Stylish Ottomans for Your Bedroom and Living Room

An ottoman is one of the hardest-working pieces of furniture you can own, and it looks right at home in both the living room and the bedroom. It can be a footrest after a long day, a stand-in coffee table for your morning espresso, a bench at the end of the bed, or an extra seat when guests drop by. Before you buy one, though, a handful of decisions will make the difference between an ottoman that quietly disappears into the clutter and one that pulls your whole room together.

The first thing to settle is size. Your ottoman should be big enough to do its job without crowding the room or blocking traffic. If you want it to earn its keep as storage, look for a hinged or lift-up lid. And if you plan to actually sit on it, prioritize a soft, cushioned top that's comfortable underneath you.

Next, coordinate it with the room's design. In a contemporary, minimalist space, a clean-lined ottoman keeps things sleek. In a more traditional or eclectic room, an ottoman with extra charm and character feels right at home. Color matters, too: take stock of the hues and textures already in your space first. Against a mostly neutral backdrop, a deep or dark ottoman can be a striking accent, while a lighter, brighter piece holds its own in a room that's already full of bold color.

Finally, think about your budget. Ottomans range from inexpensive (around $100) up to genuine investment pieces (well over $1,000), so pick one that fits comfortably within what you want to spend. Below we walk through how to choose, then share the six ottomans we keep coming back to.

How to choose the right ottoman

Start with size and purpose

Before anything else, decide what the ottoman is actually for, then size it accordingly. In the bedroom, choose an ottoman or bench that's the same width as your bed or a little smaller; matching the proportions gives the space a unified, intentional look. In the living room, if your sofa only seats two, pick an ottoman that's smaller than the couch so the arrangement doesn't feel lopsided. A piece like our top pick, the Modway Amour round ottoman, slots neatly in front of a loveseat without overwhelming it.

Match the build to the job

The way an ottoman is constructed should follow how you'll use it:

• As seating, look for a soft, well-cushioned top you'll actually want to sit on.
• As a table, choose a flat, smooth, supportive surface that can hold a tray, books, or a drink.
• As storage, look for a deep interior with a lid so you can stash blankets, pillows, and odds and ends out of sight.

Coordinate the style and color

Let the room lead. A modern space calls for simple, clean lines; a traditional or eclectic room can carry a more decorative, textured piece. For color, work with what's already there. If you want the ottoman to read as a polished anchor rather than a clashing afterthought, a richly upholstered option like the Chestnut distressed vegan leather ottoman brings warmth that plays well with almost any palette.

Avoid these common mistakes

A few missteps come up again and again:

• Going too big. An oversized ottoman crowds walkways and throws off the balance of a small seating group.
• Forgetting storage you'll want later. If you're short on space, skipping a lift-top model is a missed opportunity.
• Ignoring height. An ottoman that's much taller or shorter than your sofa seat looks awkward as a footrest. Aim to roughly match the seat height.

Our favorite ottomans

Now that you know what to look for, here are the six ottomans we recommend, starting with the one we'd buy first.

We love the Modway Amour because it nails the thing most decorative ottomans get wrong: it's genuinely comfortable. The deep button tufting and thick foam cushion make it a real seat, not just a prop, and the non-marking black legs keep your floors scratch-free. Use it as a footrest, a soft perch, or a spot for your favorite stack of magazines. It's an easy companion to a cozy reading setup, like the one in our accent chairs guide.

For a more traditional, lived-in look, the Harrison's tidy storage aside, the Chestnut distressed vegan leather ottoman is hard to beat. It's upholstered by trained hands on handcrafted benches, and at 17.5 inches tall it sits at just the right height to double as a coffee table or footstool next to most living room furniture.

Need real storage? The SIMPLIHOME Harrison is a generous 36-inch square with a split lift top that pulls up for easy access to a spacious interior. The slate-grey tufted, linen-look fabric is calm and neutral, and it comes in several other colors and upholstery options if grey isn't your thing. It's a natural fit alongside the relaxed pieces in our farmhouse dining room decor guide.

If you like a round silhouette with hidden storage, the HUIMO 30-inch round ottoman pairs a soft, button-tufted, foam-filled top with a solid wood frame and anti-slip leg pads for real stability. The flip-up lid has built-in clasps to hold it securely, so it's as practical as it is pretty.

For timeless luxury, the Christopher Knight Berkeley ottoman wraps a roomy storage interior in espresso bonded leather. The lightweight lift-up top makes it easy to stash throws, cushions, kids' toys, or serving trays, and the plush cushioned surface gives you extra seating in a pinch. Its strong construction is built to take heavy use, even a little kid play.

Finally, on a budget, the Furnimart velvet bench brings a glam, waterfall-design silhouette in soft grey velvet. Use it at the foot of the bed, in an entryway as a shoe-removing bench, or as extra living-room seating. The gold metal legs simply screw into each corner with the provided hardware, so setup takes minutes.

Quick comparison: our top three

Frequently asked questions

How do I pick the right ottoman for my bedroom or living room?

Three things should drive the decision: the size of the space, the ottoman's purpose, and the materials it's made from. In the bedroom, choose an ottoman the same size as the bed or smaller for a unified look, with a soft cushion if you'll sit on it and a lidded interior if you need storage. In the living room, if your sofa only seats two, pick an ottoman smaller than the couch so the arrangement stays balanced. From there, match the construction to the job: a smooth top for table use, a deep well for storage, a plush cushion for seating.

Where should I put an ottoman in my home?

The living room is usually the ideal spot. You can place it front and center as a focal point, or use it as a flexible, temporary coffee table that's easy to slide out of the way when you need extra room. It also shines at the end of a bed or just inside an entryway.

Can one ottoman do more than one job?

Absolutely, and the best ones do. A lift-top model works as a footrest, a tray table, an occasional seat, and hidden storage all at once. Look for a sturdy frame and a comfortable cushioned top and you'll get years of versatile use out of a single piece.

Once you've found the right ottoman, finish the room with the pieces that make it feel like yours: a stylish area rug to anchor the seating, a statement floor lamp for warm evening light, and a decorative mirror to bounce that light around the space.