Fun & Functional: an Ottoman for Every Space

The ottoman. It’s practically one of the seven wonders of versatile decor, and for good reason: they provide extra space in an unobtrusive and simultaneously attractive way. They’re both stylish and practical, a rare combination in furnishings, and with so many options – patterned or solid, eye-catching or designed to blend in, square, rectangular, round, oval, boxy or curvy, sleek or puffy, legged or flush on the floor, fabric or natural materials – there’s virtually always room for one.

A few basic rules apply: ottoman height should be the same as surrounding sofa/chair height for effective foot-resting; offset a solid couch with a patterned ottoman for contrast (or vice-versa); the ottoman should be placed with approximately 18″ clearance on each side from other furniture to allow free passage. Other than that, go wild with your ottoman!

Even if you go with a non-storage model, your ottoman serves many purposes: footrest, coffee table, extra seating (especially for kids), place to pile up the clothes that you can wear again but don’t want to hang up (no judgment!)… You can put one in every room, not just next to the living room sofa.

Of course, you can put it in the living room. It’s safer than a coffee table – no bruised shins (for adults) or bumped foreheads (for kids) – and it looks better, too.

Family Room by Tara Seawright Interior Design

Tuck one into a walk-in closet or dressing room; it’s super-handy when you need a place to sit down to put on socks or adjust shoes (or contemplate the outfit for the day); it can also be a good folding surface.

Kids of all ages love ottomans. Use them in bedrooms and playrooms to corral toys and other “stuff” that kids accumulate or provide just-right sized seating

Create another cozy spot in your bedroom with an ottoman at the foot of the bed or against a wall.

Bedroom by J. Scott Interiors and The Well Dressed Window

(Side note, but is that not one of the most gorgeous bedrooms you’ve ever seen?)

Tuck one under an entry table as a more welcoming, more comfortable, and easier to stow alternative to a standard bench.

Put an ottoman in weather-resistant to kick up your outdoor relaxation a notch.

You don’t have to be a shrink to have a comfy seat in your home office.

Home Office by Carlyn And Company Interiors + Design

An ottoman can even be used in place of (or in addition to) traditional seating in the kitchen or dining room.

Dining Room by Meg Adams Interior Design

Dining Room by Signature Interiors/Rita Coltrane

may seem unusual, but works great in bathroom – for putting stuff down next to tub, sitting down to change, or chatting while getting ready or winding down at the end of the day

Don’t limit yourself – you can have awesome style with two or more ottomans! Just be sure that the finished layout is proportionate; don’t overwhelm the room because you just had to have that fourth ottoman.