
Does your ottoman need to match?
It's a common misconception that ottomans have to match your armchairs or sofa in a perfect set, but that couldn't be further from the truth.
How do I choose an ottoman color?
Decide if you want your ottoman to emphasize your dominant color or style, or provide a contrast. If you don't want your ottoman to compete with your sofa, or some other dominant feature in your space, you might opt for the same color and material that the sofa has.
Should an ottoman be the same width as the chair?
The size of your ottoman or coffee table should generally be 2/3rds of the width of your sofa or sectional. Allow 14" - 18" of space between your ottoman or coffee table and your sofa. This allows for plenty of space to pass through, but still keeps the ottoman or coffee table within reach while sitting.
How do you place an ottoman in a living room?
If you plan on using it to store living room accessories, the ottoman can go virtually anywhere – next to the sofa, in the corner of the room or adjacent to the entertainment system. If you're using the ottoman as more of a statement piece, place it between your seating arrangement to mimic a coffee table.
Do chairs and ottomans have to match?
Ottomans do not have to match the chair. Mismatching the two pieces is a great way to give your room variety and depth. However, if you want to be sure that the two pieces look good together, buy matching pieces.
Are ottomans still popular?
Small forms sometimes play no less important role in home furnishing than large ones – and first of all, this concerns poufs and ottomans. This type of frameless furniture has remained in demand for more than a century, and today it remains part of the trendy interior.
Should ottoman be lower than sofa?
When you're choosing an ottoman, Mr. de Biasi said, “Size is crucial —especially the height. You want the ottoman to be at least an inch lower than your sofa or chair. You don't want your feet going uphill, or down too low.”
How high should an ottoman be in relation to a chair?
In terms of height, the ottoman doesn't have to be the same height as the sofa seat, but there shouldn't be more than 100 mm difference either way. Unless you're going to be using it as a footrest, in which case it should be roughly 25 mm shorter than the seat height.
What size is a standard ottoman?
Ottomans come in a large variety of shapes and sizes that range in height from 13”-20” (33-51 cm). Most ottomans are sized to pair with their coordinated furniture sets and are designed with matching heights. What is an ottoman used for?
Can I have an ottoman and a coffee table?
When possible, it is perfectly fine to mix and match with both coffee tables and ottomans because they don't clash at all. If anything, they contrast nicely and add visual interest. If you have a large seating area and two sets of sofas, you could use a coffee table and an ottoman for each.
Can you have 2 ottomans in a living room?
ottomans, cubes, poufs or hassocks or what they are upholstered with or their style. When you decorate your space by placing two identical ottomans side by side in a room – you create not only decorative interest, but also versatility and multi-function.
How do you decorate an ottoman in a bedroom?
Create an element of contrast. ... Choose a durable leather design. ... Match your ottoman to your existing color scheme. ... Use an ottoman in a bedroom space. ... Coordinate with your curtains. ... Use as a platform for decorative trays and objects. ... Choose an ottoman with a spacious metal frame.More items...•
Is it better to have a coffee table or ottoman?
Coffee tables are also more sturdy, and offer more stable surface area for you to write or eat on. While ottomans add functionality in terms of seating and leg space, coffee tables add functionality for eating and drinking, which is great for those who love to entertain.
How do you match a couch with a footstool?
Try sitting on your sofa and use a stool or dining chair to test out different heights to determine the perfect dimensions that you need. If you're looking to use a footstool more as a coffee table, a taller height may be better for you.
Can you have 2 ottomans in a living room?
ottomans, cubes, poufs or hassocks or what they are upholstered with or their style. When you decorate your space by placing two identical ottomans side by side in a room – you create not only decorative interest, but also versatility and multi-function.
What color accent chair goes with beige sofa?
As a warm, neutral color finding accent colors for beige is easy, however warm shades such as terracotta, orange and red work particularly well. If you want to keep the scheme more neutral consider adding cushions in a mix deeper and lighter beige tones as well as tan and brown.
What to consider when selecting an ottoman?
Another thing to keep in mind when selecting an ottoman is scale! The relative size of your new piece compared to existing items in the space will make or break the overall feel of the room. If you live in an apartment with space-saving furniture, your ottoman should fall in line – just as it should if you’re lounging on huge couches in a farmhouse or big family home.
How to know if an ottoman is too high for a sofa?
If the ottoman is too high for your armchair or sofa, your legs will be at an awkward, uncomfortable angle – AKA the exact opposite of what you’re after! To find the perfect height, measure how far off the ground your chair is from floor to the top of the cushion, then select your ottoman accordingly.
Can you pair an ottoman with a sofa?
Ahh, ottomans. They’re cute, functional, and make your space feel cosy and complete. But, how do you select one if you’ve already got a room full of furniture set up? It’s a common misconception that ottomans have to match your armchairs or sofa in a perfect set, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. As long as you follow a few simple tenets of interior styling, you can pair almost any ottoman and chairs together. Here are our seven tips for matching an ottoman to your existing furniture.
Do you need an ottoman and a chair?
With these tips in mind, it’s decided – there’s absolutely no need to purchase an ottoman and chair in a matching set, unless this is what you want. As long as you play by a few simple rules of design and styling, it’s easy to match almost any armchair or sofa with your new ottoman. Go with the flow, but keep things coordinating and you’ll be ready to kick back, relax and put your feet up on your new pieces.
Can you put a velvet ottoman in a graphic shape?
For instance, if you’ve kitted out your space with traditional items, featuring ornate details, curved legs and patterned upholstery, a mid-century modern velvet ottoman in a graphic shape isn’t going to pair well. Keep the main features of your style – including shapes, colours and detailing – in mind when selecting your piece and you’ll be golden on the matching front.
Can you put an ottoman in a smaller chair?
Placing an oversized ottoman with a smaller chair creates dysfunction and upsets the balance of your living furniture, and the same applies in reverse – a huge ottoman with a smaller chair will look out of place and affect the functionality of the room. Pair oversized items with other oversized items and smaller pieces with smaller pieces to ensure the room feels harmonious and that all furniture pieces serve their purpose.
Can you buy a chair and ottoman separately?
Where chair and ottoman sets will almost always be in the same colour and pattern, purchasing these separately means you need to select complementary styles, but it’s not imperative that they’re identical. Keep in mind the basic rules of colour theory as well as the existing schemes in your space, and then choose your pieces accordingly!
How to match an ottoman to a chair?
Matching the height of the seat of your chair with the height of the ottoman will make it more comfortable for you to use it. Not only will it look good, but it will be more convenient as well.
How to coordinate an ottoman with a couch?
Match legs. Identical legs help coordinate the ottoman with the couch. If you can’t find identical legs, try to find legs of the same color and style. This is a bonus decorative element for your living room.
Should an ottoman be the same width as the chair?
The wider your chair, the wider your ottoman should be. This is the most common style with a few exceptions. If the size of your ottoman is small, it doesn’t have to be too wide.
Should ottoman match sectional?
Matching sets can give you the needed seat height to keep your leg. But matching sets are not mandatory. Many people mix and match their ottoman and sectional in terms of color, material, and texture.
How do I choose ottoman color?
Matching the colors can just be what you need if you want your living space to look straight out of a catalog. It will make your living space appear professional and classy. The style does not have to match as long as they have the same color.
What color should an ottoman be?
Both the sofa and the ottoman can be of two dark colors or two light colors. For example, blue and green of similar tones will look stunning and unique.
Why do you need an ottoman?
The reason for this is accessibility. It is needed to make it more convenient for the person to reach the ottoman from both ends. For couches or larger style chairs, it’s different.
What should an ottoman match?
Ottomans should match the furniture with which they are most frequently used. For example, if you have both a couch and a loveseat in your living room, choose an ottoman that more closely complements the piece of furniture you are going to use it with. The ottoman doesn't have to be the same color as the furniture, but it should be a complementary color and should not clash. Since all the furniture in one room should match to some degree, your ottoman will probably end up matching your couch even if you use it more often with the loveseat.
What to do if your ottoman doesn't match your couch?
If you fall in love with an ottoman that doesn't match your couch, you may want to consider a slipcover for the couch. A slipcover is a piece of fabric you can put over the couch to change its color. Get a slipcover that matches the color of your ottoman.
What happens if your ottoman color clashes with your couch color?
However, if the ottoman's color clashes with the color of your couch -- meaning that the colors don't complement one another and you get a headache from looking at them together -- you're going to have to change one or the other.
Can you put an ottoman on a couch?
Ottomans give a touch of class to your living room and allow visitors to put up their feet while sitting on a couch or chair. When selecting an ottoman, you should consider the color and fabric of existing furniture, as you don't want the ottoman to clash with your couch. However, if you fall in love with an ottoman that doesn't match your decor, you can always change one or the other using slipcovers, so don't worry too much about the ottoman's color.
Can an ottoman match a couch?
The ottoman doesn't have to be the same color as the furniture, but it should be a complementary color and should not clash. Since all the furniture in one room should match to some degree, your ottoman will probably end up matching your couch even if you use it more often with the loveseat. Advertisement.
What is an ottoman?
An ottoman is often an underappreciated living room staple. The piece of furniture is actually a multipurpose gem: It can be used as a cocktail table substitute, a decorative footstool for a sofa, or space-saving storage. Whether composed of tufted fabric, leather, or suede, these ottomans from the Architectural Digest archives demonstrate ...
Who designed the sofa and ottoman in Florida?
An Auguste Garufi mixed-media work dominates one wall of the living/dining area in a Florida home by Tsao & McKown Architects; Calvin Tsao designed the sofa, chair, ottoman, and carpet, the latter of which was made by Vanderhurd. Pinterest. Photo: Eric Piasecki. 16/19.
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Every home can make great use of an ottoman or pouf. It offers seating, storage and style, all in one elegant package. Bring it out when entertaining guests to provide an extra seat. Put down a tray on top and it becomes a snack table for family movie night.
Ottomans in many styles
Aside from being practical and versatile, an ottoman or pouf can be great pieces of decorative furniture.
How do you want to use your ottoman or pouf?
When decorating with an ottoman or pouffe, always consider where and how you are planning on using it. The context will determine which kind of ottoman suits you.

Match Chair Height
Consider Style Above All
- Frank Ottoman | Shop all ottomans Unless you’re fussy about matching pieces – which there’s absolutely nothing wrong with – then most ottomans and chairs can be paired together, within reason. The main consideration here is the style of your furniture pieces, as the goal is to create a cohesive and harmonious space rather than something mismatched and distracting. Choose ite…
Colour and Fabric Combinations
- Lena Square Ottoman | Shop all ottomans Where chair and ottoman sets will almost always be in the same colour and pattern, purchasing these separately means you need to select complementary styles, but it’s not imperative that they’re identical. Keep in mind the basic rules of colour theory as well as the existing schemes in your space, and then choose your pieces accor…
Time to Design!
- With these tips in mind, it’s decided – there’s absolutely no need to purchase an ottoman and chair in a matching set, unless this is what you want. As long as you play by a few simple rules of design and styling, it’s easy to match almost any armchair or sofa with your new ottoman. Go with the flow, but keep things coordinating and you’ll be ready to kick back, relax and put your feet up …