Living Room Ottoman Ideas to Refresh Your Space

Tired of your living room looking stale and uninspired? Ottomans are amazing multifunctional pieces of furniture that can completely refresh the look and feel of your living room. From providing extra seating and footrests to serving as coffee tables, storage solutions, and decorative accents, ottomans offer endless possibilities to upgrade your living room's style and comfort.

Ottomans are extremely adaptable furnishings that can serve many purposes in a living room. They make excellent footstools to prop up tired feet, provide extra seating for guests, and even function as makeshift tables when topped with a tray. Some ottomans have internal storage compartments perfect for tucking away blankets, board games, or other living room clutter. Others feature flip-top lids that convert the ottoman into a surface for serving snacks or drinks. With so many potential uses, ottomans are among the most functional and space-saving options to integrate into your living room's design.

Choose the Right Size and Shape

One of the first decisions to make when shopping for an ottoman is choosing the right size and shape for your space. Consider your living room's dimensions and layout when deciding on the scale of your ottoman. A large square or rectangular ottoman can define a sitting area in an open concept living room. Round ottomans work well in tight configurations by fitting seamlessly beside chairs and sofas. For small spaces, cube ottomans provide surface area without taking up much footprint. Bench ottomans offer expansive, linear seating for multiple people.

• Measure available floor space to gauge what size ottoman will fit best without cramping the room.
• Square and rectangular ottomans work well against walls and in corners.
• Round ottomans can nestle beside existing furniture without sharp corners jutting out.
• Cube ottomans are great space-saving options for smaller rooms.
• Bench ottomans provide stretch-out seating along a wall or floating in a room.

In addition to traditional floor ottomans, some unique ottoman shapes include octagons, cubes, half-moon shapes, and ottoman benches. Choosing a shape that complements your existing layout and furniture style will help the ottoman seamlessly blend into your living room's aesthetic.

Pick Complementary Styles and Materials

Ottomans are available in a tremendous range of materials and patterns, making it easy to find options that suit your living room's decor. Leather and faux leather ottomans provide a sleek, contemporary look that works in modern and traditional home styles. For families with kids and pets, durable microfiber ottomans withstand everyday wear while offering countless custom prints and colors. Upholstered ottomans come in endless fabrics like velvet, linen, chenille, and cotton for a soft, inviting texture. Tufted ottomans offer an elegant, buttoned appearance for a touch of classic luxury. Beyond standard upholstery, unique ottoman materials include acrylic, wood, woven wicker, and metal.

• Choose leather or microfiber ottomans for high-traffic areas that need a stain-resistant surface.
• Select a neutral colored ottoman to easily blend with your existing decor.
• Pick a bold patterned ottoman to add an eye-catching punch of style.
• Match your ottoman fabric to other upholstered furniture for a coordinated look.
• Choose a tufted ottoman for ornate detail and visual interest.

Look for an ottoman fabric and design that integrates well with your sofas, chairs, pillows, and current color scheme. Whether you want your ottoman to blend seamlessly into the living room or provide a striking contrast, pay attention to styles and materials that enhance your overall decor goals.

Optimize Comfort and Functionality

An ottoman can only serve as a useful living room furnishing if it provides comfort and functionality. Look for ottomans filled with dense foam, down fill, or coil springs that offer supportive cushioning without flattening over time. The stability of the ottoman's frame and legs also affects how easily it can function as a footrest or impromptu seat without wobbling. Consider rounded edges for safety, especially if you have kids or elderly individuals in your home.

• Foam ottomans provide firm, resilient cushioning for years.
• Down-filled ottomans offer luxurious softness when used occasionally.
• Coil spring ottomans feature firmness and bounce back to retain their shape.
• Sturdy, wide-set wooden legs provide stability when using as a seat.
• Rounded edges prevent bruising and tripping when placed in high-traffic areas.

Look at each ottoman's description to understand its internal construction and weight limits. Well-made ottomans should have frames and legs that can accommodate average adult weights if being used for seating. Prioritize stability, comfort and prudent engineering when selecting ottomans meant for intensive utilization in your living space.

