Use Pool Noodles To Turn A Worn-Out Pouf Into A Sturdy Ottoman

Poufs that are used as footrests often undergo serious wear and tear. If you own one, you likely sit back and prop your feet on top of the comfy furniture piece at the end of a long day, which can cause damage after awhile. If you have pets or little ones, you know that they can contribute to the disrepair of a pouf as well. It is easy for this furniture piece to flatten and lose its shape over time due to these factors. Thankfully, you can transform a frumpy pouf by cutting pool noodles into pieces and taping them into a cube shape to place inside. This will make the furniture item a firm and structured footstool — it's a great way to breathe new life into an old outdated ottoman.

You can complete this simple DIY using only tape, a few pool noodles, and a pair of scissors. If you own a pouf that unzips all the way around, it should be pretty easy to remove the old worn-down filling and slip the pool noodles right inside. Unfortunately, a pouf without a zipper makes this DIY pool noodle hack a bit more complicated. You would need to remove the fabric from the furniture piece, place the pool noodle cube inside, and reupholster it once finished. 

As you can see in the TikTok above, this simple DIY ottoman can be completed in just a few steps. Before getting started, you may want to head to Dollar Tree to gather your supplies. The retailer sells Hardware Silver Duct Tape, Foam Pool Noodles, and Westcott All-Purpose Scissors all for only $1.25 each. After gathering all of your materials, you will need to start out by holding a pool noodle up to your pouf to determine how far down you will need to cut each of your pool noodles. After you have identified the appropriate length, cut all of your pool noodles to size.

Next, cut the ends of the pool noodles that will form the frame of your cube at 45 degree angles and attach them to one another in square shapes using duct tape. Once you have formed all of your squares, stack them around your vertical pool noodle pieces and duct tape them along the sides to secure everything together. You can place a bit of the filling from your pouf on top of the cube to add more cushion as well. You may also use new filling, like the Premium Polyester Fiber Fill ($26 on Amazon), if you prefer. Finally, go ahead and slide your fabric pouf cover over the cube and zipper it closed.

If your pouf does not include a cover that can simply be unzipped, you can remove the fabric using a seam ripper instead. After building the cube, go ahead and place the cover over it and reattach it using Fast Tack Upholstery Adhesive from Hobby Lobby for $13. This spray can be safely used on foam to seal the fabric back together instantly. If you do not have reupholstery experience or do not know how to use a staple gun, this beginner-friendly method might be a better option for you. Or, if you would like to make the ottoman more durable, you can sew or staple it closed as well.

There is a chance that you do not want to go through the trouble of taking your pouf apart to add this pool noodle cube for structure. If so, you might prefer to reuse and upcycle a cooler to DIY an ottoman that includes added storage. To complete this project, simply cover the cooler in a fabric of your choice using a hot glue gun. The great thing about this piece is that it can double as both indoor and outdoor furniture if you select an outdoor-friendly fabric, and you can also store items inside the cooler. Another option is to create a stylish footrest with this DIY-friendly pool noodle hack. For this project, you'll form the pool noodles into circles, tape them together, and cover the exterior with rope.