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Are you furnishing your living room and wondering if an ottoman is the right accessory for your sofa, sectional, or living room set? Perhaps you wonder if an ottoman will work with the furniture you already have, or maybe you are worried about taking up too much floor space.
If you’ve been wondering about whether an ottoman is right for your home, read on. Furniture Fair has been helping furnish living rooms for 58 years, and we’ve learned a thing or two about ottomans. We want to share that knowledge with you to help you decide if an ottoman is the right choice for you.
Read on to learn about the pros and cons of ottomans and how an upholstered ottoman can benefit you and your living space.
To start, we need to identify what an ottoman is. An ottoman is usually an upholstered piece of furniture that has no back or arms and can be used as a seat, footrest, or whatever purpose is practical. Large ottomans and small ottomans are available with many sizes in between.
Ottomans originated in Turkey during the Ottoman Empire (hence the name) and were introduced to Europe during the 18th century. They became popular in social clubs and other upper-class interior designs. Eventually, They became part of the furniture that has stood the test of time and is a crucial accessory to many living room designs.
Now that you know what an ottoman is and how you can use one in your home let’s look at the benefits and drawbacks that an ottoman can have for you. After learning about the pros and cons of an ottoman, you will be better equipped to decide if one is right for you.
Here are a few positive benefits that you could experience when purchasing an ottoman for your home. Keep in mind that every ottoman is different, and you will want to look for the features that appeal to you.
If you like having multifunctional furniture and are always in need of a few extra seats during those crazy parties you keep hosting, an ottoman might just be the solution that you need. In addition to being a footrest, the cushioning of an ottoman means it can double as a chair or bench in a pinch.
Ottomans are not limited to one particular size or shape, and due to that factor, they are incredibly versatile for interior design.
An ottoman can be large enough to function as independent furniture and small enough to fit in smaller corners and spaces for easy storage. Whatever your spacing issues, you can most likely find an ottoman that will serve them.
An ottoman is not merely limited to the two functions of footrest and seat. When paired with a serving tray, an ottoman can function as a relaxed gathering space to host a wine tasting and a charcuterie board with friends.
With the right tv tray, an ottoman can also take the place of a coffee table, end table, or impromptu eating space for food and drinks, making an ottoman way more than just a place for putting your feet.
If you have kids, ottomans offer an excellent station for doing homework or other creative activities in a fun environment. Plus, a more oversized ottoman is crucial when playing a spirited game of “The Floor Is Lava.”
However, if your wine tastings get a little too wild or your little one is an unbridled artist who sees the world (and your furniture) as their canvas, you may want to consider getting a performance fabric. With performance fabric, your ottoman will be both multifunctional and easy to clean.
Have you got unsightly clutter that is necessary but a bit of an eye-sore in your room? Need to pack away those nine random remotes that you are pretty sure you still need to operate something in your den? An ottoman might just be the cleverly hidden storage option that you are looking for.
Storage ottomans are designed to be both comfortable and valuable and can be the solution to a slightly cluttered room. Alternatively, if you live in an area with seasonal temperature changes, an ottoman is the perfect spot to store throw blankets and pillows when they aren’t needed.
Here are a few potential drawbacks that you could face if you buy an ottoman. Make sure to carefully consider each one and weigh them against the pros so that you won’t experience buyer’s remorse.
If you’ve ever experienced trying to slide into or out of a booth at a restaurant, you understand how a large ottoman in a small space can feel. If not adequately planned for the size of the room you have, an ottoman can make navigating that room a bit harder.
Make sure when choosing an ottoman to take into account how you and your guests will walk, sit, interact with the ottoman and the other furniture, and plan accordingly. The last thing you need is for someone to trip and dump popcorn everywhere because they didn’t have enough room to move around the room properly.
If you have a recliner, a reclining sofa, or a reclining sectional, an ottoman may serve as more of a nuisance than anything else. An ottoman is primarily a stationary footrest. Reclining furniture already has footrests built-in, so an extra ottoman would only get in the way of the reclining action and either awkwardly push it out of the way or knock it over.
Now that you know the pros and cons of ottomans, you will be better prepared to decide if an ottoman or two is suitable for your home. You can then relax knowing that you made the right decision for your needs.
If you are in the market for an ottoman or any living room furniture, consider visiting Furniture Fair. We have 11 locations throughout the Cincinnati, Dayton, and Louisville areas, and we have over 55 years of experience selling furniture at fair prices.
Visit one of our locations today, or schedule an appointment online with one of our many helpful sales team members.