Place Ottomans Strategically

Take some time to think about where your ottoman will live within the living room. Ottomans serve wonderfully as standalone furniture additions, but also combine seamlessly with existing seating when placed correctly. Position ottomans near sofas and chairs so they can be easily used as footstools and alternate seating. For small spaces, nestle an ottoman right in front of a couch or loveseat so it rests within reach. Use rectangular ottomans as coffee table substitutes by placing them in the middle of a seating grouping. Round ottomans can tuck against legs as makeshift side tables next to armchairs. Get creative with positioning to maximize usefulness.

• Use as a movable footstool that can be pulled up to any seat when needed.
• Tuck tight behind a sofa to serve as an anchor when seated.
• Flank chairs with matching ottomans for personalized foot rests.
• Let it stand alone as a spare seat in open floor plans.
• Circle with seating to create cohesive conversation areas.

Take measurements to find empty "dead" spaces that could use an ottoman. Visualize where guests might appreciate extra leg room, or where you could use an occasional table surface. Place your ottoman thoughtfully to unlock its full potential.

Use Ottomans to Delineate Space

Ottomans provide a versatile way to divide and delineate spaces within an open concept living room. Use an oversized ottoman or a pair of smaller ones to create individual sitting areas and give the room "zones." This helps define spaces for lounging, watching TV, or holding conversations even if your room lacks walls. Position an ottoman facing chairs or sofas to create intimate sections. Or use rectangular ottomans against walls to prevent walking paths from crossing through sitting areas. Get creative with formation to craft custom spaces.

• Float a large ottoman centrally to split bigger rooms into two zones.
• Create clear boundaries for sitting, entertaining, play spaces.
• Angle ottomans to steer foot traffic away from seating.
• Make walkways and entry points obvious by delineating with ottomans.
• Designate "rooms" for relaxing, reading nooks, arts and crafts.

The right ottoman arrangement can help maximize unused space by designating spots for focused activities, play and work. Use ottomans to divert natural walking paths away from lounging areas for privacy. Let ottomans provide flow and purpose even in wide open layouts.

Make a Style Statement

Ottomans provide excellent opportunities to inject bold style statements within your living room's decor. Use vivid, saturated colors and patterns to create an eye-catching focal point. Consider global inspired textiles like suzani tribal prints or Moroccan motifs layered with fringed trim. Choose an ornate hand-carved ottoman for a sculpture-like garden stool aesthetic. Top with large scale trays and embellished pillows to create lavish vignettes. For bohemian inspired rooms, embroidered leather or tapestry upholstered ottomans add eclectic character. Truly let your ottoman become an artful flourish.

• Saturated gem tones and bright patterns energize neutral rooms.
• Global textiles and designs add exotic, well-traveled flair.
• Carved wood detailing provides organic, nature-inspired texture.
• Fringe, tassels and trim amplify the ottoman's presence.
• Distressed finishes like worn leather feel storied and collected over time.

An eye-catching ottoman commands attention and infuses personality into the living room. With endless ways to customize your ottoman through upholstery, embellishments and adornments, embrace this piece as an opportunity for audacious style.

Pull Together a Cohesive Look

While ottomans can absolutely take center stage, they also work wonders quietly blending into a cohesive living room arrangement. Use an ottoman to anchor and pull together the room's existing palette and motifs. Choose complementary fabrics and patterns that tie in accent pillows and rugs for continuity. Keep wood stains and metal finishes coordinated with other furniture pieces like coffee tables and shelving. Repeat key details like nailhead trim or bun feet on the ottoman for consistency. The goal is a collected, curated look.

• Select an ottoman fabric that matches your drapes or accent pillows.
• Stain a wood ottoman to match other brown furniture tones in the room.
• Pick a geometric print that echoes shapes used elsewhere.
• Mimic the metal finish of lamps, frames or tables.
• Incorporate the same embellishments, like tufting or nailheads.

