An Ottoman is not Just a Footstool Any More

An ottoman is a piece of furniture used as a footrest. It is usually upholstered, sits low to the ground and is generally round, square or rectangular. They come in a wide variety of styles, materials, shapes, textures and price ranges. Once regarded solely as a lowly footstool, decorating with ottomans is becoming a popular interior design trend.

Using an ottoman as a coffee or cocktail table has many advantages. Because of their flat table-like top, it is a great place to put a tray, a pile of magazines, the TV remote or a bowl of popcorn. It is also an especially easy and effective way to child-proof a living room or family room, since an ottoman generally does not have sharp corners. If you are decorating a room in a home with young children, a round, plushy upholstered ottoman would be an excellent choice. Another advantage to using an ottoman as a coffee table is mobility. You don’t have to commit to placing the ottoman in front of the couch the way you would a more traditional type of coffee table. An ottoman can be moved around the room or even from one room to another as needed.

Adding additional seating to a room without have to match it exactly to your existing decor is an ideal way to create a focal point. Selecting an ottoman with different textures generates visual interest. In a room largely dominated by earth tones, for example, incorporate a splash of color with a pair of ottomans in complementary colors. Or choose two smaller sized ottomans of the same shape and store them under a console table, where they will be out of the way until needed. Since many ottomans are relatively the same height as a dining chair, if you are in the habit of entertaining or having large family gatherings, purchase several square ottomans that can be conveniently transferred from your family room to your dining room.

In the master bedroom, a guest room or an entryway, a comfortably padded rectangular ottoman is the perfect place to put on shoes, drape clothing or setting down a purse or briefcase. An ottoman in a hallway or foyer, especially one that is tufted or textured, instantly creates a welcoming ambiance.

When decorating a small room, use an ottoman with hidden storage. Many manufacturers offer ottomans that have flip tops, drawers or lift tops that open to reveal spacious storage areas ideal for hiding away just about anything from blankets to magazines to clothes to toys. Storage ottomans are also a good choice when decorating a child’s or teen’s room, helping to control clutter while adding more seating options. Selecting one with casters will make it even more functional.

For today’s modern home, the ottoman has emerged as a trendy multifunctional accent piece. In addition to its more traditional role of footstool, in recent years it has become popular as a coffee table, a way to add additional seating to a room without having to match it exactly to the other furnishings and as a boudoir or hallway bench.