Ottomans and Footstools
What comes in every shape and size, material, colour, and are universally useful in any room? Ottomans and footstools! They can serve as additional seating almost anywhere, a place to rest your feet or your drink, allow one more person to grab a seat; footstools and ottomans are an essential piece of furniture. In my opinion they are fundamental to a well functioning home. They add a flexibility and ease you didn’t realise was missing.
You might be interested in the history of the “ottoman,” in the home. It originally came from Turkey to Europe during the Ottoman Empire, and made it’s way around the world through France, and then an “ottomane” purchase by Thomas Jefferson, brought the piece of furniture to the continental United States. The shape of the ottoman has changed over time, but the purpose is the same. What every weary traveler wants at the end of the day is to put his feet up!
*Photos from Pinterest
Above are photo examples of some of the ways that ottomans and footstools can be useful in a room. They are really great tucked under tables, but also adding a functional piece of furniture that is conveniently stowed away. They are also an easy way to add a pop of colour, pattern, or texture to a space because they come in many shapes, styles and materials.
In my own homes, we have had a set of three leather ottomans or footstools that we are constantly moving around the house to suit our changing needs. They work at the foot of a bed, like a bench, as a footrest under a desk, or also additional seating for rooms that lack seating, a small bedroom for example. They are particularly practical in small spaces that serve multiple purposes. I find them so universally attractive and necessary that I want to add more to my home.
Here’s my dining room in Switzerland. I used to use that large round ottoman as a coffee table in the family room. When I found a new vintage cocktail table, I moved our ottoman into the dining room, just to get it out of the way, but it has become a favourite perch near the kitchen for both me and our dog. She likes the elevated view, and I like to perch outside the kitchen but still within communication range. The ottoman is perfect for this. And in our space, it adds another softness in an otherwise space filled with many hard surfaces.
When we move back to Washington, I would like to add a few more ottomans to the mix in our home. I’d like to have one in the entry/ foyer to sit when I’m putting on my shoes, or when writing, as sometimes happens when solicitations arrive in person. I also appreciate how it looks under a demi console table with the curved centre, creating just the perfect spot to place an ottoman.
I am beginning to see fringed ottomans everywhere. I love the balance between formal/ informal it adds to the space. And this one from The Expert is particularly appealing because the triangular shape is a welcome change from the typical round, square or rectangular ottoman. The triangular shape allows you to combine them to make different shapes. They come in many colours, too. The second photo is how the foyer looked before we moved to Switzerland.
I am planning to add two ottomans to my family room, that can also be pulled up to my dining table. Below you can see the family room as it was before we moved. That furniture is no longer in the house, and we will bring back the furniture from Zurich, as seen in the photo, below right. If you want the flexibility to pull the footstool up to your dining table for additional seating, the ideal height is between 18 and 23 inches for a standard height dining table. If not destined for the table, you have unlimited choices.
Below right photo: RH oak dining table (no longer in production) paired with Flexform Italia dining chairs. I’ve added the ottomans for illustration. The photo on the right is the dining room in Kirkland, WA.
As you can see, footstools add an interesting visual element in many different settings while also providing a very functional use. I prefer to invest in pieces that are multifunctional and also beautiful. With ottomans and footstools, you can’t go wrong. Every room could use one!
If I were going to purchase one now, here are a few places I would be shopping. In my opinion, I would always start with vintage, but if you can’t find what you are looking for in the antique stores, there are also current productions which are beautiful:
