All About Ottomans

This beautiful summer morning, I was racking my brain to try to think of something to blog about when it occurred to me to write all about ottomans. I spend each morning with a cup of coffee in hand, feet kicked up on my ottoman, iPad in lap. I think of that ottoman as my daily launchpad, proof that these relatively small pieces of furniture can play a big role in home decor. It was then I realized, with so many tremendously functional uses, what better topic to write about.

pic via themustardceilingblog.com

Just where did these ottomans derive from?

“These backless, rectangular pieces were introduced to Europe in the late 18th century from Turkey. The Ottoman Turks used ornate fabrics to cover footstools, hence the ottoman was born. Once brought to Europe, the ottoman was originally designed as a piece of fitted furniture that wrapped around three walls of a room. It eventually evolved into the smaller version we see today.” ~Decorate Your Life

You can kick your feet up on it.

You will commonly see an ottoman used as a coffee table. Sitting pretty either in front of a sofa or between chairs. Ottomans come in various shapes and sizes and are often the center focal point of a conversation area. These beauties look great topped with a display grounded by a tray or with nothing at all.

pic via Georgiana Design

Designer, Phillip Sides creates an amazing focal point with this chartreuse ottoman. Tying in the colors you find in the window treatments, rug and pillows brilliantly. This ottoman IS the focal point of the area.

photo via Pinterest

You can sit off of it.

Often I use benches and ottomans interchangeably because they really serve the same purpose. Benches are also great in front of fireplaces or in entryways to be used as a little spot for guests to sit on to remove wet shoes. It’s a great place to toss a purse or the day’s mail, too. You can pull them up to vanities or tucked under tables. They add another layer and give you instant seating when you’re in a pinch. Like ottomans, they are easy to reupholster, so you can have some fun with them.

Photo Monica Buck via The Nest

photo via Luxhomephiladelphia.com

The Glamour Bench by Sunpan Modern Home is a modern upholstered bench. This tufted ottoman bench is great as an upholstered coffee table that can double as extra seating when you are entertaining.

You can store “stuff” in it.

Playrooms are notorious for collecting clutter. A storage bench doubles as seating and storage for toys, games and books.

photo via fabuloushomeblog.com

Placing an ottoman at the end of a bed is a lovely way to provide a nice, graduated finish to the foot of your bed design. If your bed is covered in pillows, like mine is, you can pile the pillows on the ottoman at night (or store them inside). In the morning, use this little seat when you slip on your shoes. A storage bench at the end of the bed nicely tucks away extra seasonal clothes, boots or shoes that I always seem to accumulate via my shopping trips.

photo via source

An obvious place you would find an ottoman would be paired with a chair with the same fabric. A not so obvious place would be under a table. I really like to place a few cube ottomans under sofa tables to fill in the empty space between their long, thin legs. We layer up the top of these tables with lamps and accessories, but if there is nothing underneath them, they can appear very top-heavy. When you entertain, pull out the cubes and use them as extra seating.

I hope you are able to use a few of these ottoman ideas in your own home.

I am always available for any design dilemmas, should you need a professional interior designer in CT. Until next time, have a stylish day! ~Melanie Langford