Pouffes and Ottomans
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Have you ever walked into a room or space and had the feeling that the furniture is not complete? Each time you look around, the room seems to be missing something. They may have left out the Ottoman. Although relatively small when compared to other pieces of furniture, the Ottoman provides a touch of class that is often overlooked. Instead of bland stools and coffee tables, why don’t you embrace an upgrade and try the Ottoman?
Ottoman types
There are different types of Ottoman. Some of the most popular ones are shown below:
Standard
This is the ottoman design that has been carried on for centuries. It consists of a solid frame covered by a cushioned top. The upholstery can be made of cotton, hide or other classes of fabric. The standard ottoman design does its job, and brings some style with it. Common shapes associated with this design are the rectangular and square shapes.
Pouf
Unlike the standard design, the pouf ottoman design does not have a sturdy frame. Most times a pouf ottoman will be spherical in shape. The cushion fillings are usually made of light substance, like feather or down. This design is sometimes called the bean bag ottoman.
Cocktail
This design can hold your coffee, food and other drinks because of its flat top. You can opt to buy one with a cushion top and flat top on either side. You also have the option of purchasing one with a tray that goes on the top, and can be removed when not needed.
Cube
As expected, the most noticeable feature of the cube ottoman is its shape. A major advantage of this design is the possibility of stacking ottomans for aesthetic effect. At times cube ottomans are made with a well concealed storage space right under the top.
Upholstery Material
Ottomans come in all kinds of different fabrics. Some have a pattern embroidered into the fabric, while some fabric is just one color. Popular choices of fabrics for ottomans include leather, ruxton (also known as wicker), and velvet. Keep in mind, each of these fabrics brings a unique aesthetic with it. Leather ottomans look sleek and evoke class. Velvet material can look bold and flamboyant, if a strong color is chosen. Other simple fabrics, like linen blends, look simple and clean. Wicker has a traditional flavor that's great for indoor patios and sunrooms. Other common fabrics are faux leather ottomans, polyester ottomans, and microfiber ottomans.
Beyond fabrics, ottomans are made from many other types of materials. Popular choices are wooden ottomans, metal ottomans, plastic/acrylic ottomans, and glass ottomans.
Leather
Using leather as upholstery material has its benefits. One major benefit leather gives you is its durability. Leather material takes longer time to wear and tear. Also leather upholstery is highly resistant to stain and easy to clean. Leather can be of different colors; there is the black leather, brown, beige and a couple other colors. These colors work well in different rooms, so you should rally consider what color of leather would fit your space best.
Fabric
There are different types of fabric you can choose from for your ottoman upholstery. One factor you should consider is the type of material used in the other furniture upholstery. It is generally advised to go for similar material for both ottoman and other furniture. However, sometimes you may want to be adventurous and for a contrast; different upholstery materials for ottoman and other furniture. Whichever way you decide to go, here are different types of fabric you can consider for your upholstery:
- Linen: Depending on the look you’re going for and the existing design of your room, a linen ottoman can fit in to add a formal hint to the total outlook. However, if you plan to use your ottoman as a coffee table, totally avoid line fabric because if stained, it can only be effectively cleaned by professionals. A major benefit of linen is its durability and ability to maintain its color over time.
- Cotton: Cotton fabric is very widely preferred to others mainly because it has a good balance of durability, aesthetic and price. It is not overly expensive, lasts moderately long and looks quite good on ottomans.
- Velvet: If your room or space already has a classy, luxurious look, you may like to consider velvet fabric for your ottoman. It is the perfect finish if your room is sporting traditional-style furniture. A downside to velvet may be its relative high price, but if you consider the resulting elegance it brings, the price will certainly be worth it.
Rattan
Rattan is quite unique when used for ottomans. It is especially effective for outdoor purposes because the material is lightweight. Also you can give a single ottoman different designs just by doing some light paint job. The major weakness of rattan upholstery is that it cannot withstand extreme heat and humidity. Asides these weaknesses, you can use your rattan ottoman for many years.
Ottoman Styles
Contemporary
A contemporary ottoman is characterized mainly by its sleekness in simplicity. There are no elaborate designs as such. It’s perfect for modern looking spaces and furniture.
Traditional
Traditional ottomans are mostly flamboyant and have intricate designs. Sometimes, they may feature woven artwork. This style is usually at home in spaces with other traditionally styled furniture and rooms with the royal, vintage or classic feel as their interior design.
Functions
The functions of an ottoman depend largely on its type. For instance, if you choose to buy a cocktail ottoman that has a flat top on the other side, the basic function will be to hold food and drinks. Some ottomans have some storage space just under the top. This storage space is usually unnoticeable as it blends perfectly with the rest of the ottoman when closed. Storage ottomans can be used to keep items that normally litter the room, such as remotes, toys, etc.
The most popular use of ottomans however is for aesthetics. While they usually come in handy for various purposes, its place in beautifying a room cannot be ignored. A carefully selected style, shape and size will give your space that much needed lift. You can go also go for certain dual purpose ottomans. There are large designs with flat tops that can double as coffee tables for three to four persons at once. You can save a lot of space while adding some beauty to your room.
Make the most of your ottoman by combining them with matching sofas and loveseats.
Summary
You may think that there are other furniture you can use in place of ottomans .e.g. stools, coffee tables and the likes, but they can never replace the classy vibe an ottoman will add to your room. So why not eat your cake and have it? Beauty and efficiency in one package.