Compare Poufs & Footrests: Living Room Ottomans

An ottoman is tailored and structured, often on legs and sometimes with hidden storage. A pouf is soft and legless, usually filled with foam or beads. Ottomans can replace a coffee table or serve as a footrest for a specific chair, while poufs are flexible extra seating you can move from the living room to a bedroom or kids' space as needed.

Absolutely. Choose one with a firm, flat top level with the couch seat, usually 16–18 inches high, and add a tray so drinks stay steady. An upholstered ottoman is a softer, kid-friendly alternative to wood or stone, and works especially well in smaller living rooms where hard corners and heavy tables make the space feel tight.

For a footrest, choose one 2–4 inches lower than the chair seat. As a coffee-table alternative, aim for roughly half to two-thirds the length of the couch. A 16–20-inch pouf slides under a console or end table when not in use, making it the most adaptable choice for apartments and multipurpose rooms.

Leather and faux leather wipe clean and suit footrests that see shoes every day. Performance fabrics and tight weaves handle family use well. Jute and seagrass poufs bring texture but are difficult to spot-clean, and bouclé tends to pill on top first. If the piece doubles as a table, choose a firmer, smoother surface that keeps a tray level.

Next to an armchair as a footrest, at the end of a sofa as an extra seat, or in a pair under a console, ready to pull out for guests. A single pouf in a bold color or texture also works as an accent in a neutral room. Leave about 16 inches around it along walkways, since low pieces are easy to trip over.

Ottomans & Pouffes

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Ottomans & Pouffes

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an ottoman and a pouf?+

Can I use an ottoman as a coffee table?+

What size ottoman or pouf do I need?+

Are storage ottomans worth it?+

Which ottoman and pouf materials are easiest to live with?+

Where should a pouf go in a living room?+