Footstools and Ottomans

An Ottoman is a piece of furniture that's usually well padded and upholstered in fabric and that generally doesn't have any back or arms  It's essentially used as a footstool or table.  Some come complete with a lift up hinged lid to provide storage for items that look messy unless hidden away, such as magazines and mail.

It received it's name because they originated in Turkey during the 1700's when it was part of the Ottoman Empire.  Back in those days, they were much more simple and were essentially wooden with cushions placed on top.  They were eventually brought to Europe in the late eighteenth century and gradually were improved in design so that extra storage via a lift up lid and upholstery was added.

Whereas footstools were originally designed to provide somewhere to rest your feet whilst sitting on a sofa or chair.  They were originally quite small in size as they were only intended for one purpose.  But as the years went by they were made available in larger sizes to allow for some extra space for displaying ornaments and prized possessions. 

Designs have been improved upon and many are now available with a lift up lid for handy storage space within the home.

Footstool coffee table

A footstool coffee table is a large footstool, which essentially doubles up as a coffee table.  It's on the larger side, which means it's more able to accommodate not just somewhere to rest your feet, but also serves as somewhere to place drinks and snacks.  Because of the large, flat surface area, it's also a great place to display ornaments and other decorative items, such as flowers, candles and scent diffuser's. 

A good wooden coffee table tray is recommended to make displaying items, such as those mentioned above much easier.  Choose one that is no bigger than a third of the total size of the surface area of the coffee table.  Any bigger and it will dominate the space.

These are usually constructed with an upholstered padded top, which means they look great, but are also really comfy for tired feet and even create a bit of spare seating, when there are not enough sofas and chairs to go round upon the arrival of guests.  Deep buttoning is usually an option and always adds a touch of class.  Some even feature a built-in wooden tray which matches the colour of the legs and makes for a really nice touch. These are really easy to clean and care for.

Footstool with storage

A fabric footstool with storage is a great addition to any household, not only because they offer comfortable seating, offer somewhere to perch tired feet and something that acts as a focal point in the center of the room, they also provide hidden storage space to hide unsightly clutter, such as magazines, documents and TV remotes.

These are essentially footstools that feature a lift-up lid that's secured with heavy duty hinges inside either end of the lid that can be open and closed to create handy storage space.  A stop is inserted in the lid, so that the lid stays open on its own and furthermore stops it being opened too wide, which can cause damage to the hinges.

Most of them are rectangular in size and their lids are designed so that they are generally lightweight and easy enough for anyone to operate, but still strong enough for people to use as seating.  However, some are round in shape and these are great for smaller rooms.  Rather than having a lift-up lid attached with hinges, these feature a completely removable lid to gain access to the storage inside.

Not confined to just the living room, these are just as useful in the bedroom to create end of bed storage or on a landing space to stow away laundry or clean towels.

Round footstools

Round footstools are really handy, they can either act as a center piece in the living room, or in smaller options they make a portable piece of furniture, that's easy to move around and can be stowed out of the way when not in use.

They can easily be moved around and for this reason, they can easily be positioned next to someones favourite sofas, snugglers or chairs ready to place handy items that they want to keep nearby like digital tablets, drinks and snacks.

They're great for spare seating for when guests are stopping by, or simply offers somewhere for children to sit.  Because they're so easy to move around, they can be pulled up to tables or in front of the TV.

Buttoned Footstools

These footstools feature buttons that are arranged on the surface of the item and pulled in tightly from underneath to create a dimple in the upholstered surface.  This is more painstaking for the upholsterer to produce and is seen as a premium option.  Therefore button footstools demands a higher price tag. 

The buttons are usually made from the same fabric as that of the rest of the item of furniture, but contrasting fabric can also be used for a creative flair.

Deep buttoning is the most popular type of buttoning and for good reason too.  It can take an upholsterer considerable time to get just right.  Careful marking out of both the fabric and the foam is required.  Fabric is folded and pulled through holes that have been drilled through the foam padding and secured with buttons.  This creates a diamond shaped pattern on the surface.

