Make and upholster a multipurpose bench (or two!)

Styling: Shelly Bergh

You will need (for two benches)

SHOPPING LIST

• 18mm plywood, cut to:

two 860 x 660mm panels (seats)

• 22x220mm planed pine, cut to:

four 660mm pieces (sides)

four 900mm pieces (front and back)

• 69x69mm planed pine, cut to:

eight 260mm lengths (legs)

• one packet 6mm x 50mm chipboard screws

• Alcolin Fast Set Glue

• 150-grit sandpaper

• wood filler

TOOLS

• cordless drill and 3mm drill bit

• pencil

• measuring tape

• saw

• paintbrush

• scraper

Make the bench…

1. Glue and screw the two 660mm sides to the short sides of the seat; glue and screw the 900mm front and back pieces to the long sides to complete the bench frame.

2. Turn the bench upside down and glue and screw a leg to each ofthe four frame corners. Fill all screw holes and grooves neatly with 1 2 wood filler and allow to dry completely. Sand the wood and paint or varnish it in the finish or colour of your choice. Repeat the entire process to make the second bench.

Tip: If preferred, cut the one side of the legs at a slight angle to create a neat finish.

… and now for the softer touches

1. Decant about 150ml of Woodoc Water-Borne Floor ClearMatt into a mixing container. Add the Woodoc Colours inFull Moon and mix well. Apply three coats to the wooden base,letting each coat dry before you add the next. Sand lightly after the first and second coat. Do not sand again after thethird coat.

2. Apply spray adhesive to the surface of the wooden baseand on one side of the foam. Stick the foam to the base.

3. Position the batting over the sponge and base and cut it so that ithangs over by about 20cm on all sides. Measure 15cm from thebottom of the base and staple the batting on this measurement.Trim the excess batting under the staples as well as in the corners.

4. Cut the fabric to 153 x 133cm. Position the fabric over theottoman with the right side facing down. Make sure that all thesides hang over by the same amount and line up. Fold thecorners into triangles and pin them. Use the carpenter's square and marker to make a mark on your fabric in line with thecorner of the base on both sides of the folded corners.

5. Use an overlocker to sew and trim the corners on themarks you made in step 4.

6. Overlock the raw edge of the fabric. Use an iron to press ahem of about 1cm. Fold the hem double and sew in position.

7. Pull the cover over the foam and batting and hammer theupholstery pins in to secure it in position. Start in the centre ofeach side and work your way to the corners. Do opposite sides first.

Make a slipcover

Covered by a slipcover you can move these two ottomans together andcreate a daybed or extra seating. The single slipcover will hold the two units together.

1. Cut the fabric into the following pieces: one 1 830 x 730mm(seat); two 1 830 x 480mm (long sides); and two 730 x 480mm(short sides). Note: These measurements are for two ottomanspositioned next to each other, with the short sides touching.

2. Sew the 5 pieces together with the 1 830 x 730mm seat piecein the middle and the four side panels on the correspondingsides to form a box shape. Zigzag the edges to prevent themfrom unravelling (or use an overlocker to do this).

3. Mark 120mm from the bottom edge of the sides and sew theside seams up to this mark. Finish the side seams individuallywith a zigzag stitch, then iron the side seams open. Hem theopen edges of the sides to the bottom edge to create a slit.

4. Use an iron to press a hem of about 1cm on the slipcover.Fold the hem double and sew in position.

Tip: Make sure your fabric ispre-shrunk. If not, washthe fabric before you makethe slipcover.

Faux fur from @home; block scatter from Woolworths; embroideredscatter from Mr Price Home; hemp fabric from The Fabric House