Many things simply go together: salt and pepper (the spices, not the rappers), scarlet and gray (Go Buckeyes! And The Shelby Whippets, my high school alma mater) and, universally, chairs and ottomans. Although commonly defined as "a stool for feet: a low upholstered stool used for resting the feet or as a seat," an ottoman can be so much more.
Long considered the Sonny to a chair’s Cher, ottomans are experiencing new uses in today’s homes, becoming the breakout stars in many interiors. Traditionally, ottomans have been used as small, occasional pieces of furniture to catch one’s feet, but increasingly, ottomans are being used as dynamic accent pieces.
The ottomans of my childhood were typically square in shape. They rested on little wooden-block feet nested into the front of a chair, essentially turning the chair into a non-mechanical, two-piece recliner. These ottomans had little or no personality and were generally upholstered in the same fabric as the chair. Without any style and with the most basic utilitarian purpose, they were bland pieces in the composition of a room. They merely existed to complement the chair. When the chair wore out, the ottoman was tossed out with it.
That time has passed. Today’s ottomans are being conceived as stand-alone furniture, often doing double duty in an interior. No longer are ottomans members of the chorus – some ottomans are clearly the lead singers in many rooms.
In contemporary interiors, larger ottomans are replacing standard cocktail tables. Cocktail ottomans come in many shapes but most are of grander scale, allowing the homeowner an ample surface upon which to rest books or magazines. The cocktail ottoman can hold a tray, giving the user a place to rest drinks or a vase with flowers. The soft edges of a cocktail ottoman prevent “knee-banging” corners in tight spaces and, above all else, can offer extra seating when needed during parties or family gatherings.
Classic square cubes are now being offered in softer, slouchier versions, fetching in such materials as recycled silks. Brown and white cowhide turns a plain geometric shape into a coveted cube of full-out glamour. These cubes can stand alone, or really make a statement when clustered together in groupings. They can be tucked under a console or lined up against a wall when not needed, then easily pulled out when a spare seat or two is needed. The cube shape can be easily placed in traditional interiors as well as ultra-contemporary rooms. While the shape is classic, it is the covering that determines the personality of these pieces.