Other types of buttoning are available such as Biscuit buttoning.  This is a modern take on the usual deep buttoning we are so used to seeing.  This is now commonly seen on lots of furniture in the home such as upholstered beds, sofas and chairs.  A fabric footstool with storage facility is a good candidate for both this and deep buttoning.

Real leather is a natural material and each particular hide will have distinctive qualities of its own.  For instance, certain skins may have growth marks or scars that reflect their natural origins.  If used frequently, it may well crinkle over time, but this simply enhances its personality. The fact of the matter is that it is a natural product.  Any unintentional spills can be quickly cleaned up due to its inherent water resistance.

For this reason something like a leather storage footstool would be great for the living room.  As not only will it allow for extra storage space and somewhere to display decorative items with a coffee table tray, if any drinks do happened to get knocked over, it wouldn't be the end of the world.

Velvet feels lovely and luxurious to the touch.  This is down to the way pile all falls in the same direction.  It also reflects light in a way that no other fabric does.  Don't let its soft feel fool you though.  This is a very hard wearing fabric that is easy to maintain and is usually stain resistant, so if any liquids are accidentally spilled, then cleaning with a clean, damp cloth is all that's needed to revive.

This fabric is very popular in the UK and is suitable for everyday use for all items of furniture sofas, chairs, cushions and velvet storage footstool.

A Wool blend fabric is essentially a material which has been constructed with synthetic and/or natural fibers.  A fabric like this is quite tough and unlikely to get damaged.  It adds a nice texture to the item of furniture and a little warmth in the winter.  It is breathable, so won't get overly warm in the summer.

Linen is very breathable and cool and as such is quite popular in warmer climates.  The matt look results in rich colours.  Naturally anti-static, it attracts less dust than other fabrics.  It's also naturally antibacterial and hypoallergenic.  It's really tough and even with little care will last for years and years.

Look for a frame that is well-made and constructed with high-quality materials. A good place to start is by choosing a foot stool frame comprised of engineered hardwood. Anything constructed with chipboard should be avoided as it may eventually bow or weaken.

It's important that the legs are made from solid hardwood.  This is the best option for strength and durability.  After all, they might have to stand up to the odd knock or bump or even the weight of someone sitting on them.

Corner blocks should be used as reinforcement for the frame's internal structure. This gives the construction a great amount of strength in addition to giving a place for the feet or legs to be attached.

Ensure the foam used to pad the top surface is of a high quality.  A high grade foam will maintain it's original shape and appearance over a much longer period of time.  Some inferior foams will lose their appearance and over time, will lose their ability to bounce back into shape after being compressed.

Skillful upholstery should have been applied to the item of furniture.  There are certain warning signs that something has been rushed with little attention to detail being carried out.  

Look for fabric that appears "puckered" i.e. looks like it's been pulled in tighter in some ares than others.  The straight edge of any furniture should be smooth all the way along the edge from left to right without any bumps in the fabric or padding.

The pleats on any deep buttoning should look neat and feel tightly folded in.  The pleats should not look or feel loose.

Finally, decorative brass/gold/silver studs are applied to the front edge or around the sides of some items of furniture for an extra touch of class.  Although pain-staking for the upholsterer to carry out, the studs should be perfectly aligned and form a perfect clean line.  They shouldn't appear wonky or uneven.

To summarize, when you shop online for new footstools, you must first consider your requirements to determine which of the types of footstools would be most benefit the intended space.  If the room isn't very large, then consider something smaller which won't dominate the space.  If you lack storage space, consider a storage footstool which will help provide somewhere to hide away messy items.

Choose a fabric that will best fit your lifestyle.  Make sure you choose something that is hard-wearing and long lasting, especially if the furniture will have kids and pets sitting on it.  It needs to be stain resistant and easy to care for.

Finally, make sure you choose something that has been well constructed and carefully upholstered.  It's no good choosing an item based purely on looks, without considering what materials it has been constructed from.