An ottoman is something one might use when watching TV or lounging on the sofa or as an extra seat when guests come over. It has become a standard furniture piece everyone has but it wasn’t always like this. The history of ottomans is an interesting one and we’ll get to that in a second. We’ll pay special attention to round ottomans since they’re quite trendy right now. A round ottoman has a particularly friendly and cute appearance compared to square or rectangular types.
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Meet Drum, a stylish little ottoman that serves three roles. It can be used as a coffee table, as a regular ottoman or pouf and also as a tray thanks to its elegant removable top. This type of flexibility is appreciated in modern living spaces where multifunctionality is an important part of every interior design. The tray top is available in four different colors: white, black, ash and walnut.
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Ottomans are designed to be multifunctional. The Lisbon model featured here on the left side offers that in a really elegant manner. It features a simple design with fine little details and it comes in two sizes, large and small. Use it as an accent piece for the living room or let it add a touch of color to your bedroom or home office.
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With so many different ottoman designs to choose from, it’s hard to stand out. The Leaf series has a special characteristic: eco-friendliness. The cute ottomans in the collection are made using recycled wool from salvaged yarns from the fashion industry. It features a series of contemporary colors mostly based on pastel shades.
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Modern ottomans come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Round and oval types tend to be more popular and the Pollen A and Pollen B designs reflect this with their quirky designs and patterns. Their designs are inspired by the pollen of the Acacia tree and they have a strong visual present, being capable of becoming wonderful focal points..
View in galleryPair an ottoman with a coffee table or a side table for a quirky lookView in galleryHistorically, an ottoman is a form of couch with no backrestView in galleryOttomans stand out from other furniture pieces through the fact that they’re stuffed overView in galleryNo portion of the frame is visible in the case of the ottoman and this gives it a comfy and cozy lookView in galleryOttomans are generally defined as furniture pieces with a padded seat and with no back and armrestsView in galleryThe origin of the Ottoman comes from the Ottoman Empire where it was the central piece of seating furnitureView in galleryThe ottoman was named after the empire itself and was originally a low wooden platform piled with cushionsView in galleryThe first ottomans were wrapped around three walls of a room, similarly to a sectional sofaView in galleryHowever, this design wasn’t imported to Europe. Instead, the ottoman was scaled down
As the name suggests, ottomans were imported from the Ottoman Empire, being inspired by the furnishing practices that usually involved a U-shaped seating unit similar to a bench. This bench wrapped around three walls of a room and was piled with cushions, offering everyone a place to sit comfortably during family events and casual gatherings. The ottoman was then brought to Europe in the late 1700s but its design was altered and scaled down.
View in galleryThe original ottoman evolved into a much smaller version a lot like the ones we use todayView in galleryAfter being imported through trade, it quirky became popular in Europe as well, being used for family gatheringsView in galleryThe ottoman became a substitute to floor seating and it later evolved to suit public spaces as well
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The Charlot poufs displayed here in the corner were designed in 2004 by Andrea Parisio and they capture the essence of what an ottoman should look and feel like. They’re stuffed over like all ottomans, with their wooden frames being entirely concealed by the fabric and the upholstery. This gives them a really cozy and cute look and makes them lovely seating units for lounge areas but also for other settings.
View in galleryWith time, ottomans evolved from being a chain of seats to being individual units like this oneView in galleryInitially, the wall doubled as a backrest for ottomans and that can still be applied todayView in galleryOttomans evolved to offer more comfort and they also became more versatile and practicalView in galleryNot all ottomans are upholstered with fabric and not all conceal their entire framesView in galleryAfter being brought to Europe, ottomans became popular in public areas such as clubs, bars, waiting rooms and schoolsView in galleryThis type of popularity allowed them to quickly make the transition to residential spaces where they took their place as an accessoryView in galleryThe first ottomans were used by the royalty and they were embellished with jewels and has intricate patternsView in galleryThe versatility and practicality of ottomans allowed them to quickly become a standard household item
The smaller, modern-day versions of the ottoman are known for their versatility and practicality. They’re appreciated for the fact that they can be integrated in pretty much any room of the house where they can function as an occasional seat, an accent piece for a cozy nook or as a substitute for the coffee table or even for the nightstand.
View in galleryThe initial designs were adapted to suit new spaces and new decors, hence the diversity of ottomans we have todayView in galleryOttomans can serve a variety of functions including that of a footstool of a coffee tableView in galleryRound ottomans are appreciated for their friendly shape and they’re often used in bedrooms, guest areas, family rooms and other spacesView in galleryIn addition to being so versatile, ottomans now also double as storage pieces, hiding am empty space under their seatsView in galleryOf course, not all ottomans are hollow so if you want to use them for storage you need to be specific about your requirements
A cowhide ottoman is also something you might want to consider for a decor if the desire is to give it a more welcoming and comfortable appearance. The texture, pattern and colors contribute to an ambiance that’s not only inviting and pleasant but also inspired by nature. And in case you’re worried about the origin of the hide, you should know that most cowhide ottomans are synthetic and simply mimic the design of the real deal but this doesn’t mean they can’t give you an authentic cowboy-chic decor.
View in galleryOttomans are often used as accessories for lounge chairs in which case they serve as footstoolsView in galleryModern ottomans are sometimes also called poufs. These are generally lightweight and very cozy
The ottomans we know today come in a variety of different forms, shapes, sizes, colors and designs. Some are topped with removable trays and this allows them to make great accent tables. Some are low and meant to be used as footstools, usually in combination with a lounge chair or a sofa. In some cases the ottoman also double as a secret storage stash. This applies to ottomans that are hollow inside and have removable tops.
View in galleryThere are many different terms used today to describe an ottoman, terms like tuffet, pouf or footstoolView in galleryEven though ottomans are usually compact and fully covered, in some case the lower part of the frame may be exposedView in galleryA group of ottomans can sometimes replace a sofa or a sectional or can double as accent furnitureView in galleryThis combination between an ottoman and a coffee table is a common one, loved for the contrast of materials and texturesView in galleryPair a set of round ottomans with a low round table to form a stylish set ideal for casual dining or board game playingView in galleryIn some cases, ottomans have more intricate designs, inspired by the embellished royalty furnitureView in galleryCustom shapes and designs can be found with ease given how popular and common ottomans are these daysView in galleryWhen you don’t need the ottoman as a seating unit, let it serve as a decorative piece for the roomView in galleryThe cozyness of this round ottoman is highlighted by its faux fur coverView in galleryThese poufs are very cute, with a funky form that makes them resemble birdsView in galleryA large ottoman can easily replace a coffee table. If needed, use it in combination with a side table