Very often, the small things in the home interior can be huge elements of change. And if you are looking for such items, look no further than ottomans. They fit well in both traditional and modern home designs and can help you make almost any room feel cosy and inviting.
Ottomans were first introduced into Europe in the late 18th from Turkey, the heart of the Ottoman Empire, hence the name. Usually a padded, upholstered seat or bench without arms or a back, the ottomans were heaped with cushions and were used as a centrepiece for seating in the main room where families would gather.
Their shape evolved from a large piece of furniture ranging around three walls to a compact corner piece until it moved into a position in the middle of a room. These days, designer ottomans are popular pieces of furniture that can be used throughout the house, so you can see them at the foot of a living room sofa or accompanying a dressing table in the bedroom.
Why Choose Ottomans?
Ottomans are casual and flexible and can make your living space feel softer and more usable. They are double-duty décor items that are not only multi-functional but also very stylish. You can choose from a range of designer ottomans and introduce an interesting, refreshing vibe into your home. They are used as tools to add a few different functions to a room, such as the following.
Coordinated Footstool
Incorporating an ottoman within your seating arrangement is a smart way to move within the needs of the space with greater flexibility. Very often, homeowners choose more ottomans to allow for their footrest to accommodate any seat on the sofa, whether it’s left, right or middle.
Seating Option
Adding ottomans to your home allows for styling versatility within different rooms. When it comes to the living room, an ottoman can be both a stylish and practical addition, which can expand the seating capacity of the area.
An alternative of a Coffee Table
These days we can see that designers offer an ottoman in place of a traditional coffee table. This décor trick is a great solution if you want to get a more casual feel and look in your room. You can add a large tray on top of the ottoman and display table books on it or use it as a place for beverages and extend the versatility of this timeless piece of furniture.
Storage Solution
Ottomans are versatile furniture pieces that can complement the décor of the room and provide extra foot support or seating capacity, but some can also have storage solutions built-in. You can use it to store various items, including throws, board games and more.
Tips on How to Choose the Right Ottoman
If you want to add some layers to the living room or bedroom, you need to think of the space and purpose to choose the right ottoman. An ottoman is ideal for the bedroom as it offers extra space for resting, placing and relaxing without taking up a large footprint.
However, it may not be an easy task to select the ottoman that matches your home interior perfectly. Usually, it depends on the size of your room and the size of your bed or your trendy sofa.
The size of your ottoman should generally be 2/3rds of the width of your sofa and it’s important to allow enough space between your ottoman and the sofa to pass through, but still to keep it within reach while sitting. If you are planning to use your ottoman as a footstool, you can opt for a simple ottoman that is meant for one person and it will be a versatile add-on to your sofa.
For more flexibility, you can place two ottomans to float within the space to accommodate expansive sectional configurations. Choosing the right height is crucial as you don’t want your feet going down too low or uphill.
If you are looking for a coffee table alternative, then it’s better to choose a larger ottoman that will offer more space to style with a tray and allow easy use within the room. It can easily become the focal point of your living room, giving it a laid-back feel and versatility. To add visual interest to the piece, you can style it with an organic throw.
Decorating Tips
Match with Decorative Cushions
Modern ottomans are part of popular interior design trends (https://www.trendhunter.com.au/popular-interior-design-trends-elements-of-contemporary-style/), such as the contemporary style, the Hamptons style and more. Depending on the look and feel of your room, you can decorate with ottomans in a few different ways. For a traditional style, match one or more ottomans with your sofa and if you want to create a seamlessly matching set, add decorative cushions made from the same material as your ottoman.
Add Colour and/or Create Contrast
An ottoman can be an excellent choice for adding a pop of colour to a subdued room or reinforce a colour that’s already present. Make sure to pick colours that pair nicely as you don’t want a garish contrast. However, if your room tends toward one colour, you can choose an ottoman that will provide a lovely contrasting note from the rest of the room décor.
Use it as a Counterpoint
If you are going to use your ottoman as a counterpoint to other furniture, think about whether it should be leggy or chunky. If the rest of the furniture in the room is upholstered and big, you may want to choose an ottoman on higher feet, to give the entire space some airy feel.
