What is an ottoman and what is it for?

In ancient times, the ottoman was in demand as a sofa, but today it has lost this function. But there were many new ones. The useful, stylish and multipurpose product differs in a form and a functional purpose from the distant relative. Ottoman of our day is indispensable in a variety of cases and is an auxiliary element of the situation at home.

Ottoman settled in the living rooms of the whole world for a long time.

First, this word was called a large sofa, which instead of a back had pillows. The armrests were either completely absent or replaced with rollers. A beautiful piece of furniture trimmed with tapestry and jacquard was presented to us by the Ancient East, and Turkey is considered the birthplace of the Ottoman. The origin of the name confirms this, because “Ottoman” means “Turkish” in translation. But since then, much has changed, and this is not the huge Oriental sofa, as it was originally.

Modern ottoman - one of the most multifunctional pieces of upholstered furniture. Now it is, rather, an ottoman in the form of a cube or cylinder or even a small couch, which are now a stand for the legs, then a table or a chest. Having become the center of the interior, an ottoman can decorate a room in any style.

Ottomans come in various sizes and types, for example, the size of a chair or sofa without a backrest. When choosing such a model, it is necessary to know in advance the dimensions of the room so that the product is well correlated with other elements of the interior. Today, the ottoman has changed significantly in comparison with her ancestor - a large oriental sofa. Now it has a much more compact size.

Nowadays, an ottoman has become a universal attribute of a comfortable and cozy home: you can sit on it, put a cup or a tray with food, you can open the top cover and hide your things inside. The version of the couch for the legs is small in size - square models are mostly 80x80 cm. Such a model is also rectangular in shape, as well as round, oval, asymmetric.

Of great importance for the interior is ottoman upholstery as a central object in any room. Now it is not only tapestry, as in antiquity. Today used a variety of materials: natural and artificial leather, velor, velvet, velvet, flax, wool and even fur (natural or artificial, shortly cropped).

The most common leather upholstery, characterized by the greatest practicality. For example, accidentally staining the surface of the skin, you can easily remove the stain - just wipe it with a damp cloth. Artificial leather almost repeats the properties of natural. It is not so durable, but it is significantly cheaper. Upholstered furniture, including ottoman, upholstered in velvet, always looks elegant. For such upholstery any bright color will be advantageous.

When choosing a material that is used in the production of ottomans repel from the style. For example, the classic frame is made of solid wood, while the production of products in modern styles is based on the use of chipboard, plywood and metal. Classic upholstery materials are luxurious fabrics, often with rich ornamentation. Today, leather, knitted and woven covers, plain upholstery are more common.

The color palette of the Ottoman is very diverse.

This piece of furniture is always in the spotlight. From what color you choose for this art object will depend on whether it will accent or blend with the color scheme of the entire interior. A win-win solution designers consider the choice of a neutral light shade. Solid low-key upholstery, as a rule, fits into any style.

Gray is noble, at the same time it is the most neutral color. It has many variations: silver, wet asphalt, ashen, almost white. Any of these shades is appropriate in a modern interior.

If the color of the furniture that is already in your living room is dark, the ottoman is chosen in light colors. When monotonous upholstered sofas and chairs for the pouf-stand, it is better to take a variegated fabric that has a pattern or ornament. From the same fabric you can sew covers on the pillows.

Completeness to the interior can give a harmonious combination of the central island-ottoman and window design in one scale. An ottoman made in a bright colorful palette will become the dominant of the whole composition, the center of a corner for recreation.

Upholstered furniture with ottoman makes it diverse and adds convenience. For example, a sofa model with an ottoman can replace more than one chair, and at night it will serve as a comfortable place to sleep. It is transformed easily, simply, without much effort. In this case, the berth module is a continuation of the design of the sofa, in island models it will be placed separately.

Corner sofas with ottoman are:

• L-shaped;
• composite (modules are independent pieces of furniture);
• universal (transformed into the left and right sides).

Modern ottomans are very versatile:

• Couch for legs. The most common tandem couch-ottoman, which is used to relax the legs with a sofa or chair. Conveniently, for example, sitting in an armchair, place tired legs on an ottoman. For convenience, it should be close to the main piece of upholstered furniture.
• Coffee table. Ottoman-table is often located in the living room. This is primarily convenient: this table is more compact than a regular coffee table, without sharp corners, you can put a tray with tea or coffee on it. Practicality lies in the fact that at any time he is ready to become a place to sit.
• Chest. In terms of practicality, an ottoman ranks first among all items of upholstered furniture. Due to the hinged lid inside, you can store different things. The upholstery of such pieces of furniture should be durable, so ottoman chests are mainly trimmed with thick fabrics such as leatherette, jacquard and flax.

