It’s a term often used in furniture, but to a lot of people it is not immediately obvious what it is. It also doesn’t help that many manufacturers and retailers use the term somewhat liberally, often for items of furniture that are not really an Ottoman as the definition of them started out
So what actually is an Ottoman?
An ottoman has traditionally been seen as a versatile piece of upholstered furniture that does not have a back or arms on it. Typically you would find them being used as a footstool, a coffee table, or extra seating in a living space.
- Storage Ottomans: Many of them are designed with a hollow centre and a hinged or removable lid, this makes them a popular storage solution for the bedroom or living areas as they are perfect for storing blankets, toys, or cushions.
- Coffee Table Alternative: Large ottomans are also frequently styled to come with a flat tray on top of them for you to hold drinks or books on, blending the comfort of a footrest with the utility of a table to give you a truly flexible piece of furniture
Ottomans have proven themselves to be exceptionally useful pieces of furniture because they solve multiple interior design challenges at the same time.
Instead of having to buy three separate pieces of furniture for your room to complete it, such as an accent chair, a side table and a blanket box, a single ottoman can adapt to whatever you need - and if you pick the right one for you it can easily fulfil all three roles in one saving you a notable amount of space as well as a significant amount of cash.
Where did the name come from?
The name as you might expect comes directly from the Ottoman Empire that existed in modern-day Turkey.
In the late 18th century, Europeans started to import this style of seating from the East, where it originally consisted of a low, cushioned wooden platform that ran along the walls of a room.
Over time, Western furniture designers have scaled the design down into the freestanding and moveable padded stool that we see for sale today.
Here at Price Crash Furniture we have a wide variety of Ottomans to choose from if you a looking for a versatile storage solution for your bedroom – especially if you are looking for one that can double as a blanket box and storage for your bedding. There is a broad selections of designs as well as colours that vary from white at one end of the colour palette through to dark stained wood at the other end to suit those looking for a farmhouse or country vibe.
