What is an ottoman?
An ottoman is a padded, upholstered seat with no back or arms. The name comes from the Ottoman Empire, where low cushioned seating was common, and the form reached European homes in the late 18th century. Today the word covers everything from a small footstool to a large upholstered coffee table.
What unites them is the upholstered top and the absence of a back. Beyond that, an ottoman can have legs or sit on a plinth, have a hinged storage lid, be firm enough to hold a tray or soft enough to sit on for a while.
Because an ottoman has no back, it is easy to place anywhere in a room. It can float in front of a sofa, tuck under a console or sit at the foot of a bed without blocking views. That flexibility is why interior designers use ottomans to balance a layout or fill an awkward gap.
Types of ottoman and what each is for
Our ottomans page shows the shapes we make to measure, from round footstools to long storage benches.
| Type | Description | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Footstool or ottoman stool | Small padded stool, square, round or rectangular | Feet up in front of an armchair or sofa |
| Coffee table ottoman | Large padded top, often with a tray | Living room centre piece, family rooms |
| Storage ottoman | Box with a hinged or lift off lid | Blankets, toys, games, bedding |
| Ottoman bench | Long, narrow upholstered bench | End of bed, hallways, dressing rooms |
| Pouf | Soft ottoman with no frame, filled with beads, fibre or foam | Extra seating, children's rooms, majlis |
| Cube ottoman | Square box ottoman, firm top | Flexible seat and side table |
| Ottoman bed | Bed with a lifting base for storage | Bedrooms short on storage |
What is an ottoman chair?
When people search for an ottoman chair, they usually mean an armchair sold with a matching ottoman footstool, so the pair work as a reclining reading seat without a mechanism. Classic examples are deep wingback or lounge chairs with a footstool in the same fabric.
For an ottoman chair pair to work, the footstool should sit at or just below the chair seat height, and be positioned so the legs rest comfortably with the knees slightly bent. A footstool around 50 to 60 cm deep is usually enough for one person. We can make a footstool to match an existing chair, or reupholster both in the same fabric. See chair upholstery.
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Ottoman sizes and heights
Height is the most important dimension. A footstool or coffee table ottoman that is too high feels awkward and blocks the view across the room. Most sofas have a seat height of 42 to 48 cm, so a footstool ottoman of 38 to 45 cm usually works.
| Ottoman | Height | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Footstool | Level with or 2 to 5 cm below seat height, often 38 to 45 cm | 45 to 60 cm square or round |
| Coffee table ottoman | 38 to 45 cm, close to sofa seat height | About two thirds of the sofa length, often 90 to 140 cm |
| Ottoman bench at bed end | 45 to 50 cm, just below mattress top | Two thirds to full bed width, 40 to 50 cm deep |
| Storage ottoman | 40 to 48 cm | Sized to contents, often 60 to 120 cm long |
| Pouf | 35 to 45 cm | 45 to 60 cm diameter or square |
| Dressing table stool | Seat 45 to 48 cm for a 75 cm table | 40 to 50 cm wide |
Leave space around it
Leave about 40 to 45 cm between a sofa and a coffee table ottoman so people can pass and reach the top. An ottoman bench at the end of a bed should leave at least 60 to 75 cm of walkway beyond it.
Storage ottomans and ottoman benches
A storage ottoman bench is one of the most practical pieces in a Dubai apartment, where storage is often tight. At the end of a bed it holds spare bedding; in a living room it hides toys and games; in a hallway it gives a seat for putting on shoes.
Specify the hinges carefully. Soft close lid stays stop the lid slamming on small fingers and hold it open safely. A lined interior protects contents. Small ventilation gaps help in humid months, when a sealed box can trap moisture in stored fabrics. If the lid will be sat on often, ask for a firmer foam top and a strong lid frame.
Pouf vs ottoman: what is the difference?
A pouf is a type of ottoman with no rigid frame. It is filled with beads, fibre, foam or a mix and covered in fabric or leather, so it moves and shapes itself to whoever sits on it. Poufs are lighter, more casual and easy to move between rooms. A traditional ottoman has a timber frame, a firm padded top and usually legs or a plinth.
A pouf ottoman sits between the two: a soft sided shape with a firm foam core that holds its form. It works as a foot rest pouf, an extra seat or a children's stool. Poufs are also popular in majlis rooms and as outdoor seating when made with outdoor fabric and quick dry foam.
Where an ottoman works best
One well sized ottoman often does the work of two pieces of furniture, which is why they suit apartments where space is tight. Round shapes are easier to walk around in narrow rooms; rectangles suit long sofas and the end of a bed.
- Living room: a large coffee table ottoman with a tray gives a soft centre for family rooms and makes extra seating for guests
- Bedroom: an ottoman bench at the end of the bed for sitting, laying out clothes and storing spare bedding
- Reading corner: a footstool matched to an armchair makes a comfortable ottoman chair pair
- Dressing room: a round or square stool sized to the dressing table
- Children's room: soft poufs or a storage ottoman for toys, with rounded corners and a soft close lid
- Majlis: poufs and floor cushions add flexible seating for large gatherings
- Hallway: a slim storage bench for shoes, with a firm top for sitting
Fabrics and finishes for ottomans
Ottomans take feet, trays, children and pets, so they need a durable fabric. Choose an upholstery fabric rated at 25,000 Martindale rubs or more for a footstool or coffee table ottoman used daily. Leather and faux leather wipe clean and suit trays and drinks. Velvet and bouclé give softness but show marks more.
Finishing details include deep buttoning, piping, a skirt, exposed timber legs, metal feet or a fabric covered plinth. A removable tray turns a coffee table ottoman into a practical surface for drinks. Read our upholstery fabric guide for rub counts and fibre types.
Made to measure ottomans in Dubai
Made to measure lets you set the exact size and height for your sofa, bed or chair, match fabric to existing upholstery and choose storage, legs and finishes. We build each ottoman on a timber frame with foam density chosen for its use, firm for a coffee table, softer for a footstool.
We visit with the fabric library, measure the space and the furniture it will sit beside, and send a written quote within 24 hours. A 50% deposit books a fixed delivery date. Each ottoman is made to order by our craftspeople, inspected and photographed before delivery. Start a design in the The Fabric Room Design Studio or book a home visit.