• Sofa for rest. Ottoman as an extended sofa can make any interior elegant. Such luxury is possible in an apartment with large dimensions or in a spacious private house.

• Seating position. One of the most common uses of an ottoman is to replace a chair or chair. In the interior, you can use several of these seats.
• Supplement to the bed. For the bedroom, they often get an ottoman in the form of a couch for pillows. It has a small height, so it is not used for sitting. This piece of furniture usually has the same upholstery as the bed.
• Several poufs. Four identical poufs, placed in the form of a square, turn into a rather spacious table. If necessary, they can be moved apart, then there will be separate seating.

Ottoman is used everywhere and in a variety of interiors:

• There is no doubt that the oriental style is in the first place in choosing a style for an ottoman. This interior is distinguished by its brightness, in it the ottoman always looks luxurious, it is its main stylistic dominant. Traditionally, it has an elongated shape with original armrests and is upholstered with silk fabrics on both sides. Eastern ottoman is primarily a bright upholstery, pillow-cylinders, edging with a decorative cord, with tassels, wooden carved legs.

• At all times, the classic interior was the standard of style and taste. The ottoman of this style is distinguished by strict but at the same time elegant forms. Distinctive details: legs and armrests of wood, pillows in the form of a cylinder, light monochromatic upholstery in contrast with the frame in dark colors.

• In contrast to the Classic An ottoman can decorate such a baroque style as rich in décor. It is characterized by the use of bent legs, threaded armrests, and carved bottom of the seat. This and gold-plated elements, velvet upholstery, you can use silk or tapestry. Characteristic colors are red with gold. Models of this style are compact.

• Empire style an ottoman has only one curved high armrest. The furniture has thin legs, a rectangular seat, and a carved wooden armrest. Stylistic difference - white upholstery, as well as gilding of wooden elements. In the modern version of the Empire, the legs can be metal, white leather upholstery, as well as golden inclusions in the decor.

• Country style Fur padding looks interesting. It can be made of textiles decorated under the skin of an animal,cows or zebras. Ottoman rattan is often found in the decor of Provence. This is a great outdoor option for an outdoor terrace. Ottoman "omnivorous", it can be seen even in the style of high-tech, upholstered with metallic material with futuristic shapes.

Manufacturers of upholstered furniture Contour and Milan specialize in ottomans in particular, as evidenced by their popularity among buyers:

• Poof / ottoman "Contour". This product, made in the style of Scandinavian eco-design is distinguished by rigor and conciseness, there is nothing superfluous in it. The padded stool is very convenient and practical. The advantage of the model is compactness and light weight, with little effort you can move the ottoman to another room or another angle. The advantage of this piece of interior is a stylish design, a special form. The choice of environmental materials for manufacturing also attracts buyers. For the production of the base and high legs used natural wood. For a soft seat, a modern hypoallergenic material has been selected. High elasticity allows you to keep the original shape for a long time.The upholstery is made of very durable fabric, it is pleasant to the touch and easy to clean.

• Armchair complete “Contour Patchwork”. The manufacturers of this product wanted to prove that the ottoman deserves special attention as a completely independent piece of furniture. The design of the ottoman Milan is made in a modern style. This is emphasized by chrome elements, minimalistic tie. Custom design distinguishes the product from the total mass of sofas. Folds out using a robust click-klyak mechanism. The framework is made of metal. The product can be operated as a sofa for rest during the day and even as a spacious double chair, and at night the ottoman can turn into a comfortable sleeping place, the dimensions of which are 218x112 cm. A soft mattress will make your sleep healthy and pleasant. The model has a stylish chrome armrests. The color of the product is different brightness and non-standard: there are many options for interesting shades. The entire lower part of the ottoman is occupied by a volume box, which has a size of 145x97x20 cm, in which it is possible to store everything in the world. Removable holofiber strap case makes ottoman even softer. The mattress is 14 cm thick, filled with foam.

It is not necessary to buy an ottoman in the store. It is easy to make from scrap materials yourself. For example, if you have something else left of something else, a frame made of wood, which has metal legs with rollers, you can make an ottoman based on it. The legs are sold separately at any hardware store.

As a frame, a coffee table, which has been around for many years and which you wanted to throw away, can approach, because its upper part has long and hopelessly ruined. True, these tables are not strong enough to use them for sitting. In this case, the structure can be strengthened by means of a metal corner. From above the product is covered with foam rubber, then sheathed with a fabric.

It is easy to make an ottoman-chest, and on the lid to arrange a soft seat. The surface in this construction will be made of a sheet of plywood, which must be upholstered with foam rubber and covered with a cloth. Comfortable ottoman ready!

How to make an ottoman, you will learn in the next video.