Transform an Old Ottoman with a DIY Ruffled Slipcover

Is your living room ottoman looking a little worn out? Or maybe just the color or style of upholstery doesn’t match your décor any more. It may be tempting to chuck the old ottoman and buy another, but don’t send that ottoman to the trash heap or donation bin! You can transform that old worn out ottoman into a stylish new ottoman. Collective Gen has a tutorial showing how you can sew a custom fit ruffled ottoman cover.

You can purchase fabric yardage for this project, but depending on the size of your ottoman you might be able to use an old tablecloth just the author did in this post. If you have a large tablecloth in good condition, that’s a great idea to save money!

A ruffled ottoman like this would also be beautiful in a bedroom as a bench or extra seating. And when you choose fabric that matches your bedroom décor it’ll look like it was custom made for that room.

Because all ottomans are different sizes, there aren’t specific measurements for fabric cuts given in the tutorial. But there are step by step instructions explaining how to drape the fabric over the ottoman to cut the right size pieces for this project. That way your ottoman cover will have a custom fit.

And while you’ll be working with larger fabric pieces for this project, the sewing is actually fairly easy. It’s all basic straight seams and some simple gathered fabric panels. This is a project you could easily do in one weekend.

I love this project idea because I’m always in support of saving money and also keeping items out of the landfills. Especially large items like an ottoman or footstool!

Head over to Collective Gen for this ruffled ottoman slipcover sewing tutorial.

[photo credit: Collective Gen]

Next Pattern:

A few months ago, I wrote “That Time a Thrift Store Employee Yelled at Me – And Changed How I See Thrift Flips Forever

My inbox was flooded with messages from all of you, some agreeing, some furious, and many sharing your own thrifting wake-up calls. Today, I want to revisit the debate with your voices front and center.

The Incident That Started It All

If you missed the original article, here’s the gist: I was browsing my local thrift store for vintage linens (my weakness) when an employee called me out for being a “TikTok flipper.” She wasn’t wrong—I had repurposed thrifted finds before—but her frustration hit hard: “These used to be $2. Now they’re $20. because of people like you.”

Ouch.

I left that day with my fabric and a guilty conscience. But after hearing from hundreds of you, I realized this isn’t just about me—it’s a big, messy issue with valid points on both sides.

What You Told Me: The For & Against Thrift Flipping Debate

“Thrift Flipping is Gentrification – Period.”

From readers who sided with the thrift store employee:

“I work at a Salvation Army, and it’s INFURIATING to watch resellers clear out our plus-size section just to chop it up for ‘aesthetic’ crop tops. Those clothes were someone’s only affordable option.” – M., Ohio

“My mom raised three kids on thrift store clothes. Now? She can’t even afford to shop there. The ‘sustainable’ crowd priced out the people who actually need these stores.” – Anonymous

“If you want to upcycle, go to the ‘damaged’ bin. Leave the wearable stuff for people who can’t afford to be picky.” – R., Texas

“But Thrift Flipping Is Sustainable – Don’t Shame Creativity!”

From readers who pushed back:

“I’ve been flipping thrifted clothes for 15 years—long before TikTok. Thrift stores have always had resellers. Blame corporations, not crafters.” – L., Portland

“I’m a college student. Thrift flipping lets me afford ‘new’ clothes. Should I feel guilty for not being poor enough to ‘deserve’ thrift stores?” – Anonymous

“The real issue is overproduction. Fast fashion dumps 100B garments a year, but we’re fighting over who ‘deserves’ a $5 shirt?” – K., UK

And then there were the nuanced takes:

“I stopped flipping name-brand or plus-size items after reading your article. But I’ll still upcycle stained tablecloths or torn sheets—stuff nobody else would buy.” – J., Michigan

“Thrift stores themselves are the problem. They’re corporations now. My local shop is owned by a millionaire who jacks up prices, then blames ‘flippers’ for the backlash.” – Anonymous

Where Do We Go From Here?

After reading your messages, here’s where I’ve landed:

Blame the system, not the stitchers.Thrift stores are becoming corporations. Fast fashion is the root issue. But that doesn’t mean we’re powerless.
Be mindful. Ask Is this item still usable as-is? Could someone else need it more? If yes, maybe leave it.
Get loud about the real villains. Petition thrift stores to cap prices. Boycott brands like Shein. Support actual charity shops.

Your Turn

This isn’t a black-and-white issue, and I’m not here to lecture. But after hearing from you, I’m convinced: we can thrift flip ethically—if we’re willing to adapt.

So tell me: Have you changed how you thrift since this debate started? Drop your thoughts in the comments—let’s keep this conversation going.