Move over coffee tables – the far more stylish and practical choice for your living room is an ottoman. And, it seems, we’ve all got the memo: there are more than 1.9 million posts under the hashtag #Ottoman on Instagram, and homeware brands are seeing increased demand. The furniture designer Collection Seven reports that ottomans have become their bestselling category, with 218 per cent more sales than chairs. “This speaks directly to how people are living today – they want pieces that are versatile, tactile, and that can move seamlessly between statement and function,” says the company’s founder, Jess Hübner.
As Angus Buchanan, co-founder of design practice Buchanan Studio (which has two ottomans in its collection) puts it. “Ottomans offer both form and function, providing storage and display while being beautiful, sculptural pieces in their own right.”
Why choose an ottoman?
An ottoman or footstool can work in the same way as a coffee table, but gives you far more bang for your buck. While you can style it with a tray to hold cups, glasses and books, or set a board game on it, there’s the added advantage that you can put your feet up and perhaps store things away in it, too. “As a central coffee-table alternative, it creates a softer focal point and instantly makes a seating area feel more inviting,” says Hübner.
Jodie Hazlewood, founder of The House Upstairs, who has designed a range of ottomans, agrees: “I love ottomans because they’re the perfect vehicle to insert beautiful fabric into the middle of your room.” Hers are handmade to order from a workshop in Derbyshire, offering a range of colours and fabrics to choose from.
A buyer’s guide
When choosing – or commissioning – an ottoman, Hübner’s advice is to go big. “An ottoman that’s undersized can look a little lost,” she says. She suggests generous proportions, “ensuring there’s at least a 400mm clearance between the ottoman and surrounding seating. This way, it feels intentional within the scheme while still leaving enough space to stretch out and circulate with ease.”
Because they are smaller than a sofa, ottomans can be an opportunity to showcase “a beautiful or expensive piece of fabric, an off-cut or even an antique remnant,” according to Hazlewood. Hübner agrees: “A bold fabric, a playful fringe, or even a textured weave can completely shift the mood, while still feeling easy to live with – and it’s easy to change, if needed, down the line.” She says that lighter colours in linen blends and bouclé fabrics can work too, but only when the ottoman isn’t being used as a coffee table, unless you’re extremely neat. For busy homes, Hazlewood suggests a pattern, “as it’s much more forgiving of small marks and spills.”
Not all ottomans are equal
While many ottomans are rectangular, this is not the only option. “Shape has a big impact on how an ottoman works in a room,” Hübner says. “Square or rectangular pieces bring symmetry and structure, anchoring a seating area and balancing the proportions of a larger room. But a round design sits beautifully with curved sofas, echoing the lines and creating a softer focal point.”
Don’t feel like you have to stick with just one piece, she adds: “I love the idea of using a pair of square ottomans side by side; they offer flexibility, can be split apart for extra seating when needed, and give a tailored, considered feel to the arrangement.”
The storage solution
Another choice is whether to go for hidden storage. “I love storage ottomans because they solve a very real need without compromising on design; everything is hidden, but always within easy reach,” Hübner says, noting the practicality of her Bridstow design. “It’s a simple way to keep a living room feeling calm and uncluttered.”
For those searching for – but failing to find – the perfect piece, commissioning your own is an option. Lisa Mehydene, founder of the homeware brand Edit58, went down that path, designing one five years ago for her living room, and commissioning the upholster John Haswell to create it. She found a vintage Turkish rug to cover it, “which meant it was hard wearing, which I needed with young children around, as well as feet and generally people perching on it.”
Once you have the perfect ottoman, then you need to consider styling. “An ottoman can be dressed up or down depending on how you choose to style it,” Buchanan says. An easy way to contain your vignette is to use an oversized tray, according to Sarah Ross, co-founder of Addison Ross, which sells large lacquered trays, while Mehydene designed a deep rattan tray specifically for her own ottoman. “It instantly elevates the space because it adds structure and purpose. I love using one to anchor a few favourite books, a scented candle and perhaps a small vase of flowers,” she says. “It’s a simple way to create a focal point that feels both curated and inviting.”
Ten gorgeous ottomans to try
Sheki upholstered ottoman, £1,495, Oka
A low and useful ottoman with storage inside, covered in Oka’s popular Sheki pattern, inspired by a rug found in an antiques market. The fabric is hand printed and sewn, and fixed on with handsome brass studs.
Toastie footstool, £895 (reduced to £760), Loaf
Handmade from solid oak, with a fixed top cushion made from duck feather and foam, this footstool gives the perfect amount of squidge and structure – style it with a big tray and a cup of tea.
Moveable Feast ottoman, £14,400, Beata Heuman
For the upholstery of this ottoman, designer Beata Heuman commissioned the artist Andie Dinkin to make a bespoke painting, which was transformed into a tapestry by skilled artisans in Ukraine. The ottoman is made bespoke in England using traditional methods.
Bespoke Mini Madeleine ottoman, £745, The House Upstairs
A smaller ottoman designed for tighter spaces, this bespoke piece is handcrafted in Derbyshire and made to order – which means you can request a quote for slightly different dimensions, and cover with a fabric of your choice (or ask them to source one for you).
Studio Ottoman, £3,240, Buchanan Studio
Designed with a “double cushion” construct, with leather straps holding the pillows together – reminiscent of vintage luggage – this ottoman is handmade in England, and available to order in three sizes with a choice of fabrics on the bottom layer combined with dark brown leather on top.
The Bridstow ottoman, £1,860, Collection Seven
This elegantly proportioned ottoman has a cleverly designed top which lifts to reveal concealed storage (lined in matching fabric) for games, books and living room detritus.
Arden plain top footstool, from £419, The Footstool Workshop
The handmade base of this ottoman can be customised with a large range of fabrics (or you can supply your own), and there are customisable leg and trim options, too.
Truro ottoman, £1,395, Soho Home
This wide and low design, upholstered in textured linen on a solid oak frame, is designed to encourage lounging around, and will lend a casual opulence to a room.
Tynemouth Ticking plain top ottoman, £880, By Anna Elizabeth
This elegant ottoman with bobbin legs is made by hand from beech locally sourced in Somerset, filled with natural materials and covered in Robert Kime’s Tynemouth Ticking Blu fabric.
Fifield storage ottoman by Laura Ashley, £299, Next
Channel the cottagecore look with this compact floral ottoman, perfect for storing linens at the end of the bed.