When selecting an ottoman, notice what visual cues are repeated throughout other furnishings. Whether color, pattern, texture or detail work, choose an ottoman that feels cohesively blended into the overall room scheme for a polished collected look.

Create a Focal Point

For living rooms that feel disjointed or in need of a commanding anchor, an ottoman can provide that essential focal point. Use a large, substantial ottoman as the room's centerpiece. Place it prominently in the middle of the seating area or floating solo as an island. The substantial scale and centric positioning immediately draws eyes. Complement with decorative tray styling and plush throw pillows. For alternative focal points, create dynamic ottoman groupings. Pair two slim rectangles together, or gather a trio of petite round ottomans like a nesting table set. This instantly forms captivating furniture arrangements perfect for center stage placement.

• A single oversized ottoman grabs attention as a standalone piece.
• Place centrally to define sitting areas in open concept plans.
• Group ottomans together to create an anchor "moment."
• Overlap trays and embellishments for amplified effect.
• Allow negative space around groupings so they stand out.

Make a statement by permitting your ottoman to take command of the room. Keep the area around it clear so all eyes zone in on this exceptional piece. Style decoratively to enhance its presence and gravitas in the overall space.

Maximize Seating Flexibility

Square or rectangular ottomans provide excellent flexible, casual seating when extra chairs are needed. Their flat tops and ample surface area comfortably accommodate an adult. Choose an ottoman with sturdy legs and quality construction that can structurally support the weight. Upholster the top with comfortable padding at least four inches thick. When not in use for seating, the ottoman easily slides against a wall or tucks under tables. For occasional overflow crowds or groups that prefer floor seating, ottomans deliver handy extra seats wherever required.

• Square ottomans with dense foam padding upholstery make great temporary chairs.
• Their flat surface and sturdy legs comfortably support seated adults.
• Easily slide or tuck ottomans out of the way when not being used as seating.
• Having spare ottomans allows flexible rearranging to accommodate groups.
• Moroccan style poufs work well for floor seating in family rooms.

With their lightweight, movable design, ottomans offer the perfect conveniently transportable additional seats during busy social gatherings or family visits. When visitor numbers dwindle, simply stash them discretely out of the way again.

Choose Multifunctional Ottomans

To make your ottoman even more useful, look for specialty styles that incorporate storage space, flip-up tabletops, removable trays and more. Storage ottomans with lift-top lids provide clever hidden spots to declutter media accessories, while keeping items easily accessible. Flip-top ottomans transform into impromptu tables when closed, then open to reveal interior storage. Removable trays allow serving snacks and drinks from the ottoman's surface. For movie nights, choose an ottoman with built-in cupholders to prevent spills.

• Lift-top ottomans feature convenient storage for coasters, remotes and clutter.
• Flip-top ottomans double as tables when closed and contain storage inside.
• Look for ottomans with handy built-in cupholders and serving trays.
• Tray tops securely attach for holding snacks but remove easily.
• Opt for a nesting ottoman to stow away extra seating when not in use.

Multifunctional ottomans harbor hidden talents, like extra storage, pop-up tabletops, and removable serving trays. Search for these practical features when selecting your living room ottoman to amplify its capabilities.

Ottomans are a design lover's dream, offering form, function and versatility to refresh any living room. Use ottomans to provide clever storage solutions, extra seating, footrests and surface space as your needs change. Arrange ottomans to create designated zones and direct foot traffic. Choose colors, patterns and materials that harmonize with your living room's current vibe or make an audacious style statement. Place your ottoman thoughtfully to unlock its full potential. With so many possibilities, ottomans are guaranteed to instill new energy into your living room landscape.

Incorporating ottoman ideas for living room decor opens up a world of possibilities for upgrading your space. Ottomans inject style, improve comfort and efficiently maximize unused space in any living room interior. With careful selection and strategic placement guided by your family's needs, ottomans quickly become essential living room elements capable of completely revitalizing your home's gathering space. Let ottomans help manifest your dream living room environment.