CHOOSING THE RIGHT STYLE

Should I Choose An Ottoman With Storage?

Storage vs non-storage is one of the first decisions to make when choosing an ottoman – and the answer depends on what you want yours to do for you

🕓 5 min read | Expert advice from our design team

Quick Answer

Choose a storage ottoman if you want your ottoman to work a little harder. Hidden storage is brilliant for blankets, cushions, toys and the everyday bits you want nearby but don’t necessarily want on display. If storage isn’t important, a non-storage ottoman gives you more freedom when it comes to shape, proportions and upholstery details.

Extended Answer

Think about what you’ll actually store

It’s very easy to think extra storage = good. And generally, it is. But before choosing a storage ottoman, think about what is actually going inside it.

A couple of folded throws require very different space from bulky cushions, children’s toys or spare bedding. If storage is an important part of the job your ottoman needs to do, start with the stuff rather than the ottoman.

Consider where your ottoman will live

Storage can be particularly useful when your ottoman is already taking up a decent amount of floor space – for example, as a coffee table in the middle of a sitting room or at the end of a bed.

You’re effectively asking one piece of furniture to do two jobs: look lovely and quietly swallow the things that otherwise end up lying around the room.

DESIGN TIP Before choosing your size, gather together roughly what you’d like to store inside. It’s a surprisingly useful way of judging how much storage you actually need.

Don’t choose storage just because you can!

A storage ottoman isn’t automatically a better ottoman.

If you don’t need the space inside, choose according to the design you love. Non-storage styles can offer different shapes, proportions and upholstery details, and sometimes the simplest option is the right one.

The useful question isn’t “Would storage be handy?” – because we can all find something to put in another cupboard.

It’s “Do I need my ottoman to provide storage?”

If the answer is yes, brilliant. If it’s no, you’ve just made your decision easier.

EXAMPLE A blanket box ottoman at the end of a bed would be extremely helpful as an occasional seat for dressing and also provide much needed space for a winter duvet if you have one. This solves a problem and would be accessed infrequently. In contrast, then, a coffee table ottoman in the front room might involve removing trays and décor frequently to access what’s inside – this might be a barrier to using it effectively.

Storage ottomans can be used in more that the sitting room

Storage ottomans also work in the play room, bedroom, bathroom and hallway and provide dual purpose storage/sitting solutions.

BALANCE TIP Function matters, but so does loving the thing in the middle of your room. Choose storage because it solves a problem, not simply because it’s available.

Expert Tip

If storage is important, think about access as well as capacity. An ottoman you intend to open regularly needs to sit somewhere you can comfortably lift the lid without moving half the room first.

Key Takeaways

Choose storage if you have a genuine use for the space inside.
Think about what you want to store before deciding how much capacity you need.
Storage ottomans are particularly useful where one piece of furniture needs to do several jobs.
Consider how easily you’ll be able to access the contents once the ottoman is in position.
If you don’t need storage, don’t sacrifice a design you prefer simply to have it.
The best choice is the one that suits how you actually use your room.

IN THIS GUIDE

• Decide if you actually need storage

• Think about what you’ll store

• Consider where your ottoman will live

• Know when non-storage makes more sense

• Made to measure options

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