DIY Burlap Coffee Bag Ottoman

Are you enchanted by the rustic beauty of burlap coffee bags?

This ottoman is inspired by a pouf we bought from a cute store selling imports from India. The owner explained to us that as the seasons change, people would stuff it with out-of-season clothing, blankets, etc.

What an ingenious idea! It can be used as seating, side table, and storage all at once!

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This up-cycled burlap coffee bag ottoman requires only one bag, minimal stitching (you know I can’t sew, right? ) and can be made in no time!

I must be in love with some kind of “Bohemian Nomads Style” lately! Remember this cute and easy DIY Rope Shelf?  Well, our ottoman is kind of similar, it’s easy to pack, store, and it’s got pretty tassels too!

Easy to build and hang, this beautiful gold and turquoise DIY rope shelf is also collapsible. All you need is a drill to build it!

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Materials and tools:

We first thought of making this coffee bag ottoman to use when we have guests on our outdoor patio, which we LOVE –

Our renters “remodel” of an outdoor room- everything is a DIY!

Build a stunning tropical outdoor room with pallets- A Renters Remodel! | A Piece Of Rainbow

Step 1:

Remove the stitches from the bottom and the side of the bag. Now they open up to a sheet of 56″x40″.

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We can save the strings for some stitching later!

Step 2:

Cut the bag in half along the 40″ length and in equal 3 parts along the 56″ side

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Now we have 6 pieces, each measures about 20″by 18.5″. Iron 4 of the 6 pieces into 17.5″ x 17.5″ squares by folding over the four edges.

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The other 2 pieces we will make them into 17.5″ x 19″. The extra length will be at the opening where we stuff the ottoman and fold over at the bottom. They also allow room for attaching Velcro if you prefer.

Step 3:

Stitch! Below are the steps to make the stitches. It did not take too long since this type of stitching goes quite fast! Of course, it’s super helpful sitting in a beautiful garden or on the beach while you do it!

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Below is what the stitch looks like on the back side.

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If you used up the strings while stitching, you can easily add more strings by making a knot.

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Stitch all sides except for the side where we left extra length. Leave it open for stuffing.

Step 4:

Never too many tassels, right? =) Thanks to my fabulous Mom who gave me a bunch of pretty threads!

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Cut the thread bundles (I combined 2 colors in each little bundle) to desired length, and tie a knot in the middle. Wrap and tie some threads at the base of the knot, and we are done! Isn’t it easy, and   charming?

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Step 5:

Stuff it with out-of-season clothing, blankets, etc. Remember in Step 2 we had  2 pieces with extra length: 17.5″ x 19″? This is where they would meet. You can add Velcro to close the opening, or use my lazy method of folding the extra burlap under the bottom of the stuffed ottoman.

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The finished ottoman is about 17″ to 18″ high, perfect height for seating or as a side table.And it can be folded when not in use!

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Happy daydreaming! xo

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34 Comments

  8. Hi. Great instructions. I am wondering if you find the burlap sheds ( lack of a better word). How do you prevent this?

  10. I absolutely love this ottoman and want to make them for my house but your instructions leave me a bit confused. Could you provide more pictures on where exactly to cut the bags? It seems as if in step 2 you’re implying the bag should be folded first is that correct? Then cut vertical up the bag (40 in size) then cut vertically again 3 times (56 in side)?

    • thank you alexis! actually the least confusing way is to open up the bag so it becomes a 40″x56″ piece, cut in middle across the 40″, cut in 3 across 56″, so you have six 20″x18+” pieces. 🙂

  11. Hi,
    I love what you’ve done with the coffee bean sacks and bought myself some to make one. When I unstitched the side and bottom however, my sheet is 72″ x 28″!!! Help! Now I don’t know what to do : D
    Thank you so much for the tutorial anyway

    • hi april, it seems like you may have to use more than one bag- a good size ottoman should be about 18″ to 24″, so you will have some extra material on the 28″ side! =)

      • Hi Ananda,
        Thanks for your reply. I’ve worked out what has happened, the bag I used opened at the 2 sides instead of the bottom and the side making a very long strip of 28″ so I will keep that for something else.
        I had a bag the same as the one you used so I have used that and am nearly finished making my ottoman! : D
        Thank you for your help

  13. thank you for sharing the step by step tutorial,I love burlap and I will make use of the bag that I have.

  17. You’ve done it again Ananda. I’ve grown up with burlap sacks being used in my grandmother’s pantry to store grain and as children we used the old sacks to make comfy beds for stray cats, dogs and puppies. You make the humble burlap look so chic and pretty- LOVE it. xx

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