Unique Ottomans
Buy the best unique ottomans selected and recommended by interior designers. By Caroline Patterson.
Unique ottomans bring a dash of style and an element of surprise to any home. Their quirky characters and specialty shapes make them the best accent pieces. A lot of these ottomans not only function as footstools but can also be used as coffee tables or are equipped with storage compartments. From neutral minimalist ones to ultra-modern footstools, here are our designers’ top picks for unique ottomans that will bring unexpected twists to your interiors.
Unique Ottomans
Buying Guide
Caroline Patterson
Interior Design Expert
Caroline is a young, New York-based interior designer and home decor writer, obsessed with textiles and designer furniture. Backed with rigorous training from a prestigious design school, as well as a profound understanding of material quality and fabric care, she offers spot-on advice on how to furnish your place with reliable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing pieces.
Ottomans never go out of style. They serve as a nice stool to rest your feet or a quick spot to sit and put on your shoes. Ottomans can be plain and practical, classy or unique in style. In recent years these stools have evolved into poofs that are rounded and soft. Unique ottomans may have hidden space, unusual shapes or funky and fun designs.
The right size, color, and unique appearance of an ottoman can bring a fresh look to any type of decor.
Covering a wooden base with fabric is the chosen method of making ottomans. The right textiles can bring depth, create color or add sophistication, and the most popular materials used include:
- Leather/Faux Leather - Leather adds a stately look to traditional, contemporary or transitional decors. Creative stitching or brass nail heads can give an enhanced look. A padded leather top on metal legs will suit a modern decor and double up as a coffee table.
- Cotton Blends - Cotton that is blended with polyester or other fabrics will give you many different types of appearances. Linen, tweed or velvet are a few examples. These blends are easy to work with and durable for adding pleats, buttons or side ornamentation.
- Wool - Ottomans or poofs that have a crocheted or knitted exterior will bring coziness to country, urban country or rustic decors. The soothing homemade look of wool yarn lets you use these beauties anywhere.
- Jute - Woven jute or rattan delivers a clean and fresh appearance to modern, contemporary or beach designs. Wicker is sturdy enough to use as a footrest or a table for small items.
- Faux Fur - Long strands of faux fur are fun. Perfect for a teen's bedroom or a game room, bright colors can ignite the space in joy. Fuzzy fur also makes great unique ottomans and gives the comfort of warmth in family rooms and bedrooms.
Poufs are rounded and can stand alone in corners or used beside a chair. Also known as poofs, pouffes, or sitting bags, they are low seat used for comfort or as a cushion to put on the floor. They tend to have softer filling than ottomans and are dressed in crocheted wool or soft cotton. They are virtually indestructible and can be found in playrooms or enclosed porches.
An ottoman is an upholstered seat, normally bigger in size and many a time offering the function of additional storage.
Unique ottomans, or footstools, come in square, round or rectangular shapes. Some sit snugly on the floor while others rest on wooden or metal legs. Storage can be found in certain models. A hidden top lid opens into a container inside for placing papers, remotes or other small items. A cube ottoman is commonly 18 inches all the way around. Rectangular units also sit at 18 inches to 20 inches in height and can range in length from 25 inches to 45 inches, depending on your placement needs. These work very well in front of a couch to double up as a footrest and a coffee table.