arrives. Check the fit before making alterations or discarding labels.

Choose the arrangement you can live with easily: the right amount of coverage, a clear floor edge and storage you can still use. Those details matter more than making a loose piece look like permanent upholstery.