How to Choose the Right Footstool or Ottoman for Your Living Room

Choosing the right footstool or ottoman can add comfort, flexibility and style to your living room. These versatile pieces do far more than provide somewhere to put your feet up. The right design can offer extra seating, introduce texture or colour, provide hidden storage and help tie the whole room together. Whether you are pairing one with a sofa, armchair or sectional, the best footstool or ottoman should work beautifully with both your layout and your everyday routine.

In this guide, we explain how to choose the best footstools and ottomans for your living room, including size, shape, function, upholstery and styling. If you are planning the wider room too, you can also explore our living room buying guides for more inspiration.

Start with How You Will Use It

Before choosing a style or fabric, think about how the piece will be used day to day. Some footstools are mainly for comfort, while others are designed to work harder as storage, seating or a central feature in the room.

• Use a footstool for added comfort alongside a sofa or armchair
• Choose an ottoman if you want a larger statement piece with a more substantial presence
• Consider storage designs if you need somewhere to keep blankets, magazines or everyday clutter out of sight
• Look for a firmer, more structured piece if it may double as occasional seating

Thinking about function first will make it much easier to narrow down the right size, shape and finish.

Understand the Difference Between a Footstool and an Ottoman

These terms are often used interchangeably, but there can be subtle differences in style and function.

Footstools

Footstools are often more compact and are typically designed to sit in front of a chair or sofa. They are ideal for putting your feet up and can also add softness and texture to a room.

Ottomans

Ottomans are often larger and can feel more like a centrepiece. Many are generously upholstered and some include hidden storage, making them a practical as well as decorative choice.

In many homes, either can work well. The best option simply depends on the scale of your room and how you want the piece to function.

Choose the Right Size

Size is one of the most important things to get right. A footstool or ottoman should feel in proportion to the seating around it and leave enough room for comfortable movement through the space.

• A footstool should usually sit comfortably in front of a sofa or armchair without overwhelming it
• An ottoman used as a central piece should suit the scale of the seating arrangement around it
• Leave enough space around the piece so walkways still feel open and practical
• Make sure it does not sit too high or too low against the seat height of your sofa or chair

As a general guide, the height of a footstool or ottoman often works best when it is close to the seat height of the furniture beside it, or slightly lower.

Think About Shape

The shape of your footstool or ottoman can affect both the look and the practicality of the room.

Rectangular

A rectangular design works well in front of standard sofas and can suit both traditional and contemporary layouts.

Square

Square ottomans often work well as a more central feature, especially in larger seating areas or open-plan living rooms.

Round

Round footstools can soften a room filled with straight lines and corners. They can also work well in smaller spaces where a gentler shape helps the room feel more relaxed.

Nesting or Modular Designs

Some designs offer extra flexibility, making them useful in homes where the layout changes regularly or where occasional extra seating is needed.

If your room already includes angular pieces such as a coffee table or TV unit, a round or softly upholstered ottoman can create a pleasing contrast.

Consider Whether You Need Storage

Storage footstools and ottomans can be especially useful in living rooms where every piece of furniture needs to work hard.

• Ideal for storing throws, cushions, magazines or children’s toys
• Helps reduce visible clutter and keep the room feeling tidy
• Particularly useful in smaller living rooms or multifunctional spaces

If hidden storage is a priority throughout the room, you may also find our sideboards and living room storage guide helpful when planning the wider space.

Choose the Right Upholstery

As an upholstered piece, a footstool or ottoman can be a great way to introduce texture, warmth and contrast into the room. The fabric you choose will affect both the look and how practical it is for everyday life.

Soft Woven Fabrics

These create a warm and comfortable look and can work well in relaxed, family-friendly living rooms.

Velvet and Luxe Textures

These can add depth and richness, making an ottoman feel more decorative and statement-led.

Leather or Faux Leather

These can be easy to wipe clean and may suit more contemporary or classic interiors depending on the finish.

Patterned Fabrics

A patterned footstool can add interest if the rest of the room is fairly neutral, though it is usually best to keep the scale and colour palette in balance with the other furniture.

If you are choosing upholstery across several pieces, think about how the footstool will sit alongside your sofa or armchair. It can either coordinate closely or provide an intentional contrast.

Think About Comfort and Practicality

Some footstools are made mainly for visual appeal, while others are built for daily comfort. If you plan to use yours regularly, it is worth thinking about padding, structure and surface finish.

• A softer top may feel more comfortable for putting your feet up
• A firmer upholstered top may work better if it will also be used as a seat or tray surface
• Buttoned or deeply detailed finishes can look elegant, but flatter tops may be more practical for everyday use
• If using a tray on top, make sure the surface feels stable enough

Match the Style to Your Living Room

Your footstool or ottoman should feel connected to the overall look of the room. It does not need to match every piece exactly, but it should work with the existing furniture and colour palette.

• For traditional interiors, consider classic shapes, turned legs and timeless fabrics
• For modern spaces, look for clean lines, simple silhouettes and understated finishes
• For more relaxed or layered rooms, textured upholstery can add softness and depth
• For smaller rooms, lighter colours can help the piece feel less visually heavy

If your seating already makes a strong statement, a more subtle footstool may create better balance. If the room feels simple, an ottoman can be a great place to introduce shape, texture or colour.

Consider Placement in the Room

Where the piece sits will influence the size and type that works best.

• Place a footstool directly in front of an armchair or sofa for comfort and everyday use
• Use a larger ottoman centrally to anchor a seating arrangement
• In smaller rooms, make sure the piece can be moved easily when needed
• Allow enough space around it so the room still feels easy to move through

In some layouts, an ottoman can replace a coffee table altogether. In others, it may work better as an additional piece alongside one.

Styling a Footstool or Ottoman

These pieces are practical, but they can also make a real contribution to the overall look of the room.

• Use a tray on top of a larger ottoman to hold books, candles or decorative objects
• Coordinate the upholstery with cushions or curtains for a more pulled-together feel
• Choose contrasting texture to add interest to a neutral room
• Keep styling simple so the piece remains functional as well as attractive

A well-chosen ottoman can help bring together surrounding furniture such as your sofa, coffee table and storage pieces, making the room feel more complete.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Choosing a piece that is too large for the available floor space
• Selecting a height that feels awkward against the sofa or chair
• Overlooking storage when the room would benefit from it
• Choosing delicate upholstery that does not suit everyday use
• Treating it as an afterthought rather than part of the overall room design

Final Thoughts

The best footstools and ottomans combine comfort, proportion and style. Start by thinking about how you want to use the piece, how much space you have and whether it needs to offer more than one function. Once those practical points are covered, you can focus on fabric, shape and detailing that suits the rest of your living room.

Whether you are looking for a compact footstool for everyday comfort or a larger ottoman that adds storage and visual impact, choosing carefully will help you create a living room that feels both stylish and easy to live in. You can also browse our wider living room furniture collection to coordinate your footstool or ottoman with the rest of your space.