Within your busy schedule—work, kids, running the household—it's easy to get overwhelmed and forget an important thing on your daily to-do list, which is taking a break. Having a small personal space with a cosy couch or armchair with a mini yet stylish ottoman is important to help you relax amidst your jam-packed schedule.
An ottoman is a compact and appealing piece of furniture that serves multiple purposes in any space. You can use it as a mini-chair, a coffee table, or a footstool. There are other varieties with storage spaces too! Ottomans provide exceptional style in formal living rooms, family rooms, cosy bedrooms, and modern living room layouts; what's not to love about a compact ottoman?
Whether you plan to add purpose to your interior design or spruce up your space, here's a quick guide to spectacular ottomans.
Designed in the 1970s during the Ottoman Empire, an ottoman is low, upholstered furniture that is used as a mini table, a pouf, a footrest, storage, and a decorative accent. Its solid frame is filled with cushions wrapped in a stylish upholstery material to amplify the beauty of the space.
The ottoman is often utilised to accent the sofa as a footrest. It can also work as extra seating or a storage unit in any room.
Types of Ottomans
Standard Ottoman
When you envision an ottoman, a standard ottoman might be the first thing you imagine. This traditional piece of furniture can be rectangular, round, or square in form. It has four legs and does not include storage or any other additional features.
Footstool
A footstool is a low stool or a small chair without a back or armrests used to rest the feet. It is stylish accent furniture that is often used along with accent chairs to decorate and add purpose to a living space.
Pouf
A pouf ottoman does not have legs, making it a soft, lightweight seating solution that can add interest to your interior design.
Cube
One of the best things we love about an ottoman is that it’s compact enough for easy moving and lifting, unlike other storage solutions that are usually bulkier. A cube ottoman is a subtle go-to solution if you're looking for extra storage space. Based on its name, this ottoman has the shape of a cube and provides a subtle look to the living room or bedroom. If you're feeling more creative, you can add an ottoman beside your shoe cabinet to spruce up your entryway.
Cocktail Ottoman
A great alternative to a coffee table, a cocktail ottoman is big enough to work as a centrepiece in your living room. It features a strong tabletop surface to keep snacks and beverages in place. It can be a four-legged ottoman in many shapes or a compact storage unit where you can keep your magazines, coasters, toys, remote controls, and other living room essentials.
What Should You Consider When Buying an Ottoman?
Size
Scale and balance are two important things to consider when decorating any room in your flat. If you want your interior design to look fantastic, carefully select the furniture pieces that will amplify the style that you want to achieve.
When shopping for an ottoman, get the right measurements for your room, allowing enough space between your sofa and ottoman, especially when used as a coffee table.
Shape
Ottomans come in various shapes and designs, which can significantly affect the overall look of the living space when accentuated. You can build a traditional family area or a modern living room with the right choice of shape, depending on your preferences. Generally, standard ottomans with prominent corners are great for classic and warm looks, while round ottomans make an area modern-looking.
Material
Like many furniture pieces like the sofa, bed frame, and dining chairs, ottomans also come with many upholstery materials. Your ottoman will be a busy furniture piece in your home, so it's important to choose a material that is not just visually pleasing but is also durable enough to resist wear and tear. Velvet is common in many ottomans because of its rich look, while leather and other fabrics are also preferred by many because of their appeal to the space and their notable longevity. Aside from the looks, always consider your lifestyle when shopping for an ottoman.
Function
The handy ottoman provides many uses, depending on its configuration. As we mentioned earlier, an ottoman can double up as storage, an accent seat, a tabletop, or a footstool. Before going to a furniture store or browsing online to buy an ottoman, always look for functions that you can inject into your space. This way, you won't only beautify your area but will also make it more functional.
One thing we take pride in about an ottoman is that it's compact enough to be tucked under the table when not in use, giving you more space to move around the room. It is also very lightweight, so you can move it around any room where you need it more.
There's no way you can leave out an ottoman when buying home furniture pieces with all its purposes.
Style
Of course, we can't leave the style out when buying an ottoman.
An ottoman can work perfectly with any interior style. You may choose from coloured pieces to subtle neutrals, depending on the look that you want to achieve.
Modern ottomans present clean and minimal lines with no intricate details. When opting for a modern ottoman, choose one that stands directly to the floor or something with a simpler leg build. Traditional ottomans are often tufted and have beautifully designed legs that can instantly add a statement to your interior design. The style choice is up to you.
Often overlooked, an ottoman may be a small piece of furniture, but it is highly versatile and stylish. Never underestimate this furniture must-have! You'll be surprised at how this accent piece can elevate the beauty and purpose of your home. Remember, when shopping for an ottoman, it's essential to have a clear purpose and style preference to get the most out of what you invest in!