In living and family rooms all over Charlotte, the lowly ottoman is taking hold as the most functional, versatile and decorative piece of furniture in the room. No longer just a place to rest your weary feet, the ottoman now functions as coffee table, additional seating, storage unit, and decorative accent, both indoors and out.
The ottoman used to be a simple upholstered piece to be matched or paired with your sofa or chair. No more. Today’s ottomans often provide a focal point of color, texture and shape, and are used to create a more dynamic space by designers. Circular shapes, long rectangles, large squares, smaller footstools grouped in twos or three’s; all are options for adding visual interest and practical use to the room or patio.
The tightly upholstered bench or ottoman as coffee table, topped with a tray, is a staple in today’s design. A tray (or trays) is a must, to provide a flat, hard surface for coffee and drinks, as well as to help corral and organize your “coffee table” display.
Smaller ottomans grouped in two’s or threes are perfect for entertaining large groups of people. It helps to have your upholsterer add locking wheels to make them easy to push together or separate around the room. And for a more casual, family room or outdoor patio room, consider an ottoman with storage or a removal top to house small items like toys, throws, games, remote controls, etc.
A few tips on buying your new ottoman:
#1 Most importantly, the height of your ottoman should be consistent with the seat height, so it is comfortable for leg propping.
#2 As with any home decor accessory, it is important to remember that what looks fantastic in a showroom might not physically fit in your living room. Be sure to shop with a tape measure and take note of the dimensions of the ottoman so that there are no surprises when you bring it home. (Shelby Storey of Acquisitions Charlotte)
#3 A larger sofa can take a heavier ottoman, perhaps upholstered in a deep and practical leather, and a rectangular ottoman works nicely with the popular L-shape sectional sofas.
#4 Footstools, poofs and small round ottomans of seat height can be easily pulled into service in the dining room, tucked under a console, or placed across the coffee table from the sofa for extra seating options.
We shopped two of our favorite Charlotte design stores, ABODE and Acquisitons, both in South End, for the latest in ottomans. At ABODE, we found lots of small, easy to incorporate options, and at Acquisitions, we found what has to be one of Charlotte’s best selections of traditional, customizable upholstered benches and ottomans.
ABODE
Interior designer Mary T. Miller’s shop ABODE never disappoints for an eclectic selection of modern, contemporary and traditional furniture, art and accessories, all combined for the look many Charlotteans dream of for their homes. Here are a few photos from their new website:
And here are some of our favorite ottomans in store in ABODE now:
ACQUISITIONS CHARLOTTE
Round, square, rectangle, storage, decorative, leather, fabric….you can customize these ottomans from Acquisitions, add or take away nailheads, choose from different wood finishes, add tufts, etc. Prices range depending on which custom fabric you choose or you can buy one straight off the floor. Call 704.334.2478 for pricing.
